Soccer: Ronaldo nets a couple to bury Arsenal

LONDON - Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals in four minutes to guide Manchester United to a thrilling 4-2 comeback victory over English champions Arsenal at Highbury yesterday.

It was Arsenal's first home league defeat since May 2003.

United had to play the last 21 minutes with 10 men after a red card for French defender Mikael Silvestre, but were not to be denied a victory that propelled them into second place behind runaway leaders Chelsea.

United, who have 53 points, eight behind a Chelsea side who face Blackburn today, dealt a huge blow to Arsenal's already faint hopes of retaining their title.

The Gunners have slipped to third on 51 points.

Captain Patrick Vieira headed Arsenal into an eighth-minute lead, Ryan Giggs levelled for United 10 minutes later with a deflected shot and Dennis Bergkamp, in outstanding form, restored Arsenal's lead before the break.

But Ronaldo's goals in the 54th and 58th minutes, along with an 88th-minute strike by substitute John O'Shea, completed a United double over the champions after Arsenal's record 49-match unbeaten league run ended in a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford in October.

In the day's other games, Liverpool won 2-1 at Charlton, Bolton beat Tottenham 3-1, Portsmouth were 2-1 winners against Middlesbrough and 10-man Crystal Palace drew 2-2 at West Bromwich.

The showcase game, though, was at Highbury, where a rampant United had the determination and the finishing needed to inflict another defeat on their bitter rivals.

Vieira, who had a verbal spat with United skipper Roy Keane in the tunnel before kickoff, put Arsenal in front after beating Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze to a Thierry Henry corner.

It was an ideal start for the Arsenal skipper, who was sent off when these two sides met in September 2003.

Giggs soon checked the euphoria of the Highbury crowd when a Sol Campbell clearance was charged down by Paul Scholes. Wayne Rooney flicked the ball into the Welshman's path and his shot flew in off Ashley Cole.

Arsenal rolled with the punch and hit back in the 36th minute when Henry laid the ball off for Bergkamp and the Dutchman rifled his angled shot between keeper Roy Carroll's legs.

Though both sides continued at full throttle after the break, it was United who came out on top as Ronaldo's salvo floored the champions.

He finished off a fine three-man move involving Rooney and Giggs with a shot into the far corner, and then tapped in at the far post after keeper Manuel Almunia rashly tried to block Giggs on the edge of his area.

The rout was completed when O'Shea chipped past Almunia.

- REUTERS