Soccer: Rooney double crucial

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

Arsenal's hopes of retaining their title faded further when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Southampton, leaving the champions 10 points behind Chelsea.

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

"It was a tough game and we knew it would be a very difficult game," Rooney told Sky Sports. "When they scored they put men behind the ball and we made it very difficult for ourselves.

"We knew we had to win today to get to six points behind Chelsea and all we can do is keep winning our games."

In other matches, Everton moved eight points clear in fourth place with a 3-1 win at Aston Villa, Crystal Palace eased their relegation worries with a 2-0 home win over Birmingham City and Tottenham Hotspur beat London rivals Fulham 2-0.

Manchester United started well against Portsmouth as Rooney opened the scoring after eight minutes with a precise close-range finish from Gary Neville's cross.

Portsmouth, who inflicted one of United's two league defeats this season, responded well, however, pressing the hosts and creating chances.

The visitors equalised two minutes after halftime when Gary O'Neil scored with a 20m shot into the top corner of the net.

United dominated possession but failed to create many chances against the massed Portsmouth defence.

With just minutes left, however, Ruud van Nistelrooy found Rooney with a pin-point pass.

United's title ambitions remained alive but Arsenal's surely ended after Southampton came from behind to snatch a point.

The Gunners looked set for victory after Saints midfielder David Prutton was sent off and Freddie Ljungberg put the visitors ahead in first-half stoppage time.

Arsenal forward Robin van Persie was then needlessly dismissed after receiving his second yellow card on 50 minutes to hand Southampton a lifeline. Peter Crouch equalised for the hosts on 67 minutes.

Arsenal fullback Ashley Cole had a stoppage-time headed goal disallowed for offside, leaving his manager, Arsene Wenger, frustrated again after the midweek Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich.

Everton consolidated the final Champions League qualification spot with their first win at Aston Villa since 1987, Leon Osman scoring twice either side of a Tim Cahill strike.

- REUTERS