LONDON, 6 May 2007 — Manchester United took a big step toward winning the Premier League title for the first time since 2003 by beating Manchester City 1-0 yesterday.

Cristiano Ronaldo converted a penalty kick in the 33rd minute at the City of Manchester Stadium after he was brought down by City defender Michael Ball in the area. Ball had gone unpunished for stomping on Ronaldo’s chest two minutes into the game.

City missed a chance to equalize when it was awarded an 80th-minute penalty after Ball was brought down by United defender Wes Brown.

Darius Vassell took the spot kick, but United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar blocked the shot with his leg and the defense scrambled to clear the loose ball.

City also missed a penalty in last Saturday’s 2-0 loss to visiting Aston Villa.

Also yesterday, it was Everton 3, Portsmouth 0; Fulham 1, Liverpool 0; Newcastle 0, Blackburn 2; Reading 0, Watford 2; West Ham 3, Bolton 1; and Wigan 0, Middlesbrough 1; and Aston Villa 3, Sheffield United 0. Charlton hosts Tottenham tomorrow.

United can win the English title today if two-time defending champions Chelsea do not beat Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. If Chelsea win, it could be down to Wednesday’s match between the two clubs at Stamford Bridge.

United has 88 points, followed by Chelsea with 80. United finishes its season at home against West Ham, while Chelsea hosts Everton next Sunday.

“We’ve got a great chance,” United manager Alex Ferguson said of his side’s title bid.

United defenders Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand both hit the post with headers before Ronaldo’s goal, which was his 17th in the league this season.

Manchester City again failed to score, leaving it with only 10 goals in 19 home games — the lowest ever in England’s top division. In 1913, Arsenal scored only 11 goals, and Sunderland matched that in 2003.

“We’ve not achieved where we’d like to achieve and our Achilles heel has been putting the ball in the net,” City manager Stuart Pearce said.

Man United and Chelsea were both ousted in the Champions League semifinals this week, but play each other in the FA Cup final on May 19. Chelsea has already won the League Cup.

Ferguson said his side was still recovering from its 3-0 loss at AC Milan in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals on Wednesday, which put United out 5-3 on aggregate.

“Coming back from Wednesday night, having to come through all that travel, the lack of rest — the players have shown fantastic courage,” Ferguson said. “We’ve not seen the real Manchester United — there was tiredness there, the pace wasn’t there but derby games can be like that.”

West Ham moved out of the relegation zone with its win over Bolton, helped by Wigan’s loss to Middlesbrough.

Carlos Tevez scored twice and set up Mark Noble for the other goal, a day after four Premier League clubs threatened legal action to try and have some of the Hammers’ points taken away.

The Hammers were fined 5.5 million pounds ($10.45 million; €8.1 million) on April 27 for breaking Premier League regulations over the signings of Tevez and fellow Argentina international Javier Mascherano, who now plays for Liverpool. But West Ham was not deducted points, which angered other struggling clubs — Wigan, Sheffield United, Fulham and Charlton.

“Tevez is an inspiration to us at the moment,” West Ham manager Alan Curbishley said. “And I’m sure he’s not bothered too much by all the off-the-field stuff.”

It was Sammy Lee’s first match as Bolton manager after replacing Sam Allardyce, who quit last Sunday. Gary Speed — who will combine playing duties with coaching next season — scored for Bolton in the 67th.

Mascherano did not play against Fulham, as Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez rested nine players from the side that defeated Chelsea on penalties on Tuesday to reach the Champions League final.

Liverpool is third with 67 points, followed by Arsenal with 66. Both teams are in the qualifying round of next season’s Champions League.

United States midfielder Clint Dempsey scored for Fulham in the 69th minute after playing a one-two with defender Liam Rosenior before scoring past Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina from eight meters.

But Benitez was more furious at Michael Brown’s unpunished head-butt on Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso in the first half.

“If the officials had seen it then it could have changed the game,” Benitez said. “Big money has been spent in the electronics system for the four officials yet nobody could see anything.”

Wigan dropped to 18th place after losing to a goal from Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka. Bottom club Watford won its fifth game of the season with victory over Reading, with goals from Dan Shittu and Marlon King, but it’s already relegated.

Aston Villa beat Sheffield United with goals from Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and Patrik Berger.

Fulham has 39 points in 15th place, followed by Sheffield United and West Ham with 38, Wigan with 35, Charlton with 33 and Watford with 27.

Everton helped its chances of securing a spot in next season’s UEFA Cup by beating Portsmouth.

Mikel Arteta converted a penalty in the 59th, and Joseph Yobo headed in Everton’s second in the 62nd. Gary Naysmith added the third in the 90th.

Blackburn defeated Newcastle 2-0, with goals from Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts. Newcastle has now failed to score at home in its last five league matches.