LONDON, 25 February 2007 — A last-gasp goal by Cristiano Ronaldo earned Manchester United a 2-1 smash-and-grab victory at Fulham in the Premier League yesterday.
Leaders United took their points tally to 69 from 28 games, nine ahead of second-placed Chelsea who take on Arsenal in the League Cup final in Cardiff today.
Liverpool, third on 53 points, destroyed Sheffield United 4-0 while Charlton Athletic swept past relegation rivals West Ham United 4-0 and Middlesbrough beat Reading 2-1.
Bottom club Watford host Everton in the late kickoff.
Fulham were on top from the start at Craven Cottage and took a 17th-minute lead when Brian McBride pounced to score his ninth league goal of the season after a mix-up between United central defender Nemanja Vidic and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
The visitors equalized 12 minutes later when Ryan Giggs volleyed his third goal in four matches following a far-post cross from Wayne Rooney.
But it was Fulham who looked by far the more threatening side until Ronaldo’s 88th-minute goal, the Portugal winger beating two men on the left before cutting in and delivering a right-foot shot that deflected past keeper Jan Lastuvka.
Fulham piled on the pressure in the second half only to be kept at bay by their former keeper Van der Sar.
The Dutch international went full length to palm away a ferocious volley by Simon Davies before Tomasz Radzinski headed against the crossbar from three meters after a right-wing cross from Michael Brown.
Van der Sar denied Davies again when the former Everton winger was clean through in the 64th minute and also did well to keep out a stinging drive from McBride after another flowing Fulham move five minutes later.
Former England striker Robbie Fowler converted two penalties before second-half goals from Sami Hyypia and Steven Gerrard completed Liverpool’s rout of Sheffield United.
Rafa Benitez’s team also broke a top-flight club record of eight successive clean sheets at Anfield.
Charlton manager Alan Pardew, sacked by West Ham earlier in the season, watched his new team cruise to victory over his former club at the Valley.
England striker Darren Bent marked his first start since injuring his knee in December by netting for the hosts. Jerome Thomas (2) and Darren Ambrose were also on target against West Ham, who are managed by former Charlton boss Alan Curbishley. The win was not enough to lift Charlton, who have 23 points, out of the relegation zone. West Ham swap places with their London rivals, slipping to second bottom on 20 points.
Bayern Hold Nerve
to Beat Wolfsburg
In Berlin, Bayern Munich held on to win 2-1 at home to VfL Wolfsburg yesterday thanks to goals from Lukas Podolski and Mark van Bommel.
The result means Bayern make up a couple of points on second-placed VfB Stuttgart, who were held to a goalless draw at home to Hertha Berlin on Friday.
Bayern took the lead when Podolski stroked home a penalty in the 26th minute and Dutch midfielder Van Bommel struck the second from long range in the 56th.
Wolfsburg got one back when Cedrick Makiadi scored on the rebound with 11 minutes to go.
Schalke 04, who host Bayer Leverkusen today, are top with 49 points from 22 games ahead of Stuttgart on 45 from 23.
Werder Bremen, third with 42 points, are also in action on Sunday at bottom club Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Bayern stay fourth on 40 points.
Elmander Fires Toulouse Up
to Third With Marseille Win
In Paris, a Johan Elmander double lifted Toulouse up to third in Ligue 1 with a 3-0 home win over Olympique Marseille yesterday.
Swedish striker Elmander netted six minutes from the interval and doubled his tally four minutes into the second half.
Midfielder Achille Emana wrapped up the win shortly after the hour mark.
Toulouse, who have 41 points from 26 matches, trail second-placed RC Lens by three points with the Northerners hosting Nancy today. Olympique Lyon, who take on Sochaux later, lead the standings with 57 points from 25 games.
Marseille, who have not won in their last five league matches, dropped to sixth on 38 points.
The Provence side had the first chance of the game when Djibril Cisse’s header was stopped on the line by Toulouse defender Paulo Cesar.
The hosts went ahead on 39 minutes when Elmander, perfectly set up by Emana, dribbled past Marseille keeper Cedric Carasso to slot the ball into the empty goal.
The Swede made it two in the 49th from an Albin Ebondo pass.
Marseille did not give up but were caught off guard a third time when Emana rubbed salt into their wounds by outpacing the defense to score in the 63rd minute.
