Pienaar dents Reds’ title ambitions

Even in this most remarkable and unpredictable of Premier League seasons, the latest offering from Manchester United and Everton defied expectation and belief as David Moyes’ side scored twice in the final eight minutes to provide another twist to the Premier League title race.

Two goals from Wayne Rooney, others from Danny Welbeck and Nani, had seemingly put United in control of a pulsating game, and even more exciting title race, at 3-1 and 4-2.

But, in one of those moments that can change games, even entire seasons, Patrice Evra’s 81st-minute diving header struck the Everton post, from a Rafael cross, and, instead of leading 5-2, a nervy United faced an increasingly fraught conclusion.

After 82 minutes, Phil Neville’s pass saw Maroiane Fellaini rise with two defenders, the ball breaking kindly for Nikica Jelavic who converted clinically from eight yards, his second goal of the afternoon.

United were rattled and there was an air of inevitability about the equaliser, two minutes later. Neville again set up the goal with his pass finding Fellaini who turned brilliantly before laying the ball off for the unmarked Steven Pienaar who scored from six-yards out.

There had been no sign of the drama to come as United claimed three goals in 13 remarkable second half minutes — a period which also included an effort from Everton’s Fellaini — to take what appeared to be a vice-like stranglehold on the game.

Level at the restart and guilty of a sloppy opening 11 minutes to the second period, United took their first lead through Welbeck. Nani made the goal, winning an aerial challenge and squaring to Welbeck on the edge of the Everton penalty area for the forward to neatly side-step John Heitinga before placing a superb shot past Tim Howard from 17 yards.

The relief around Old Trafford was obvious and, buoyed by the goal, United clicked up through their attacking gears with Nani making it 3-1 after an hour. The Portuguese winger played a short pass to Michael Carrick who, in turn played in Welbeck. The striker’s quick-thinking saw him move the ball on to Nani who advanced before chipping the ball over the advancing Howard from six yards.

Fellaini’s 66th minute goal restored a level of anxiety with the Everton midfielder scoring with a stunning, first-time, right-foot volley from a dozen yards.

However, United’s next attack capped a productive spell for the home side and seemed to have settled any lingering doubt about the game’s outcome. Rooney and Welbeck exploited the growing gaps at the back of the Everton defence, exchanging passes which allowed the former to race clear and bury the ball emphatically past Howard.

It was thrilling stuff and a continuation of an exciting opening half in which United had been forced to claw their way back from a goal down.

The home team had been left with an apparent mountain to climb after Jelavic had headed the visitors in front. Former United midfielder Darron Gibson started the move with a pass wide to the right wing and overlapping full-back Hibbert whose deep cross hung in the air invitingly, allowing Jelavic to out-jump the poorly-placed Rafael and send a perfect header across David de Gea.

The goal stunned Old Trafford, conscious that City had an ostensibly far easier fixture later in the afternoon, although the response was swift after Howard punched clear a Rooney corner and Paul Scholes responded with a text-book 25-yard shot which took a double deflection before being smothered by the Everton goalkeeper.

Five minutes before the interval, United were level and Rooney entrenched further in the club’s record books, as Evra fed Nani wide on the left and the winger made space before curling in an expert cross which the striker headed into the Everton goal.

Mike Jones added five minutes of injury time and Rio Ferdinand, of all people, forced Howard into an acrobatic tip over his crossbar but, on this occasion, there was to be no spectacular late heroics.