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Giggs, Van der Sar Records Return Manchester United to Top Spot 
Manchester United’s two oldest players set records as the defending champion beat West Ham 1-0 to move back atop English soccer’s Premier League.
Ryan Giggs’s goal at Upton Park yesterday stretched United’s unbeaten run to 13 games and made him the only player to score in all 17 Premier League seasons. Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar now hasn’t allowed a goal in 1,212 minutes, a British league record.
“I had to make a couple of saves but the defenders are incredible, how they defend, how they clear the balls,” Van der Sar, 38, told Sky Sports. “West Ham away has been a difficult match for us over the years so it’s a great result to come away from here with three points and another clean sheet.”
United, bidding for a third straight title to tie Liverpool’s English record of 18 championships, leads the Reds by two points having played one match fewer. Liverpool won 3-2 at Portsmouth two days ago to maintain its challenge.
Aston Villa and Chelsea hold the other Champions League spots, with Arsenal in fifth. The Gunners drew 0-0 yesterday at Tottenham with 10 men.
United’s recent league run, which has seen it remain unbeaten since November, includes eight 1-0 victories among the 13 games. The 35-year-old Giggs got the breakthrough yesterday after 62 minutes, collecting a pass from 34-year-old Paul Scholes before cutting inside and directing a low right-foot shot through a crowd of players.
“Ryan and Paul have been here so many times,” United manager Alex Ferguson said. “They know exactly what this game is all about, they have the temperament to play in these games.”
Double Trouble
The Red Devils had few other efforts on target, though goalkeeper Robert Green did need to tip the ball over the bar during the first half when Cristiano Ronaldo directed a wayward Scholes shot toward goal.
West Ham attempted to keep FIFA world player of the year Ronaldo out of the game by doubling up against him with Lucas Neill and Valon Behrami.
Neill ventured forward from fullback to test Van der Sar twice, while Carlton Cole failed to beat the Dutchman with a chip. Otherwise, the Hammers struggled to create opportunities as their six-match unbeaten run ended.
Van der Sar passed the mark set by former Aberdeen keeper Bobby Clark in the 1970-71 season during the first half yesterday. His arrival from Fulham in 2005 ended a six-year search for a long-term replacement for Peter Schmeichel, with only Fabien Barthez playing more than 50 league games during that period.
“I’m proud for Edwin,” Ferguson said. “At his age he has achieved everything, but you can see the way he is motivated by the challenge of the clean sheets and it’s an extra edge.”
Giggs’s Medals
Giggs has been a feature of United’s team since the Premier League’s inception in 1992, collecting a record 10 winner’s medals. He was named man of the match against West Ham.
United has 56 points through 24 of 38 matches, Liverpool has 54, with Villa three points further back. Chelsea has 49 points, five ahead of Arsenal. West Ham remains in eighth spot.
Arsenal failed to win as it tries to ensure entry to Europe’s elite Champions League next season. Gunners manager Arsene Wenger said he was pleased with the efforts of his players after Emmanuel Eboue was dismissed in the 37th minute following a second yellow card.
“I’m proud of our attitude during the 90 minutes,” Wenger told Arsenal’s Web site. “But I feel it is two points dropped because we had the best chances and we scored a regular goal that was ruled out by an illusionary foul seen only by the referee.”
Eboue put the ball into the net during the first half, but referee Mike Dean ruled out the goal for a push on Jonathan Woodgate.
Chances Missed
Both teams missed several chances, including one for either side during injury time at the end of the second half. Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia denied Luka Modric, then Carlo Cudicini tipped over a Nicklas Bendtner effort.
Bendtner replaced Emmanuel Adebayor, who suffered a hamstring injury at the end of the first half. Wenger said Adebayor will be out for three weeks.
The scoreless draw extended Arsenal’s unbeaten league run against its north London neighbor to 19 games and leaves Tottenham in 15th, two points above the three-team relegation positions. Bloomberg
Eto'o scores twice as Barcelona march on
Barcelona continued their march towards the Spanish Primera Liga title as Samuel Eto'o scored twice in their 3-1 home victory over Sporting Gijon -- a result that moves them once again 12 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid at the top of the table.
Eto'o scored his opener in the 23rd minute when he tapped home Thierry Henry's cross, after Andres Iniesta had carried the ball with pace from his own half.
The Cameroon striker added his 21st goal of the season, four clear of nearest top scorer challenger David Villa on 17, when he smashed a Lionel Messi pass into the top corner with five minutes of the first half remaining.
Brazilian Dani Alves added a third in the second half as Barcelona eased to their 10th successive league win, before Gijon midfielder Kike Mateo trimmed Barcelona's lead with a low shot from the edge of the area.
Eto'o was denied his hat-trick when he struck the post, while Henry spurned several chances to also find the scoresheet.
Meanwhile, new Atletico Madrid coach Abel Resino made a winning debut as his side defeated Recreativo Huelva 3-0 to record their first victory in 2009.
Resino replaced Javier Aguirre this week and the change had the desired effect as Atletico closed to within two points of fourth-placed Valencia. Sergio Aguero scored after just two minutes and Diego Forlan hit a quick-fire brace to wrap up the points.
Villarreal stay two points ahead of Atletico in fifth after a 2-1 triumph over Numancia, with Giuseppe Rossi netting both the goals. CNN International
Beckham, Ronaldinho thank Milan move for recalls
David Beckham and Ronaldinho are back in their national team squads against familiar foes and the AC Milan teammates are out to prove they deserve a shot at another World Cup.
Dropped by manager Fabio Capello for England's last game, Beckham has been recalled for Wednesday's friendly against European champion Spain, where he used to play for Real Madrid.
Ronaldinho was left out of Brazil's last three games by coach Dunga but has been selected to face Italy. With another Milan star, Kaka, ruled out with a foot injury, he hopes to start against the Italians on neutral turf at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.
A few months ago when they weren't playing, it looked as if both stars might miss out on playing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Now they have a great chance to show their coaches why they should be there and the common thread is that the breakthrough happened after they moved to seven-time European champion Milan.
Ronaldinho moved to the San Siro after a disappointing end to his five-year spell with Barcelona, arriving overweight and short of fitness. He worked hard in training, returned to goalscoring form in Serie A and that impressed Dunga who upset many Brazilians fans by continuing to leave him out.
"We knew we would be able to count on him after he got to play more matches with Milan," said the Brazil coach, although those words could well have been Capello talking about Beckham.
After playing as a late substitute in four World Cup qualifying victories, the England star lost his place in a friendly against Germany last November because he was idle.
The Los Angeles Galaxy failed to qualify for the MLS playoffs and Capello stuck to his principal that no player gets into his team unless he is fit and playing competitive football.
Beckham moved to Milan on loan and scored twice in six appearances, Capello flying over to Italy to see him in action for one of the games. He did enough to earn a recall and now the England coach has to decide whether he starts against Spain in Seville where Beckham would tie Bobby Moore's record of 108 appearances for an England outfield player.
"Beckham is a very important player," Capello said. "His form is OK now. I followed him in Milan. Now he's fit. You know every player who wants to be in the squad has to play, not only training. It's important to David, it's important for us."
Beckham has enjoyed the move so much he now wants to stay in Milan, even though he is barely halfway through his five-year contract with the Galaxy.
Unbeaten in 28 games since its 1-0 loss against Romania on Nov. 15, 2006, Spain doesn't want England to end that streak.
"This is a prestige match," said Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque, who is expected to field Barcelona's Gerard Pique and Sergi Busquets for the first time. "We are perhaps the best teams in Europe and it will serve as a test."
Brazil-Italy meanwhile brings together two teams who have won the World Cup a combined nine times and Ronaldinho isn't the only big name returning to action. Italy coach Marcello Lippi is able to recall goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and midfielder Andrea Pirlo from longterm injuries, Lippi has left out veteran striker Alessandro Del Piero who has lost form since the midwinter break.
Spain-England and Brazil-Italy are two of the highlight matches this week as national teams gather for friendly games after a long midwinter break.
France hosts Argentina in another eyecatching matchup while Germany welcomes Norway, Portugal takes on Finland and the Netherlands goes to Tunisia. World Cup host South Africa welcomes Chile to Polokwane, one of the venues for the 2010 championship.
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is back on Argentina's squad having been allowed to skip the 1-0 victory over Scotland in November. Barcelona came to an agreement with Argentina's football association that Messi would miss friendlies if the club allowed him to play for the nation's gold medal-winning team at the Beijing Olympics.
World Cup qualifying also resumes on Wednesday with Ireland hoping to go level with Italy at the top of European Group 8 by beating Georgia at home. Malta hosts Albania in Group 1 and Northern Ireland goes to San Marino in Group 3. International Herald Tribune
