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Rooney And Ronaldo Hail Manchester United Performance Over Tottenham

Manchester United came from behind tonight at Old Trafford, to emerge eventual victors over visitors Tottenham Hotspur in a seven-goal thriller.

The comeback denied Harry Redknapp of his first ever managerial win at Manchester United's home stadium, and created history in that the game was the first time in over two years that the Red Devils have come back from a two-goal disadvantage.

Scoring five goals in the space of 22 minutes - all in the second half - United nullified and voided Spurs' lead, securing themselves the top spot of the Premier League by a three-point margin with a game in hand over title chasers Liverpool.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were amongst the scorers for the hosts, both players netting themselves a double, with Dimitar Berbatov adding the cherry to the cake after 79 minutes.

"It was a good comeback," Rooney told Setanta Sports.

"We played too slow in the first half, we had to quicken the game up.

"Going in 2-0 down at half time we knew that if we got that first goal it would get the crowd up, spurring us on further. Fortunately we got some opportunities and took them.

"[Sir Alex told us to] quicken our game up and make sure we score. If we score one goal, then you never know, you always have that chance to go on and win, and we've done that."

Ronaldo then chimed in with his take on the game, citing the introduction of pint-sized Argentine striker Carlos Tevez as the major turning point of the game.

"It's a great result," the winger started.

"To score five goals in the second half is brilliant. We said after the first half that if we scored one, we could score three or four.

"Carlos Tevez changed the game when he came on, he really started to press the defenders.

"We are at the top of the league now. It's great."

Quizzed over the importance of the game, Wazza agreed that United will now be favourites to take the title once more, but wants to make sure that the heads stay focused within the camp.

"It was very important that we won this game," Rooney went on.

"Obviously we're in a great position now - three points clear with a game in hand - but we need to make sure that we take advantage of our situation.

"Now we have a little bit of a margin going into the final stages, and that fills the squad with belief and confidence." Goal


Late-show Henry rescues Barcelona in Valencia draw

Barcelona dropped two vital points in the Spanish title race on Saturday in a 2-2 draw at Valencia where substitute Thierry Henry grabbed a late equaliser.

It means champions Real Madrid, now seven points behind, can close to within four points at the summit with victory at Sevilla on Sunday and then try to beat their rivals in next Saturday's 'El Clasico' at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Dutch midfielder Hedwiges Maduro and winger Pablo Hernandez scored twice in as many minutes to go 2-1 up after Barcelona had taken the lead through Lionel Messi on 24 minutes.

Henry scored in the 86th minute to salvage a point for Barcelona who had a 12-point lead over Real back in mid-December, but could find themselves just four ahead by next weekend.

"Getting a point is better than losing isn't it?" said Henry. "This Barcelona team has the quality and also the courage that you need to succeed."

Barcelona face a testing week with Chelsea at Camp Nou on Tuesday in the Champions League semi-final first leg before the title duel with Real four days later.

Saturday's result kept Valencia in fourth, a point behind third-placed Sevilla.

Messi missed the 4-0 midweek thrashing of Sevilla, but returned to the starting line-up with Andres Iniesta switching to the left while Henry, who scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 rout of Valencia back in December, was on the bench.

Xavi, Samuel Eto'o, Sergi Busquets and Dani Alves all walked a yellow card tightrope knowing a booking would rule them out of next Saturday's crunch clash against Real.

Stung by their 4-0 drubbing at Camp Nou, Valencia came out of the blocks at a frenetic pace putting pressure on the visitors' slick passing game.

But with 24 minutes gone, Barcelona got the breakthrough with Iniesta keeping his composure metres from goal to pick out Messi rather than trying to squeeze the ball past former Real Madrid goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez.

Messi cooly rolled in his 21st goal but it was Iniesta's composure which made the goal.

Barcelona had not conceded in the league since March 1 so it was a tall order for Valencia, but the hosts stunned the leaders with two goals in as many minutes.

In the 43rd minute, Pep Guardiola's side failed to defend a whipped-in corner with goalkeeper Victor Valdes and Carlos Puyol going for the same ball and Maduro bundling the ball in with his thigh.

It broke Valdes's run of seven consecutive clean sheets and he conceded again 120 seconds later when Hernandez played a neat one-two before slotting home.

Henry came on for Seydou Keita just after the hour and forced a fine save from Sanchez.

Sanchez was at fault for the equaliser four minutes from time, however, failing to punch clear and Henry lobbed the ball in.

Real travel to Sevilla on Sunday when all eyes will be on coach Juande Ramos as he returns to his old club, where he won successive UEFA Cups in 2006 and 2007, for the first time.

Ramos and Real are still reeling from a 10-match ban handed out to Portuguese defender Pepe on Friday for violent conduct in the 3-2 win over Getafe last week and the player will now sit out the remainder of the season.

Earlier on Saturday UEFA Cup rivals Deportivo La Coruna and Malaga shared the points in a 1-1 draw with Malaga left the more disappointed after missing an 88th minute penalty.

Deportivo goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia dived to his right to save Apono's late spot-kick.

Malaga, the suprise package of the season after being promoted, stay a point above Deportivo in sixth place.

Elsewhere, time is running out for Numancia to save themselves from an immediate return to the second division with the Soria club losing 2-1 at Almeria to stay bottom, five points from safety.

Numancia sensationally beat Barcelona 1-0 on the opening day of the season but have found the tough going ever since. AFP