Manchester United produced an outstanding display of brilliant attacking football to demolish Newcastle United 6-2 at St James' Park today and move three points ahead of Arsenal in the race for the FA Premiership title. A hat-trick from Paul Scholes and goals from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ryan Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooy wiped out an opening goal from Jermaine Jenas which gave Newcastle the lead. But United, playing without the injured David Beckham, recovered brilliantly to inflict only Newcastle's second home defeat of the season and in the process finished off the Magpies already faint championship hopes.
Newcastle took the lead after 21 minutes with a superb goal from Jenas who lashed in a first-time shot from 20 metres after United failed to clear a Newcastle free kick. Solskjaer equalised after 32 minutes when he beat the offside trap and showed great individual skill by chesting the ball down and shooting on the turn past Shay Given.
Scholes’ first goal came after a crisp passing move by United which he ended by volleying a one-two with Solskjaer through Given's legs. His second was set up by a typically jinking run by Giggs which Scholes lashed wide and high of the Newcastle keeper. United went 4-1 up just before halftime when Giggs scored after Newcastle failed to clear when a shot from John O'Shea, whose footwork to produce the chance in the penalty area was almost Zidane-like, bounced back into play after hitting the bar.
Scholes completed his hat-trick after 52 minutes when he planted a cross from substitute Gary Neville wide of Given. The sixth came five minutes later when van Nistelrooy sent Given the wrong way from the penalty spot after Titus Bramble had tripped substitute Diego Forlan in the box.
It wasn't all good news for United, however, as Newcastle pulled one back two minutes from time after a poor Barthez clearance allowed Shola Ameobi to grab a consolation. United were also left sweating over four players who picked up injuries. Roy Keane had to go off near the end with a dead leg, Ryan Giggs and Wes Brown both ended the match with tight hamstrings and O'Shea injured his knee in a clash with Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer.
The match continued the high-scoring sequence between the teams and gave Alex Ferguson the double over Bobby Robson this season after their 5-3 victory over Newcastle at Old Trafford in November.
United now lead the table with 70 points from 33 matches, ahead of Arsenal on 67 from 32 and Newcastle 61 from 33. Arsenal are without a league match this weekend when they meet Sheffield United in the semi-final of the FA Cup. But the Gunners next match is against United in what could effectively be the title decider at Highbury next Wednesday. They will meet a United side who put the disappointment of Tuesday's 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League behind them in the most emphatic way possible.
Filed by James Boylan.
