Game On

It couldn't have gone any better for United today, with Scholes' injury-time header sealing the victory, Chelsea losing to Spurs 2-1, and John Terry facing suspension next week at home to Stoke after picking up two yellow cards today.

Oh, but it was far from easy.

Both sides defended well today and when someone finally managed to carve out some space near goal, the end-product was poor. Bellamy, Barry, Rooney, and Giggs all blew excellent chances. Had the scoreline remained nil-nil, this article's title could have easily been “The Final Ball” or “A Touch Too Far.”

But, this is Manchester United.

In the dying moments, Red Devil supporters should have as much faith in their team as any on the planet, given the frequency of last-gasp goals under Sir Alex Ferguson. Yet today felt different somehow after the disappointments of the previous two weeks, the lingering injuries to key players, and the feeling that luck might just give way this campaign.

Watching at home with my United-buddy, Bill, we both felt like if anything was going to happen during the dying moments, City were overdue for some luck against United. Not that we wanted this outcome - hardly - it's just that it seemed that odds were against United to score a third injury time goal against the Blue-Moon-singing supporters.

Think again.

First, it was Michael Owen's controversial winner earlier in the year, then the Carling Cup victory, and now this?! Are you kidding me?! Remarkable is an understatement.

For all of the repetitious stories about United being a club in transition with a downward trajectory akin to Liverpool's troubles under similarly in-debted American ownership, United find a way yet again to reach for yet another Premiership crown.

And today, how incredibly fitting it was for the Ginger-haired-assassin to pull up, unmarked on the penalty spot, and connect with a perfect far-post header with just seconds remaining.

This is the type of goal that changes momentum and influences performances elsewhere, as we have already seen in North London today, and potentially could define a Championship season. Everyone easily could point to “that” goal as the defining moment in the push toward the finish line.

No team has ever lost the EPL title with a four point lead with four games left, that's the history facing United today before kickoff. But after today's turns, I wouldn't bet against United.

Number nineteen awaits. It's game on.
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Back at you after the match Spurs match next weekend. Enjoy the lovely weekend.