Manchester United had a new Portuguese star to acclaim
as Nani emerged the late matchwinner in the 3-1 victory over Tottenham
with a moment of brilliance to send the Red Devils top of the Premier
League.
Filling Cristiano Ronaldo's boots was always going to be a tall
order and Nani may never quite get there.
But even Ronaldo would have applauded the nerveless chip that broke
Tottenham hearts 10 minutes from time after he had raced onto Federico
Macheda's lay-off.
It put United back in front in a game they had to win, and when
Ryan Giggs drilled home his second penalty, he transferred all the
championship pressure onto Chelsea, who face Stoke at Stamford Bridge
on Sunday.
As they had not lost to the Londoners since 1989 and Tottenham
had not beaten a `big-four' club on their travels for an incredible
66 games, a visit from Harry Redknapp's men is normally an occasion
for United to relish.
However, in beating Arsenal and Chelsea in their previous two games
Tottenham had not only blown the title race wide open again and
re-established their own top-four credentials, they had also confirmed
this particular Spurs vintage as the best in Ferguson's 23 years
at Old Trafford.
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