United close on title
Goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo glides past Michael Ball
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Saturday, 05, May 2007 07:59
Manchester United bounced back from their Champions League exit in midweek to take what may be the last step in their chase for the Premiership crown with a 1-0 win away to Manchester City.
The derby win means that second-placed Chelsea must win at Arsenal tomorrow to keep their faint hopes of retaining their title alive.
In a game short on excitement and strangely lacking the usual passion of previous neighbourly affairs, a well-dispatched penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo proved the difference.
The Portuguese winger won the spot-kick himself as he burst into the box amid a flurry of feints and drew an untidy challenge from Michael Ball just after the half-hour mark.
Stuart Pearce's men had one of their few chances early on when Emile Mpenza found himself with time, space and a clear sight of the United goal, but the Belgian's shot was powered straight into the body of Edwin van der Sar.
Rio Ferdinand had hit the bar with a header ten minutes before Ball, who had earlier got away with a cynical stamp on Ronaldo, upended his tormenter with a foul that Rob Styles did punish.
City, shorn of the thrust of internally suspended Joey Barton in midfield, were listless in attack but could have stolen a point when Ball was caught by Wes Brown in the area on 80 minutes.
However Darius Vassell's attempt to convert the penalty cannoned away off Van der Sar's legs to the relief of the United bench and probable despair in west London.