A hotly contested goal from Nani helped Manchester United beat Tottenham 2-0 and stay within five points of Chelsea after the English Premier League leaders fought back to beat Blackburn 2-1 on Saturday.
United was already leading through Nemanja Vidic’s 31st-minute header when Nani scored in the 84th. Nani had appeared to be tripped in the box but referee Mark Clattenburg turned down his appeal. Nani then used his hand to casually control the ball after falling.
Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes placed what he believed to be a dead ball down to take a free kick, but as he prepared to take it Nani swooped in and put the ball into the net. Referee Mark Clattenburg’s assistant on the right flank initially appeared to rule out the goal. But he was overruled by the senior official after consultation, sparking furious protests from the Tottenham players.
It was a very bizarre goal, but a lot of the blame has to go to Gomes. Unless you hear the whistle, you cannot assume that a free-kick has been taken.
Elsewhere Chelsea were lucky to escape with all three points at Blackburn. Benjani Mwaruwari put Blackburn ahead in the 21st minute when he rose above John Terry to head home El Hadji Diouf’s cross. Chelsea equalized in the 39th minute when Nicolas Anelka scored after Didier Drogba headed on Florent Malouda’s cross. Chelsea snatched all three points when Branislav Ivanovic scored in the 84th minute.
Arsenal’s winner came even later at Emirates Stadium, with Song diving in to head home Gael Clichy’s cross in the 88th. Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott had earlier both hit the woodwork.
Man City were shocked by Wolves despite taking the lead through a Emmanuel Adebayor penalty. But Nenad Milijas leveled for Wolves on the half-hour and David Edwards added the winner in the 57th by slotting a rebound past goalkeeper Joe Hart into the right corner
At Craven Cottage, Clint Dempsey’s double lifted Fulham up eight places to eighth. Dempsey headed in a cross from Carlos Salcido on the half-hour before adding his second by meeting Chris Baird’s pass for a powerful finish in the area.
Everton stretched its unbeaten run to five matches thanks to Aiyegbeni Yakubu’s first goal of the season. Yakubu beat goalkeeper Asmir Begovic in the 67th after Tim Cahill’s shot rebounded off the post.
photo credit: Paolo Camera