Manchester United 5-0 Wigan Athletic: Rooney Brilliant
[aljazeera.net]
Wayne Rooney's 15th goal of the season started the rout that moved second-place United to within two points of Chelsea.
It was a welcome 68th birthday present for United manager Alex Ferguson.
"It was an excellent performance,'' a buoyant Ferguson said.
"Rooney was absolutely fantastic; the energy he shows and desire to win is marvellous.''
Game on
"We're up for it, the commitment is there and the talent is there,'' Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.
"We'll fight and this team is ready to give everything.''
United, though, were targeting a fourth straight title, and a sign of the strength of Ferguson's squad was that he fielded a different line-up for a 99th consecutive match.
Rooney was unstoppable against Wigan. The England striker connected with defender Rafael Da Silva's low cross at the near post in the 28th and steered the ball beyond Chris Kirkland.
United quickly doubled their advantage when former Wigan winger Antonio Valencia cut the ball back for Michael Carrick to sweep home.
A third came on the stroke of half-time when Darren Fletcher found Rafael on the edge of the area and the Brazilian drilled a low shot past Kirkland and ran across to the bench to celebrate with twin brother Fabio.
Kirkland was forced off injured at half-time and his replacement, Mike Pollitt, was beaten after five minutes. Valencia skipped past Maynor Figueroa and crossed into the penalty area where Hendry Thomas had been defending before the Wigan player slipped.
Having created three goals, Valencia piled more misery on his former club when he lofted the ball over the onrushing Pollitt in the 75th.
Source: aljazeera.net
