Soccer: Manchester win revives title race

Ruud van Nistelrooy

LONDON - Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy hit a second-half goal for Manchester United at Bolton Wanderers yesterday, to cut Chelsea's lead to seven points after the champions were held 0-0 at Birmingham.

Van Nistelrooy, starting from the bench again despite netting the winner against West Ham midweek, converted Louis Saha's cross on 79 minutes to seal a 2-1 win at the Reebok Stadium and breathe new life into the English soccer title race.

"It's our best result of the season, maybe," United manager Alex Ferguson said after his side inflicted a first home defeat on Bolton in 22 games.

"It was [a performance] of determination and grit because the pitch was not very good ... we kept on plugging away until we got the winner."

Chelsea were frustrated by relegation-threatened Birmingham City as the Londoners were held at St Andrews.

With six games to play, Chelsea have 79 points from 32 games with United on 72. Third-placed Liverpool (67) eased to a 2-0 win at strugglers West Bromwich Albion, Robbie Fowler and Djibril Cisse scoring first-half goals.

Thierry Henry scored twice in Arsenal's 5-0 demolition of Aston Villa, who are being dragged into the relegation dogfight, while Tottenham Hotspur had defender Michael Dawson sent off in a 3-1 defeat at Newcastle United.

Spurs remain in the fourth Champions League place on 55 points and bitter rivals Arsenal moved into fifth, two behind after running Villa ragged at Highbury.

At the bottom, Portsmouth's third successive win, 3-1 over Fulham at Craven Cottage, gave the south coast side hope of escaping the drop. Bottom side Sunderland drew 2-2 at Everton.

Van Nistelrooy has endured a frustrating few weeks at Old Trafford, Ferguson preferring Frenchman Saha to play alongside Wayne Rooney.

The Dutchman was again left out of the starting side but gave Ferguson food for thought with a typically clinical finish, his 150th goal for the club.

"We know when he comes on he's going to do it because he's the best finisher in the game," said Ferguson. Van Nistelrooy and Henry lead the league goalscorers' list with 21 each.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was unhappy with another unconvincing display away from home and his side have won just one from their last five away games.

"I am concerned, I want to win every game, I'm not happy with the performance and result," he said.

"It's [the title] in our hands. The important thing is we keep winning our matches at home and we will be champions again."

Birmingham, third from bottom and reeling from shipping 10 goals in their last two games in the league and the Cup, defended competently and produced the game's best moment when Olivier Tebily forced Petr Cech into a fingertip save from long range.

Chelsea almost stole the points at the death, but Argentine Hernan Crespo wasted two good chances while defender Ricardo Carvalho headed over.

The leaders also had two goals ruled out, Mourinho lamenting the decision to nullify Asier Del Horno's 50th minute header.

- REUTERS