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