United overpower Chelsea to close on title, Arsenal stumble against Stoke

Chicharito v Chelsea

First half goals from Javier Hernandez and Captain Nemanja Vidic helped Manchester United overpower Chelsea 2-1 and close in on 19^th title at Old Trafford.

United got off to a flying start opening the scoring in the 37^th second of the game, when Park slipped in a brilliant ball to Hernandez who raced clear and slotted past Cech to register his 20^th goal of the season. United were dominant right from the word go and Rooney came close to doubling the lead on two occasions, but first his 25 yard shot was palmed away by Cech and then his powerful drive went fraction wide of the left upright. Park, who was lively right from the start, then came agonisingly close to scoring the second but his fierce drive was pushed behind for a corner. United scored from the subsequent corner as Giggs supplied a superb cross from left to Vidic who headed home from three yards to double the lead. Chelsea hit back creating decent chances but Kalou and Drogba were denied twice in space of three minutes by Van der Sar.

Luiz, who had a terrible first half was replaced by Alex at the interval, while Ramires replaced John Obi Mikel. The second half started with a moment of controversy as appeals for a penalty were turned down by Webb after 52 minutes when Lampard seemed to have handled Antonio Valencia's cross inside the box. Ancelotti then played his last card bringing on Torres for the last 25 minutes in place of Kalou, but it was Lampard who gave them a life line scoring in the 67^th minute when a cross from Ramires was headed down by Alex and Lampard stuck out a foot to slot past Van der Sar from close range. A minute later, a superb goal-line clearance from Alex denied United their third, blocking Rooney's shot from Hernandez's cross.

Rooney then had three chances to make it game, set and match but missed out on all the three attempts. It was Hernandez's turn to seal the match three minutes from time but fired his six-yard header over the bar. Chelsea could not pierce United defence thereafter and at final whistle whole of Old Trafford erupted in joy as United inched one step closer to the 19^th title. Manchester United need just one point from the final two games against Blackburn and Blackpool to ensure a championship victory.

Meanwhile, Gunners suffered a shock 3-1 defeat at the hands of Stoke at Britannia Stadium. Goals from Kenwyne Jones, Jermaine Pennant and Jon Walters helped Stoke overpower Gunners and warm up for their FA Cup final next weekend.

Kenwyne Jones v Arsenal

Potters took the lead in the 28^th minute when Pennant whipped in a free-kick which met Kenwyne Jones inside the box, who bundled home from two yards. Andrey Arshavin was culprit giving away a needless free-kick with a foul on Pennant at the right corner.

Stoke doubled their lead five minutes before half-time when Pennant's 20-yard shot took a deflection off Djourou's foot and looped over Szczesny into the top corner. A minute later, Walters almost sealed the match with a third but his curling effort from the left hit the cross bar.

Gunners brought on Nicklas Bendtner and Marouane Chamakh after the interval and the former laid a superb the ball inside the box to Van Persie, whose eight-yard shot was brilliantly saved by Begovic with his legs. Van Persie finally got onto the scoring sheet, running past two defenders and slotting a low right-foot shot past the goalkeeper. Stoke immediately hit back restoring their two goal lead when a poor clearance by Djourou met Walters who slotted past goalkeeper calmly to make it game set and match.