When the pressure’s on, Manchester United so often produce the goods. Knowing defeat at the Stadium of Light would hand the title to Chelsea, Sir Alex’s men turned in a polished performance against a feisty Sunderland side to ensure the title race will now go down to the wire.
The win – achieved courtesy of a solitary goal from Nani's right boot – means Chelsea lead by just one point heading into the final day of the season. The Blues host Wigan, while United welcome Stoke City to Old Trafford.
It can’t have been easy for Sir Alex’s men to step onto the pitch in Sunderland after seeing Chelsea beat Liverpool at Anfield in the day’s early kick-off. But the Reds, boosted by the inclusion of Wayne Rooney from the opening whistle, began brightly.
Rooney, who had started only two of United’s last five fixtures, took just four minutes to make an impact, chesting down a cross from Dimitar Berbatov and volleying towards the far post. Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon was equal to the task and then grateful to his defenders for blocking Ryan Giggs’ follow-up.
At the other end, the home side threatened twice from set pieces: John Mensah headed wide from an early corner before captain Lorik Cana flicked a free-kick just over the bar. Mensah limped off after 18 minutes, though, as Black Cats boss and former United captain Steve Bruce was forced to reshuffle his defence.
The Reds almost reaped immediate rewards when Giggs clipped the corner of the crossbar after expertly making space for himself on the edge of the box.
Source : Man Utd
