LONDON, 3 February 2005 — Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals in four minutes to guide Manchester United to a thrilling 4-2 comeback victory over champions Arsenal at Highbury on Tuesday.

United had to play the last 21 minutes with 10 men after a red card for French defender Mikael Silvestre, but were not to be denied a famous victory that propelled them into second place in the Premier League behind runaway leaders Chelsea.

Victory left United with 53 points, eight behind a Chelsea side who was to face Blackburn Rovers yesterday, and dealt a massive blow to Arsenal’s already faint hopes of retaining their title. Arsenal slip to third, on 51 points, and must now look to leapfrog United at the end of the season to claim the other automatic slot in next season’s Champions League.

Captain Patrick Vieira headed Arsenal into an eighth-minute lead, Ryan Giggs levelled for United 10 minutes later with a deflected shot and Dennis Bergkamp, in outstanding form, restored Arsenal’s lead before the break.

But Ronaldo’s goals in the 54th and 58th minutes, along with an 88th-minute strike by substitute John O’Shea, completed a United double over the champions after Arsenal’s record 49-match unbeaten league run ended in a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford in October.

In the night’s other games, Liverpool won 2-1 at Charlton Athletic, Bolton Wanderers beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1, Portsmouth were 2-1 winners against Middlesbrough and 10-man Crystal Palace drew 2-2 at West Bromwich Albion. The showcase game though was at Highbury, where a rampant United had both the determination and the finishing needed to inflict another defeat on their bitter rivals.

Vieira, who had a verbal spat with United skipper Roy Keane in the tunnel before kickoff, put Arsenal in front after beating Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze to a Thierry Henry corner.

It was an ideal start for the Arsenal skipper, who was sent off when these two sides met in September 2003 for a 0-0 draw which led to four team mates being banned following a fracas after the final whistle.

Giggs soon checked the euphoria of the Highbury crowd when a Sol Campbell clearance was charged down by Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney flicked the ball into the Welshman’s path and his shot flew in off Ashley Cole.

Arsenal rolled with the punch and hit back in the 36th minute when Thierry Henry laid the ball off for Bergkamp and the Dutchman rifled his angled shot between keeper Roy Carroll’s legs. Tottenham were drawing 1-1 at Bolton when their Mali international striker Frederic Kanoute was dismissed in the 68th minute. Bolton capitalized with goals from Tal Ben Haim and Kevin Davies in the last four minutes.

Motherwell Reach Their First

League Cup Final in 50 Years

In Edinburgh, Motherwell reached their first League Cup final in 50 years with a 3-2 win over Hearts thanks to a last-minute winner in extra-time by 18-year-old substitute Marc Fitzpatrick on Tuesday.

Motherwell now was to meet the winners of the other semifinal between Rangers and Dundee United yesterday at Hampden Park.

Motherwell had opened the scoring at Easter Road, home of Edinburgh club Hibernian, with a Stephen Craigan header in the 19th minute after Hearts failed to deal with an inswinging free kick from the right by Stevie Hammell.

But they had to rely on goalkeeper Gordon Marshall to stop Paul Hartley’s close-range angled drive while Hammell cleared a Dennis Wyness effort off the line just before the break.

Marshall pulled off a terrific one-handed save low to his right to turn a Joe Hamill shot around the post after 73 minutes and just three minutes later Motherwell made Hearts pay.

Scott McDonald was tripped in the box by defender Jamie McAllister and Richard Foran cracked home what looked a killer second goal by firing his spot kick to the bottom right.

Strasbourg Beat St. Etienne

to Reach League Cup Final

In Paris, a second-half goal by midfielder Alexander Farnerud put Strasbourg through to the French League Cup final with a 1-0 victory over in-form St Etienne on Tuesday.

The Swede latched on to a cross from forward Mickael Pagis in the 55th minute to end St Etienne’s unbeaten run. They had not lost a game since they were knocked out of the French Cup on October 30 by Nimes.

The final, which will earn the winners a UEFA Cup spot for next season, will be played at the Stade de France on April 30.