Rooney double keeps United in hunt, Arsenal held
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-02-27 09:01

England's Wayne Rooney struck twice to give Manchester United a 2-1 win over Portsmouth on Saturday, cutting the gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea to six points.

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney celebrates after scoring his second goal against Portsmouth during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England Saturday Feb. 26, 2005. Rooney scored twice in United's 2-1 win. [AP]

United were in danger of being held to a draw at Old Trafford when Portsmouth's Gary O'Neil equalized just after the interval but Rooney provided a neat finish nine minutes from time to earn his side victory.

Earlier, Arsenal's hopes of retaining their title faded further when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Southampton.

A makeshift Gunners side looked set for victory after Freddie Ljungberg's 45th-minute goal against a side reduced to 10 men by the sending-off of midfielder David Prutton.

Arsenal forward Robin van Persie, playing because Dennis Bergkamp and Jose Antonio Reyes were suspended, was then needlessly dismissed after receiving his second yellow card after 50 minutes to hand Southampton a lifeline.

The hosts leveled on 67 minutes when lanky striker Peter Crouch headed in after Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had flapped at Jamie Redknapp's deep corner.

Arsenal, desperate for victory after their 3-1 Champions League defeat by Bayern Munich, would have won but for inspired Saints goalkeeper Paul Smith, who kept out late efforts from Thierry Henry, Ljungberg and Ashley Cole.

Arsenal striker Thierry Henry reacts to missing a shot on goal against Southampton. Arsenal's lingering hopes of retaining their Premiership title appeared to have been crushed after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Southampton。 [AFP]

Cole also had a stoppage-time headed goal disallowed for offside, while Crouch wasted a couple of chances for Southampton who have now drawn nine of their last 11 home games.

Saints manager Harry Redknapp said he was furious with Prutton whose second wild tackle resulted in Arsenal's Robert Pires being carried off on a stretcher with a gashed ankle.

FOOLISH TACKLE

"Prutton had no need to tackle Pires," Redknapp told Sky Sports. "It was a foolish thing to do and I've got no sympathy for him at all, we were playing well at that stage and it left us in big trouble.

"Their player (Van Persie) was equally silly, his red card let us back in the game. At halftime I would have settled for a point."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his side had responded well to the lame display in Munich.

"It was very positive for us today, even though we didn't get the result we wanted," he said. "I'm angry because (Van Persie's sending off) put us in a difficult position that wasn't needed."

Arsenal stay third on 58 points, four behind United. Chelsea, who play Liverpool in the League Cup final Sunday, have 68 points and a game in hand on their two main rivals.

Fourth-placed Everton consolidated the final Champions League qualification spot with an impressive 3-1 victory at Aston Villa -- their first at Villa Park since 1987.

Leon Osman scored twice and Tim Cahill added another as Everton moved eight points ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool.

Crystal Palace improved their chances of avoiding relegation as Andy Johnson scored two penalties in a 2-0 victory at home to his former club Birmingham City. Palace have 25 points, four better off than Southampton.

Substitutes Frederic Kanoute and Robbie Keane scored late goals to earn Tottenham Hotspur a 2-0 victory over Fulham as they moved up to eighth. It was only their second victory in a London derby in the last 23.

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