Report: Everton 2 United 4

United took a massive step towards Premiership glory with an extraordinary second-half performance at Goodison Park.Sir Alex Ferguson's remarkable side, trailing 1-0 to Everton at half-time, went a further goal behind before finding their own shooting boots to go five points clear of Chelsea who were surprisingly held 2-2 at home by Bolton.First HalfUnited kicked off the first of their final four Premiership fixtures without the PFA Player of the Year. Reds fans inside Everton’s sunkissed ground pondered Sir Alex Ferguson's selection - was it tactical ahead of the Milan trip, or had Cristiano Ronaldo been struck down by the injury jinx that has wreaked havoc in the defensive ranks?
It proved to be an injury, though thankfully only a knock needing protection, not another problem requiring prolonged treatment. Ji-sung Park, a capable replacement for Ronaldo, is out of action at least until August after a knee operation.
Everton won their first corner in the second minute with an attack down the right flank and almost snatched the lead when defender Jolean Lescott pounded a free header against the bar from Mikel Arteta’s setpiece.
Lescott’s miss was a let-off for United but they had no such luck from another deadball situation in the 12th minute. When Arteta was fouled by Patrice Evra, Alan Stubbs stepped up to drill a low free-kick past Edwin van der Sar, via a cruel deflection off Michael Carrick's outstretched leg. Sir Alex later joked, "Carrick will be fined for that!"The Reds struggled to get a grip of the game in the early stages while the Blues buzzed in front of a passionate, partisan crowd. The locals demanded nothing less than a victory in memory of Everton legend Alan Ball, who died during the week, aged 61.
Another former Goodison hero, Wayne Rooney, almost levelled the scores with United’s first real chance after 20 minutes. Receiving a superb crossfield pass from Paul Scholes, he rifled a powerful shot towards the near post where Iain Turner, making his first Premiership start of the season, made a confidence-building save.
Rooney’s partner in attack, Alan Smith, had an even better opportunity when he combined with Ryan Giggs at the edge of the Everton area. The latter, United’s stand-in skipper, flicked a ball between Stubbs and Carsley but Smith dragged the shot wide.
The battle between James Vaughan and Gabriel Heinze was a key head-to-head in the first half and it was largely honours even until referee Alan Wiley booked the Everton teenager for a foul on his Argentine adversary.Scholes produced another peach of a pass in the 37th minute, swinging the ball from right to left for Giggs to volley a first-time centre into the box. Again, Everton escaped as Rooney just failed to connect with the cross.The home side had been living dangerously for some time, but for all the pressure they were under, there was little direct threat to Turner's goal. Even an inswinging Giggs free-kick couldn't test the inexperienced Everton keeper moments before the break - instead it curled beyond the far post with Heinze the only man in red mounting a challenge to its flight.The half ended with Heinze in trouble at the other end of the park, clattering into Arteta to earn United's first yellow card. Fortunately the free-kick didn't double the punishment.Half-time: Everton 1 United 0.United started the second half brightly, forcing a brace of left-wing corners and firing a couple of shots that needed desperate blocks from the Everton rearguard to prevent Rooney, then Scholes from gaining parity. But then from out of the blue, Manuel Fernandes fired the home
Another former Goodison hero, Wayne Rooney, almost levelled the scores with United’s first real chance after 20 minutes. Receiving a superb crossfield pass from Paul Scholes, he rifled a powerful shot towards the near post where Iain Turner, making his first Premiership start of the season, made a confidence-building save.
Rooney’s partner in attack, Alan Smith, had an even better opportunity when he combined with Ryan Giggs at the edge of the Everton area. The latter, United’s stand-in skipper, flicked a ball between Stubbs and Carsley but Smith dragged the shot wide.
The battle between James Vaughan and Gabriel Heinze was a key head-to-head in the first half and it was largely honours even until referee Alan Wiley booked the Everton teenager for a foul on his Argentine adversary.Scholes produced another peach of a pass in the 37th minute, swinging the ball from right to left for Giggs to volley a first-time centre into the box. Again, Everton escaped as Rooney just failed to connect with the cross.The home side had been living dangerously for some time, but for all the pressure they were under, there was little direct threat to Turner's goal. Even an inswinging Giggs free-kick couldn't test the inexperienced Everton keeper moments before the break - instead it curled beyond the far post with Heinze the only man in red mounting a challenge to its flight.The half ended with Heinze in trouble at the other end of the park, clattering into Arteta to earn United's first yellow card. Fortunately the free-kick didn't double the punishment.Half-time: Everton 1 United 0.United started the second half brightly, forcing a brace of left-wing corners and firing a couple of shots that needed desperate blocks from the Everton rearguard to prevent Rooney, then Scholes from gaining parity. But then from out of the blue, Manuel Fernandes fired the home
side into a shock 2-0 lead by steering Arteta’s through-ball away from Wes Brown and hammering an unstoppable shot into van der Sar’s top left-hand corner. Five minutes into the second half and United were two goals down. Turner was called upon at the other end moments later and the keeper did well, spreading himself to block Rooney’s stab from Giggs’ threaded pass. A free-kick from the Welshman was also dealt with by Turner, who clutched the ball comfortably without any pressure.
Sir Alex made his first switch in the 56th minute but not the one United fans might have expected or hoped for. It was Kieran Richardson who replaced the below-par Patrice Evra, stirring speculation that Ronaldo’s problem may be more than just a knock. Or perhaps the Reds boss was just keeping his Portuguese gunpowder dry, in the knowledge that Chelsea had just been pegged back by Bolton at Stamford Bridge.
The pendulum title swung another stroke towards United when Turner, again under no pressure, contrived to spill the ball from Giggs’ right-wing corner and John O’Shea, the scourge of Merseyside, pulled one back with a simple but priceless goal. The Irishman had been in the right place at the right time at Anfield in March; same again at Goodison.
O’Shea’s former team-mate Phil Neville was in exactly the wrong place – from Everton’s point of view, mind you – when Ronaldo, at last on the pitch, powered a header down and goalwards from Carrick’s left-wing corner. The initial effort was blocked but Neville couldn’t clear and instead he diverted the loose ball into his own net. The Reds fans roared with relief at drawing level, while the press corps wondered what Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho would say about an owngoal scored in United’s favour by the United captain’s brother!
Van der Sar was largely a spectator after conceding Everton’s stunning second goal but he kept his eye in to hold Arteta’s free-kick midway through the half. Turner was by far the busier goalkeeper,racing from his line on a few occasions to divert Rooney away from goal.However, Turner had no answer when Rooney pulled down O'Shea's deflected cross, shimmied past Hibbert's despairing lunge and coolly dispatched United's glorious third goal. The away section, not to mention the dug-out, erupted in ecstasy as the Reds edged in front for the first time in the match and took a giant leap ahead of Chelsea, who were still being held at home by Bolton.Ronaldo had two chances to grab a fourth goal for United but he was twice denied by decent Turner saves. Instead it was Premiership debutant Chris Eagles, on for Solskjaer, who made it 4-2 by bending a glorious shot inside the far post. The goal, wildly celebrated by Eagles and his team-mates, confirmed United's improved position in the race - five points clear and just five points, maximum, from winning the title.