Manchester, May 3: Manchester United took a huge step towards retaining their Premier League title when they beat West Ham United 4-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday after playing more than half the match with 10 men.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice while Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick both scored against their old club as United moved on to 84 points with one match to play. If they win that game, at Wigan Athletic next Sunday, they will be champions of England for the 17th time.

Chelsea, who are at Newcastle United on Monday, have 81 points, but a vastly inferior goal difference to United.

United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports News afterwards: “I’m very pleased because there was a bit of tiredness in the second half. The plan in the second half was to kill the game off and get the fourth goal and we did that. It’s been a great day for us, we have a big chance [of the title].”

If Chelsea lose on Monday, the title will be United’s unless they lose at Wigan and Chelsea beat Bolton Wanderers with a winning margin well into double figures in their final league matches next week.

Ronaldo, named England’s Footballer of the Year for the second successive season on Friday, gave United a third minute lead and added another when he turned the ball in off his thigh after 24 minutes to take his season’s tally in all competitions to 40 goals.

Former West Ham striker Carlos Tevez made it 3-0 with a stunning 30-yard shot two minutes later before Dean Ashton replied with an overhead bicycle kick two minutes after that.

United were reduced to 10 men when Nani was dismissed eight minutes before halftime for a headbutt on Lucas Neill. Carrick put the game beyond West Ham with a well-struck shot that took a deflection off Neill after 59 minutes.

Another six matches were being played later on Saturday.—Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram ceasefire
Updated 26 Nov, 2024

Kurram ceasefire

DESPITE efforts by the KP government to bring about a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district, the bloodletting has...
Hollow victory
26 Nov, 2024

Hollow victory

THE conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left developing nations — struggling with the mounting costs of climate...
Infrastructure schemes
26 Nov, 2024

Infrastructure schemes

THE government’s decision to finance priority PSDP schemes on a three-year rolling basis is a significant step...
Anti-women state
Updated 25 Nov, 2024

Anti-women state

GLOBALLY, women are tormented by the worst tools of exploitation: rape, sexual abuse, GBV, IPV, and more are among...
IT sector concerns
25 Nov, 2024

IT sector concerns

PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ambitious plan to increase Pakistan’s IT exports from $3.2bn to $25bn in the ...
Israel’s war crimes
25 Nov, 2024

Israel’s war crimes

WHILE some powerful states are shielding Israel from censure, the court of global opinion is quite clear: there is...