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Man U merciless in devastating Portsmouth in English premiership
Manchester, Nov 02: Manchester United beat Portsmouth 3-0 to stay in third place in the English premiership.
Manchester, Nov 02: Manchester United beat Portsmouth 3-0 to stay in third place in the English premiership.
Manchester United defeated Portsmouth 3-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday (November 1) to keep pace with Arsenal and Chelsea at the top of the Premiership. After an even start Portsmouth had the first clear opportunity, Yakubu Ayegbini dispossessed Rio Ferdinand near the touchline in the 22nd minute and ran into the penalty area but his low shot was saved by Tim Howard in the United goal. Ruud Van Nistelrooy came close to breaking his goal drought in the 29th minute, the Dutch striker brilliantly controlling a high ball and striking a dipping volley against the crossbar. United took control of the game and opened the scoring in the 37th minute, Ryan Giggs heading Gary Neville's free kick back across goal for Diego Forlan to fire home past Shaka Hislop.
Although United had the better of the second half they had to wait until the 79th minute to increase their lead, substitute Cristiano Ronaldo scoring his first goal for the club with a free kick from wide on the left.
Roy Keane, who also came on as a substitute, wrapped up the scoring in the 82nd minute when he struck a curling left foot shot into the net from the edge of the penalty area.
The win means that United stay in third place in the Premiership, two points behind Arsenal and one point behind Chelsea.
English league soccer standings after matches played on Saturday: Premier league P W D L F A Pts 1. Arsenal 11 8 3 0 23 9 27 2. Chelsea 11 8 2 1 21 9 26 3. Manchester United 11 8 1 2 21 6 25 4. Birmingham City 10 5 4 1 9 5 19 5. Manchester City 11 5 3 3 22 12 18 6. Fulham 10 5 3 2 20 13 18 7. Newcastle United 11 4 4 3 16 13 16 8. Southampton 11 4 4 3 10 7 16 9. Charlton Athletic 10 4 3 3 14 13 15 10. Liverpool 10 4 2 4 15 11 14 11. Portsmouth 11 3 3 5 11 15 12 12. Tottenham Hotspur 11 3 3 5 10 14 12 13. Aston Villa 11 2 5 4 9 13 11 14. Middlesbrough 11 3 2 6 9 15 11 15. Bolton Wanderers 11 2 5 4 9 19 11 16. Everton 11 2 4 5 12 15 10 17. Wolverhampton Wanderers 11 2 3 6 7 23 9 18. Blackburn Rovers 10 2 2 6 15 19 8 19. Leeds United 11 2 2 7 10 25 8 20. Leicester City 10 1 2 7 14 21 5
Bureau Report
Manchester United defeated Portsmouth 3-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday (November 1) to keep pace with Arsenal and Chelsea at the top of the Premiership. After an even start Portsmouth had the first clear opportunity, Yakubu Ayegbini dispossessed Rio Ferdinand near the touchline in the 22nd minute and ran into the penalty area but his low shot was saved by Tim Howard in the United goal. Ruud Van Nistelrooy came close to breaking his goal drought in the 29th minute, the Dutch striker brilliantly controlling a high ball and striking a dipping volley against the crossbar. United took control of the game and opened the scoring in the 37th minute, Ryan Giggs heading Gary Neville's free kick back across goal for Diego Forlan to fire home past Shaka Hislop.
Although United had the better of the second half they had to wait until the 79th minute to increase their lead, substitute Cristiano Ronaldo scoring his first goal for the club with a free kick from wide on the left.
Roy Keane, who also came on as a substitute, wrapped up the scoring in the 82nd minute when he struck a curling left foot shot into the net from the edge of the penalty area.
The win means that United stay in third place in the Premiership, two points behind Arsenal and one point behind Chelsea.
English league soccer standings after matches played on Saturday: Premier league P W D L F A Pts 1. Arsenal 11 8 3 0 23 9 27 2. Chelsea 11 8 2 1 21 9 26 3. Manchester United 11 8 1 2 21 6 25 4. Birmingham City 10 5 4 1 9 5 19 5. Manchester City 11 5 3 3 22 12 18 6. Fulham 10 5 3 2 20 13 18 7. Newcastle United 11 4 4 3 16 13 16 8. Southampton 11 4 4 3 10 7 16 9. Charlton Athletic 10 4 3 3 14 13 15 10. Liverpool 10 4 2 4 15 11 14 11. Portsmouth 11 3 3 5 11 15 12 12. Tottenham Hotspur 11 3 3 5 10 14 12 13. Aston Villa 11 2 5 4 9 13 11 14. Middlesbrough 11 3 2 6 9 15 11 15. Bolton Wanderers 11 2 5 4 9 19 11 16. Everton 11 2 4 5 12 15 10 17. Wolverhampton Wanderers 11 2 3 6 7 23 9 18. Blackburn Rovers 10 2 2 6 15 19 8 19. Leeds United 11 2 2 7 10 25 8 20. Leicester City 10 1 2 7 14 21 5
Bureau Report