United 3 Villa 2

It’s not called the Theatre of Dreams for nothing.

Seventeen-year-old striker Federico Macheda, making his first-team debut, became an instant Old Trafford hero when he scored a sensational injury-time winner to send United back to the top of the table.

Macheda, thrown on for the final 30 minutes, capped a superb performance with the sort of goal usually scored by the likes of Rooney or Ronaldo. Receiving the ball with his back to goal, the young Italian's first touch took the ball between his legs, wrong-footing his marker and allowing him space to curl a superb shot past Brad Friedel and into the far corner.

Earlier, Cristiano Ronaldo had put the Reds in front on 14 minutes before goals from John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor turned the tide. Ronaldo equalised with 11 minutes to play but Macheda stole the headlines with what could prove a title-winning strike.

Indeed, United now sit a point clear of Liverpool with a game in hand. It’s a scenario Reds fans wouldn’t have thought possible as Aston Villa enjoyed large periods of possession during the game.

Beset by injuries and suspensions, Sir Alex was forced to tinker with his starting XI. Gary Neville made his first appearance since January, while Nani was handed only his fifth league start of the season. Neville and Jonny Evans lined up in the centre of defence (Rio Ferdinand was ruled out with a groin injury sustained on England duty), with John O’Shea on the right.

Sir Alex’s major selection headache came in the striking department. With Wayne Rooney

EPL 2008-09 Season: United back to winning ways

Everton's Leon Osman celebrates after scoring past a dejected Chris Kirkland of Wigan in their Premier League match at Goodison Park yesterday. Everton won 4-0. — AFPpic

MANCHESTER: Teenage substitute Federico Macheda struck in injury time as Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League with a thrilling 3-2 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford here yesterday.

The 17-year-old Italian, who'd come on just after the hour for Nani, in what was his first senior league appearance for United, curled a shot from the edge of the box past Brad Friedel in the 93rd minute.

Victory saw champions United go top of the league by a point from Liverpool, who beat Fulham 1-0 on Saturday, and with a game in hand.

It had looked as though United, without suspended duo Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney, were about to escape with a draw thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo before Macheda struck.

World Footballer of the Year Ronaldo, who opened the scoring in the 14th minute from a free-kick inside the box following a Villa backpass, levelled the match 10 minutes from time with a left foot shot into the far corner and past a diving Friedel.
In between the Portugal winger's two goals, Villa stunned the home crowd with two well-taken headers from John Carew, in the 30th minute, and striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, just short of the hour mark.

Victory stopped the rot for United after a 4-1 loss to Liverpool and a shock 2-0 defeat at the hands of Fulham.

Villa stayed fifth, six points adrift of the Champions League places.

In the day's other match, Brazil striker Jo scored twice for Everton as they kept their bid for European football next season on course with a 4-0 win over fellow high-flyers Wigan.

The victory was Everton's biggest of the season as the Merseysiders strengthened their grip on sixth place in the table.

Jo, on loan to Everton from Premier League rivals Manchester City, opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a low shot after good work by midfielder Leon Osman.

Two goals early in the second-half settled the match.

Tony Hibbert's low cross found Marouane Fellaini, who was given time and space by Wigan's disorganised defence, before scoring his seventh goal of the season.

And, minutes later, when Fellaini's shot was palmed out by Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, Jo pounced from close range.

Kirkland's failure to hold another shot, this time a 20-yard effort from Fellaini on the hour mark, allowed Osman to score Everton's fourth. -- AFP

Revenge in Rome?

United are 22/1 with Betfred to avenge Saturday’s 4-1 home defeat by beating Liverpool in the Champions League final in Rome.

If you think, God forbid, the reverse will happen, then the Merseysiders can be backed at 28/1 to beat the champions for a third time this season on 27 May.It’s 11/2 that the North West duo are paired in the quarter-finals and 11/1 that they meet in the final. Fred Done, boss of Betfred, the official betting partner of United and a lifelong Reds fan, said: “I’m still smarting from Saturday’s drubbing, which came less than 24 hours after Kauto Star’s Gold Cup win cost me over a million pounds.
“But the consolation that came to mind as I left Old Trafford was that we could still gain revenge on the Scousers in the Champions League. That would make up for the two league defeats, big time!”The draw for the Champions League quarter-finals and semi-finals takes place in Nyon, Switzerland at 11:00 CET (12:00 GMT) on Friday 20 March.

Everton too soon for trio

Patrice Evra, Nani and Wayne Rooney aren't fit to face Everton on Saturday, but Sir Alex Ferguson remains hopeful that Nemanja Vidic will recover from a knock in training.It was hoped that Evra (ankle), who has missed the last five games since limping off against Chelsea, would make his comeback, but the game has come too soon.The same can be said of Nani (groin) and Rooney (hamstring), who also miss out for the Toffees visit to Old Trafford. But, like Evra, they're both expected to be available for the trip to West Ham United next Sunday, 8 February."Nani and Evra are both training with the first team," said the boss, "and Wayne will join us on Monday."Nemanja Vidic is the only question mark for Sir Alex, who has everyone else from the squad that defeated West Brom 5-0 on Tuesday. United will have a late check on the Serbian defender.“Nemanja got a knock in training on Thursday, hopefully he’ll be all right,” said the boss. “He missed training on Friday but we’re hoping he’ll be OK."Fabio is fit again after sitting out Tuesday's win at The Hawthorns. The Brazilian left-back made an eye-catching debut against Tottenham last weekend and will hope for more first-team action against David Moyes' men.There was more positive news for United; Owen Hargreaves made a significant step in his long road to recovery after successfully undergoing a second knee operation last week. "It was completely successful and better than the last one," said Sir Alex. "The last operation was more difficult, but this was a more clean-cut problem. He will certainly be ready for the start of next season."

Ronny's world no. 1

Cristiano Ronaldo has added the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year award to his impressive collection of individual honours.

Ronaldo received the accolade – voted for by coaches and captains of the 208 international federations – from Brazilian legend Pele at a gala event in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday night.

The Portuguese winger, who picked up the Ballon d’Or in Paris last month, is the first United player to scoop the prize, which was first handed out in 1991. David Beckham was twice voted runner-up (1999, 2001) during his time at Old Trafford.

Ronny’s 42 goals in the 2007/08 season were instrumental in helping United to domestic and European glory, and enough to see the 23-year-old pip Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Liverpool's Fernando Torres to the award.

AC Milan's Kaka and Barcelona's Xavi were also nominated.

avenged sevenfold!!!

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A Little Piece Of Heaven( Avenged Sevenfold)

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