United four points from glory

SIR Alex Ferguson's huge smile was mirrored by the frown on the face of Jose Mourinho, after Bolton Wanderers held Chelsea to a draw that leaves Manchester United on the brink of reclaiming the English Premier League title.

After watching United come from two goals down to beat Everton 4-2 and pull five points clear at the top of the table, Ferguson acknowledged that Allardyce's men had done him a huge favour by holding the champion 2-2 at Stamford Bridge.

"Sam will be getting a hug and a kiss," said the Scot with a smile. "Maybe two kisses."

Mourinho came close to acknowledging that the title race is over.

"I'm sad," said the Portugal boss. "It is almost in Manchester United's hands. The title race is almost over but almost is a big word."

The results mean that United, thanks to their superior goal difference, need to take four points from three remaining games to win the title, and they could have wrapped it up before travelling to Chelsea for their penultimate match of the season on May 9.

If Ferguson's side beats local rivals Manchester City next Saturday and Chelsea fails to defeat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium the following day, United will be champions for the first time since 2003.

"Obviously the momentum is with us now," said Ferguson. "Five points clear and with a superior goal difference gives us a marvellous chance with three games left."

Initially lacklustre, United had looked doomed to defeat at Goodison Park when Portugal midfield player Manuel Fernandes hammered in an stoppable 25-yarder, doubling the Everton lead established by Alan Stubbs's first-half free kick.

But a howler by Everton's stand-in goalkeeper, Iain Turner, who dropped a cross to leave John O'Shea with an easy finish, allowed United back into the contest.

Ferguson sent on Cristiano Ronaldo and almost immediately the Portugal winger met a corner with a downward header that former United player Phil Neville sliced into his own net.

That set the stage for Wayne Rooney to effectively settle the contest with 11 minutes left and, with news of the Chelsea result filtering through, substitute Chris Eagles curled in United's fourth.

At Stamford Bridge, Bolton grabbed a 19th-minute lead through Lubomir Michalik, but the champion was level inside three minutes, Salomon Kalou heading in a Wayne Bridge cross.

Chelsea went ahead when Kalou's header ricocheted off the bar, a Bolton defender and goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen before ending up in the back of the net.

But Bolton equalised again nine minutes after the interval with a Kevin Davies header, and Allardyce's side held out for what could prove to be a hugely significant draw. Liverpool rested most of its first-choice line-up ahead of Wednesday's (AEST) Champions League semi-final, second-leg with Chelsea, and paid the price in a 2-1 defeat by Portsmouth.

First-half goals from Benjani Mwaruwari and Niko Kranjcar put Pompey in control before Sami Hyypia pulled one back for the Reds after the break.

Norway striker John Carew and Shaun Maloney were on the mark as Aston Villa claimed a 2-0 win at Manchester City, while Spurs boosted their UEFA Cup qualification hopes by winning 3-2 at Middlesbrough, thanks to a Robbie Keane double and a Dimitar Berbatov strike.

Mark Viduka and Emanuel Pogatetz scored for Boro.

Cole lifts Chelsea in Champions League

LONDON - Joe Cole scored in the 29th minute to give Chelsea a 1-0 win over Liverpool on Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals.

Cole knocked in a cross from Didier Drogba. Ricardo Carvalho gathered the ball in his own half and passed to Drogba on the right. The Ivory Coast striker raced ahead and shook off Daniel Agger before rolling the ball across the penalty area for Cole. The second leg will be Tuesday at Anfield.

Chelsea is trying to win four major trophies this season. The two-time defending Premier League champions already have won the League Cup and trail Manchester United by three points in the English league, with a game at Stamford Bridge on May 9 to come.

The goal was Chelsea's first against Liverpool in the Champions League. Last year in the group stage, the teams played to a pair of 0-0 ties. The year before in the semifinals, they played to another 0-0 tie in the first leg. Liverpool then won 1-0 in the second leg at Anfield to reach the final, where the five-time champions beat AC Milan on penalties.


Chelsea's Joe Cole, on ground, scores the opening goal of the match against Liverpool during their Champions League semi-final first leg soccer match at Stamford Bridge, London, Wednesday April 25, 2007.[AP]
Cole's goal was only his second for Chelsea this season. The attacking midfielder, who returned this month after a four-week absence with a broken foot, also scored in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Blackburn in the League Cup in October.

Frank Lampard had a chance to give Chelsea the lead in the eighth minute at Stamford Bridge, but Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina made a good save. A minute later, Andriy Shevchenko curled a shot over the bar.

Dirk Kuyt had Liverpool's best chance in the first half with a 22nd-minute header that was saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech. Kuyt had another header in the 50th.

Steven Gerrard then sent a hard shot on Chelsea's goal in the 53rd. John Arne Riise's long throw-in into the area from the left was headed away by John Obi Mikel, but Gerrard got the ball and Cech made the save.

Liverpool striker Peter Crouch entered as a substitute a minute earlier, and his presence immediately invigorated the Liverpool attack.

Lampard had another chance in the 81st, but his hard shot from the left was saved by Reina

Both teams had one last good chance in injury time. Agger first sent a long, hard shot that Cech saved, and Drogba headed wide a minute later off Lampard's cross.

Man United, which beat AC Milan 3-2 in Tuesday's other Champions League semifinal, will face Chelsea in the English FA Cup final May 19. They could then meet again in the Champions League final on May 23 in Athens, Greece.

Man United got two goals from Wayne Rooney and another from Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford. Kaka scored both goals for Milan, a six-time European Cup champion. The second leg is next Wednesday at Milan.

Rooney Strike For Man U Victory Over Milan

Wayne Rooney's stunning last-minute winner kept Manchester United's hopes of reaching the Champions League final alive after an Old Trafford classic.

Cristiano Ronaldo's fifth-minute header put United in front, only for AC Milan to draw level through Kaka's angled drive after 21 minutes.

Kaka put Milan ahead from close range before the interval, but Rooney turned in Paul Scholes' cool pass on the hour.

Rooney then lashed a glorious 20-yard finish past Dida in injury time.

Interview: Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson

It was a moment of magic that gave United a precious lead to defend going into the second leg in Milan next Wednesday.

United opened in sparkling fashion, and it took a desperate intervention from Alessandro Nesta to divert Rooney's shot over the bar.

But they were soon ahead when Ronaldo met Ryan Giggs' corner with a firm header, which Dida palmed into the air and could then only divert into the net.

United were firing on all cylinders up front - but all the time Milan, in the shape of Kaka, were waiting to probe their suspect and under-strength rearguard.

And the strike they feared came after 21 minutes when Kaka took Clarence Seedorf's pass and accelerated away from Gabriel Heinze and fired a left-foot angled drive across Edwin van der Sar.

A high-quality encounter saw Rooney just fail to get on the end of Giggs' cross and Ronaldo bring a crucial block from Dida with a 25-yard power drive.

But Brazilian superstar Kaka was an ever-present threat, and he took advantage of shambolic United defending to grab a crucial second away goal for Milan after 36 minutes.

Kaka chased a long pass, and when Heinze and Patrice Evra collided, he moved smoothly into top gear to slide a perfect finish past Van der Sar.

Evra was then booked for dissent - a yellow card that rules him out of the second leg at the San Siro, an inconvenience United did not need given their lack of defensive resources.

Michael Carrick wasted a glorious opportunity to put United level after 47 minutes when he side-footed wide of an open goal when he arrived unmarked at the far post on the end of another dangerous Giggs corner.

Milan lost captain Paolo Maldini to a knee injury at half-time, then were robbed of Gennaro Gattuso with a knee problem - with the combative midfield man being replaced by Cristian Brocchi.

Kaka was giving a master-class, escaping the offside trap to shoot across the face of goal then playing a sumptuous one-two with Seedorf only to volley narrowly over.

United desperately needed inspiration, and a moment of genius from Scholes provided it as they drew level after 59 minutes.

Scholes instinctively lifted the ball into the path of Rooney, whose finish was half-stopped by Dida but rolled in.

United were suddenly buoyant again, and the unpredictable Dida saved brilliantly from Darren Fletcher after Rooney's cross was headed into his path.

Fletcher forced Dida into a save at his near post as United pressed for what would be a crucial lead to take to Italy.

Dida then finger-tipped Ronaldo's dipping drive inches wide as United mounted a spell of sustained pressure in the closing stages.

United's sheer courage was rewarded when Rooney ran on to Giggs' pass and fired past a startled Dida to send Old Trafford wild in celebration.

New Wembley to host FA Cup final

The new Wembley Stadium will host this year's FA Cup final, the Football Association has confirmed.

Seven years after the last match was held at the stadium's old incarnation, the 90 000-capacity venue will stage the FA's flagship competition on 19 May.

The confirmation comes after Brent council granted Wembley the required general safety certificate following the successful completion of two test events.


Last week England's under-21s drew 3-3 with their Italian counterparts in the first-official match at the new Wembley, with a community event held the previous week.

FA chief executive Brian Barwick described today's announcement as 'great news for football fans in the country and indeed the world over'.

'The cup final and Wembley Stadium go hand in hand and everybody at the FA is looking forward to a great day,' he added.

Brent council's chief executive Gareth Daniel said he was 'delighted' to bring back 'world-class music and sporting events to Wembley'.

If Manchester United and Chelsea dispense of their respective semi-final opponents, Watford and Blackburn, as expected, the FA could be given the dream cup final.

Rooney raring to go as United enter final straight

LONDON: Wayne Rooney admits Manchester United’s breathtaking form has reinvigorated him for the decisive final weeks of the season.

United have enjoyed a week to remember with Tuesday’s 7-1 Champions League thrashing of Roma followed by a 4-1 FA Cup semi-final win over Watford on Saturday.

Those magnificent displays underlined exactly why Rooney is desperate to play in every game despite the hectic schedule faced by Sir Alex Ferguson’s treble chasers.

The England striker, who scored twice against Watford, is convinced he can take the strain of putting his body on the line in so many high-stakes games.

“I have never experienced an end of season like this one before but I don’t need a rest,” Rooney said.

“I love to play. I feel fit and strong and a match every three or four days is fine by me. That is what you come to a big club for.


“We have not played as well as this during my time at United. Some of our attacking football has been brilliant and I am delighted to be a part of it.”

United’s win against Watford set up a showdown against Chelsea in the first FA Cup final to be played at the rebuilt Wembley.

Rooney last visited Wembley in its’ old guise to see Everton play against United in the 1995 FA Cup final when he was just nine.

Everton won that day but Rooney also has painful memories of the FA Cup final as well after playing in United’s penalty shoot-out defeat against Arsenal in 2005.

“People were writing us off not that long ago but we knew we had a lot of young players coming through and the situation would change,” said Rooney.

“Now we have made a bit of history by reaching the first FA Cup final at Wembley and hopefully we can go on and win it.

“We lost to Arsenal in 2005, which was very hard to take given the way we dominated the game. We are determined to put that right this year.”

Rooney is on course for the best goal-scoring season in his young career after his double on Saturday took his tally to 19.

His previous best was 21 last season and he added: “I always try to match or do better than my previous goal tally and to equal now with so many games left to go is very pleasing,” he said. “Hopefully I can get more.

“I am doing quite well at the minute and long may that continue.”

source:The Star (Malaysia)

Ballack helps Chelsea reach FA Cup final

MANCHESTER, England (AP) – Michael Ballack put Chelsea into the FA Cup final by scoring in extra time Sunday and giving his team a 2–1 win over Blackburn.

Ballack scored from the left side after Salomon Kalou’s shot was blocked in the 109th minute.

Frank Lampard gave Chelsea the lead at Old Trafford with his 21st goal of the season in the 16th minute, but Jason Roberts equalized for Blackburn in the 64th.

Chelsea will face Manchester United in the FA Cup final on May 19 – the first major match to be played at the new Wembley Stadium since it reopened after more than six years under construction.

The two teams could play each other three times in two weeks.

"We can share trophies between us. We can win nothing and in spite of that Chelsea and Man United are two unbelievable teams," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said.

United, which leads the Premier League with 78 points, visits second–place Chelsea on May 9 in the penultimate round of the season in what could be a title–deciding game.

Four days after the FA Cup final, United and Chelsea could meet again in the Champions League final in Athens, Greece. Both English teams have reached the competition’s semifinals, where Chelsea will face Liverpool and United will take on AC Milan.

Chelsea, which has already won the League Cup, is trying to win four major trophies this season.

The Blues took the lead Sunday when Ballack tapped a pass to Lampard. The England midfielder then shrugged off a challenge from Ryan Nelsen and steered the ball past former United States goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

Roberts equalized for Blackburn by deflecting in a free kick from Morten Gamst Pedersen.

"I think we never give up. We always believe we can make it even in the last seconds and today we did that again," Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech said. "They (Blackburn) made a great effort and in the second half they had a few chances and they deserved to equalize. But we showed the character. We never gave up."

Chelsea last played United in the FA Cup final in 1994, when United won 4–0. Chelsea has won three FA Cups, the last in 2000, while United won its record 11th title in 2004.

United manager Alex Ferguson watched the match at neutral Old Trafford, which was 25,000 short of its 74,000 capacity.

Chelsea controlled the first half, with Ashley Cole and Joe Cole getting off shots in the 11th and 21st. But Blackburn piled on the pressure to force an equalizer before the break.

Dunn connected with Roberts’ ball in the 43rd to test Cech for the first time and Christopher Samba headed over from Pedersen’s corner.

Within two minutes of the restart, Andriy Shevchenko nearly doubled Chelsea’s lead.

Presented with space in front of goal by Didier Drogba, the Ukraine striker miskicked and watched the ball fly well wide.

It prompted howls of derision as he was later pulled off in favor of Kalou.

In 49th, Benni McCarthy was blocked by Cech and the Czech Republic goalkeeper pulled off a spectacular save to deny Pedersen’s powerful header in the 60th.

Ballack shaved the post in 80th with a free kick that Friedel had covered.

An opportunity for a Blackburn winner fell to Pedersen in the 82nd after the Norway midfielder latched on to a cross from Bentley, but his header flew wide.

Cech produced a reflex save in the 89th to block John Terry after the Chelsea captain’s head inadvertently connected with Pedersen’s deep throw–in.

BARCLAYS AWARDS DOUBLE FOR CHELSEA

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has won the Barclays Manager of the Month Award for March with Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech named the Barclays Player of the Month.

The Stamford Bridge outfit were honoured after recording four straight Barclays Premiership wins without conceding a single goal.

Chelsea started the month in style with a 2-0 away success at Portsmouth. This was followed by a 1-0 away win at Manchester City and a conclusive 3-0 home triumph against Sheffield United before Salomon Kalou’s last-minute winner secured a 1-0 victory over Watford.



Despite being named the Barclays Manager of the Year 2005/6, this is the first monthly award Mourinho has picked up since January 2005, and the first time Cech has ever picked up the player accolade.

FULL LIST OF AWARD WINNERS

The Czech Republic international, who last conceded a league goal in the defeat at Liverpool on January 20, is the first goalkeeper to win a Player of the Month award since Paul Robsinon scooped the prize in November 2000 during his career with Leeds United.

Jim Hytner, from the Barclays Awards Panel, said: “Cech has been in fantastic form since his return from injury, his run of eight consecutive Barclays Premiership clean sheets is incredible.

"Credit must also go to Mourinho who has instilled a never-say-die attitude into his players and is really turning up the heat in the race for the title."

The decision was made by the Barclays Awards Panel, which includes representatives from football’s governing bodies, the media and fans.

NEW FIVE-YEAR DEAL FOR RONALDO

Cristiano Ronaldo has committed his long-term future to Manchester United and immediately set his sights on landing some silverware this season.

One of the Barclays Premiership’s outstanding players this season, Ronaldo has long been reported to be attracting interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Only this week, it was suggested Real would be prepared to pay a world-record fee in excess of £50million for the 22-year-old.

Sir Alex Ferguson has continually stated Ronaldo was going nowhere and the player himself has always claimed his preferred option was to remain at Old Trafford.

Now Ronaldo has agreed a five-year contract which will keep him at United until 2012.

And, with the club still chasing a repeat of their unprecedented 1999 treble, Ronaldo wants to make sure he ends the season with some medals.

“I am delighted,” he told official club website www.manutd.com. “I spoke with Sir Alex about my future and everybody knew that I wanted to stay.

“I am very happy at the club and I want to win trophies and hopefully we will do that this season.”

CRISTIANO RONALDO: FACTFILE

The former Sporting Lisbon star scored his first Champions League goals in the midweek rout of AS Roma, collecting another man-of-the-match award in the process.

“It is fantastic news,” said Ferguson.

“It emphasises the point that Cristiano is happy here and that he is at the right club.

“He has a great relationship with the team, staff and the fans and he will go on to be one of Manchester United’s great players.”

FERGUSON ISSUES RONALDO CHALLENGE

As a winger of world-class proportions himself, Ryan Giggs has nothing but admiration for the way Ronaldo has performed this season.

And the Wales international has no hesitation in backing those who claim the Portugal winger is the best player on the planet at present.

“I don’t believe there is anyone who could rival him as being the best player in the world,” he said.

“For someone in his position, and of his age, to be as consistent as he has been, is remarkable.

“His performance have been brilliant.

“To secure his future for the next five years is great news for everyone.”

Giggs has nothing but admiration for the way Ronaldo has emerged from the adverse reaction he received after the World Cup.

Many pundits believed the Portugal star would leave the Barclays Premiership given the criticism he received for his part in Wayne Rooney’s dismissal during England’s quarter-final defeat in Gelsenkirchen.

However, like Eric Cantona and David Beckham before him, Ronaldo has responded with a series of mesmerising performances which have largely quietened the boo-boys.

“Sometimes situations like that make you as a player,” Giggs said.

“You have seen that many times, especially at this club. It can drive you on.

“It is all about individual characters and the determination within themselves. Cristiano has shown that this season.

“The booing seems to have stopped to a certain extent because people respect the way he plays the game and respect the ability he has.”

Giggs does believe Ronaldo needs to maintain his current form for a few years before he can truly be bracketed with the all-time greats.

But the 33-year-old is adamant his young team-mate can get better.

“Cristiano has improved as a player and he is still improving, that is the scary thing,” he said.

“He isn’t bothered by the challenges that face him.

“He can definitely get better. The thing he has to do now, is do it over the next 10 years and be consistent. Then he will be up there with the greats.”