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Leeds ruins Man U title hopes with tie
Manchester, F23: Manchester United held to 1-1 draw at home to Leeds in English Premier League action.
Manchester, F23: Manchester United held to 1-1 draw at home to Leeds in English Premier League action.
English Premier League champions Manchester United, who started the day five points behind Arsenal, slipped further behind after relegation-threatened Leeds earned a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Saturday (February 21). Before the match, the teams held a minute's silence for former Leeds United player John Charles who died early on Saturday at the age of 72. Charles, dubbed the "gentle giant" by Italian fans during five prolific seasons with Juventus, scored 147 goals for Leeds United in 200 games before moving to the Turin club in 1957. Manchester United, beaten 3-2 at home by Middlesbrough in their last league game at Old Trafford, were frustrated for long periods by battling Leeds. Manchester came close to scoring after six minutes, but were denied by the Leeds goalkeeper Scott Carson. Mikael Silvestre's shot was deflected off Leeds defender Gary Kelly, and the 18-year-old Carson cleared the ball off the line.
Ryan Giggs' effort from just outside the penalty area after 19 minutes hit the post.
The introduction of captain Roy Keane, surprisingly left on the bench from the start, gave United renewed impetus in the second half.
United broke the deadlock when Gary Neville's cross-shot was not gathered cleanly by Scott Carson, deputising for the suspended Paul Robinson, and Scholes thumped home.
The lead, however lasted just three minutes, Didier Domi's cross from the left allowing Smith to outjump John O'Shea and head home.
Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy should have handed Alex Ferguson's side the points but he blasted over from close range late on.
Manchester United are now seven points behind league leaders Arsenal, who beat Chelsea 2-1 in another lunchtime kickoff.
English league soccer standings after matches played on Saturday: Premier league P W D L F A Pts 1. Arsenal 26 19 7 0 51 17 64 2. Manchester United 26 18 3 5 50 24 57 3. Chelsea 26 17 4 5 47 21 55 4. Newcastle United 26 10 11 5 37 27 41 5. Charlton Athletic 26 11 7 8 37 32 40 6. Liverpool 25 10 8 7 36 27 38 7. Aston Villa 25 10 6 9 30 28 36 8. Fulham 26 10 5 11 38 37 35 9. Birmingham City 24 9 8 7 23 26 35 10. Bolton Wanderers 26 8 10 8 32 40 34 11. Tottenham Hotspur 25 10 3 12 35 38 33 12. Southampton 26 8 8 10 26 26 32 13. Middlesbrough 25 8 7 10 27 31 31 14. Manchester City 26 6 9 11 36 38 27 15. Blackburn Rovers 26 7 6 13 38 43 27 16. Everton 26 6 8 12 31 39 26 17. Portsmouth 25 6 5 14 28 39 23 18. Wolverhampton Wanderers 26 5 8 13 24 52 23 19. Leicester City 25 4 9 12 33 47 21 20. Leeds United 26 5 6 15 24 51 21
Bureau Report
English Premier League champions Manchester United, who started the day five points behind Arsenal, slipped further behind after relegation-threatened Leeds earned a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Saturday (February 21). Before the match, the teams held a minute's silence for former Leeds United player John Charles who died early on Saturday at the age of 72. Charles, dubbed the "gentle giant" by Italian fans during five prolific seasons with Juventus, scored 147 goals for Leeds United in 200 games before moving to the Turin club in 1957. Manchester United, beaten 3-2 at home by Middlesbrough in their last league game at Old Trafford, were frustrated for long periods by battling Leeds. Manchester came close to scoring after six minutes, but were denied by the Leeds goalkeeper Scott Carson. Mikael Silvestre's shot was deflected off Leeds defender Gary Kelly, and the 18-year-old Carson cleared the ball off the line.
Ryan Giggs' effort from just outside the penalty area after 19 minutes hit the post.
The introduction of captain Roy Keane, surprisingly left on the bench from the start, gave United renewed impetus in the second half.
United broke the deadlock when Gary Neville's cross-shot was not gathered cleanly by Scott Carson, deputising for the suspended Paul Robinson, and Scholes thumped home.
The lead, however lasted just three minutes, Didier Domi's cross from the left allowing Smith to outjump John O'Shea and head home.
Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy should have handed Alex Ferguson's side the points but he blasted over from close range late on.
Manchester United are now seven points behind league leaders Arsenal, who beat Chelsea 2-1 in another lunchtime kickoff.
English league soccer standings after matches played on Saturday: Premier league P W D L F A Pts 1. Arsenal 26 19 7 0 51 17 64 2. Manchester United 26 18 3 5 50 24 57 3. Chelsea 26 17 4 5 47 21 55 4. Newcastle United 26 10 11 5 37 27 41 5. Charlton Athletic 26 11 7 8 37 32 40 6. Liverpool 25 10 8 7 36 27 38 7. Aston Villa 25 10 6 9 30 28 36 8. Fulham 26 10 5 11 38 37 35 9. Birmingham City 24 9 8 7 23 26 35 10. Bolton Wanderers 26 8 10 8 32 40 34 11. Tottenham Hotspur 25 10 3 12 35 38 33 12. Southampton 26 8 8 10 26 26 32 13. Middlesbrough 25 8 7 10 27 31 31 14. Manchester City 26 6 9 11 36 38 27 15. Blackburn Rovers 26 7 6 13 38 43 27 16. Everton 26 6 8 12 31 39 26 17. Portsmouth 25 6 5 14 28 39 23 18. Wolverhampton Wanderers 26 5 8 13 24 52 23 19. Leicester City 25 4 9 12 33 47 21 20. Leeds United 26 5 6 15 24 51 21
Bureau Report