United step up Chelsea chase

Manchester United FC closed to within two points of Premier League leaders Chelsea FC with a hard-earned victory at Hull City AFC while Arsenal FC also won to increase the pressure at the top, Wayne Rooney and Cesc Fàbregas proving the crucial figures.

Fàbregas in form
With Chelsea held at Birmingham City FC yesterday, Arsenal and United had the chance to cut the gap on the leaders and the former took full advantage in the early game, the introduction of Fàbregas inspiring a comfortable 3-0 win against fourth-placed Aston Villa FC. With a hamstring injury restricting their captain to a place on the bench the Gunners struggled to fashion chances until Fàbregas came on in the 57th minute, breaking the deadlock with a fine free-kick eight minutes later. The Spanish international rounded off a swift counterattack to seal the points nine minutes from time, although he limped off shortly afterwards, with Abou Diaby crowning a fine win with a third goal a minute into stoppage time.

Mixed afternoon
United also initially struggled at Hull before Rooney put them in front from Darren Fletcher's cross in added time at the end of the first period. The forward's misplaced pass then led to Rafael fouling Jozy Altidore to concede the penalty from which Craig Fagan levelled a minute before the hour, although Rooney redeemed himself in the 73rd minute, Andy Dawson inadvertently turning his cross into his own net to restore United's advantage. Rooney also set up Dimitar Berbatov's clinching third goal with eight minutes remaining to take United on to 40 points, two behind Chelsea and the same margin ahead of Arsenal having played a game more than the north London club.

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On-form Fulham floor United

Manchester United FC's Premier League title prospects took a potentially significant blow with a 3-0 defeat at UEFA Europa League contenders Fulham FC, on a day when Aston Villa FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC strengthened their top-four claims.

On-form Zamora
Victory for United would have allowed Sir Alex Ferguson's team to draw level with leaders Chelsea FC, who travel across London to face West Ham United FC on Sunday, for the second time this week. The Blues, however, can now establish a six-point lead following United's second loss in three league games, the hosts forging ahead through Danny Murphy's curling shot (22). Bobby Zamora's fifth goal in four matches doubled the advantage a minute into the second period, with Damien Duff (75) rounding off the scoring with a left-footed volley.

Two-goal Crouch
That allowed Villa, in third, to narrow the gap on United to two points. John Carew's header (61) earned the Midlands club a home victory against Stoke City FC, while Tottenham, in fourth, won 2-0 at Blackburn Rovers FC thanks to a double from Peter Crouch. Arsenal FC, who drop to fifth as a result, will return to third if they overcome Hull City AFC in the late fixture.

Landmark goal
Elsewhere, sixth-placed Manchester City FC twice surrendered a lead against mid-table Sunderland AFC before finally emerging 4-3 winners, Roque Santa Cruz starting and finishing the scoring for Mark Hughes's side. Liverpool FC, meanwhile, lost 2-0 at bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth FC, who are now within two points of safety. Javier Mascherano (45) was sent off for the visitors at Fratton Park, 12 minutes after Nadir Belhadj opened the scoring with the 500th goal in the Premier League this term. Liverpool's Merseyside neighbours Everton host in-form Birmingham City FC on Sunday, while Burnley FC go to Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.

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United win to move level with Chelsea

Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated his 900th league match in charge of Manchester United FC with a 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers FC as his side moved level with Chelsea FC at the top of the Premier League.

Rooney strike
United's unbeaten home record was ended on Saturday by Aston Villa FC, but there was little danger of them dropping further points against Wolves once Wayne Rooney had broken the deadlock from the penalty spot on 30 minutes with his 12th league goal of the season. Nemanja Vidić (43) and Antonio Valencia (66) added further goals to leave United second on goal difference alone behind Chelsea, who host bottom side Portsmouth FC on Wednesday.

Villa third
Villa climbed to third after goals in each half from Emile Heskey and James Milner earned the points in a 2-0 win at Sunderland AFC, who had Lorik Cana sent off. Birmingham City FC are up to sixth after winning their fifth Premier League match in succession, 2-1 at home to Blackburn Rovers FC. Alex McLeish's side are now unbeaten in eight Premier League games. In the evening's other match Bolton Wanderers FC beat second-bottom West Ham United FC 3-1 to climb out of the bottom three at Wolves's expense. On Wednesday Liverpool FC, now eighth, host Wigan Athletic FC, Arsenal FC are at Burnley FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC host Manchester City FC.

Rangers rise
Elsewhere in Europe on Tuesday, Kenny Miller scored twice and DaMarcus Beasley once as Rangers FC won 3-0 at Dundee United FC to move a point clear of Celtic FC at the top of the Scottish Premier League. In France's Ligue 1 AJ Auxerre, in fifth, stay a point ahead of sixth placed Valenciennes FC after the pair drew 0-0.

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Cast your vote for Play of the Day

Two goalkeepers – albeit for vastly different reasons – and two exquisite free-kicks are among the UEFA Champions League Matchday 6 moments on offer in Play of the Day, presented by UniCredit. To cast your vote for the chance to win tickets to the UEFA Champions League final and other prizes, click here. Simply watch our clips of the best action from Matchday 6, choose the Vote and Win option and select your favourite play. Voting for Matchday 6 closes at 12.00CET on 11 January.

The six selections for Matchday 6 are:

Alberto Gilardino (Liverpool FC v ACF Fiorentina)
Gilardino buries substitute Juan Vargas's low, added-time cross past Diego Cavalieri to win the game and send Fiorentina into the last 16 as group winners.

Sinan Bolat (R. Standard de Liège v AZ Alkmaar)
The first goal a keeper had scored in open play in the UEFA Champions League took Standard into the UEFA Europa League at AZ's expense, Boilat brilliantly heading past his AZ counterpart Sergio Romero from Benjamin Nicaise's free-kick deep in added time for a 1-1 draw.

Lionel Messi (FC Dynamo Kyiv v FC Barcelona)
With the score tied late in the game, Messi delivered the knockout blow with a whipped free-kick that cannoned in off the bar.

Steve Mandanda (Olympique de Marseille v Real Madrid CF)
Mandanda made a number of fine saves during the match but none were better than his stop to deny Marcelo as the visitors began building second-half pressure, the French international diverting the ball over as the full-back blasted goalwards from the left.

Milan Gajić (FC Zürich v AC Milan)
Zürich took a 29th-minute lead with a moment of great skill from Gajić, whose free-kick bent around Milan's wall and in off the left-hand post, giving Dida no chance.

Michael Owen (VfL Wolfsburg v Manchester United FC)
The United striker rolls back the years and caps a lightning counter-attack with a cool chip over Diego Benaglio to complete his hat-trick in fine style.

To watch all six and cast your vote, click here.

What was the best piece of skill you saw on Matchday 6? Have your say below.

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Relief for Chelsea as Villa beat United

Manchester United FC failed to capitalise on an earlier Chelsea FC draw as the champions lost 1-0 at home to an Aston Villa FC side now occupying third place in the Premier League.

Landmark win
Gabriel Agbonlahor's first-half header from Ashley Young's cross gave Villa their first league win at Old Trafford since 1983 – three years before the striker was born – and provided a huge boost to Chelsea after the leaders were held 3-3 at home by Everton FC despite two goals from Didier Drogba. Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Nemanja Vidić and Dimitar Berbatov all went close to equalising at Old Trafford but Villa were not to be denied a first victory against United in a decade.

Defensive concerns
Chelsea's defensive jitters continued as they dropped their first home points of the season and recorded a fourth game without victory in all competitions – a run which has seen Carlo Ancelotti's side leak ten goals. Chelsea have 37 points with United on 34 while Villa moved into third place with 29 points. Tottenham Hotspur FC spurned the chance to move into third spot above Arsenal FC by losing 1-0 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, Kevin Doyle on target. The Gunners, who are nine points behind Chelsea with two games in hand, face Liverpool FC at Anfield on Sunday.

Exciting draw
Birmingham City FC were the only other winners, a 1-0 defeat leaving West Ham United FC in the relegation zone. The five remaining games ended in draws, the most exciting of which was at Bolton Wanderers FC where the home side led three times against Manchester City FC but could not see off the sixth-placed side.

©Reuters 1998-2009. All rights reserved.

United show faith in Welbeck

Hot on the heels of fellow Manchester United FC striker Federico Macheda signing improved terms, England Under-21 forward Daniel Welbeck has pledged his future to Old Trafford with a new contract tying him to the club until June 2013.

'Terrific career'
Welbeck, 19, has caught the eye as a starter in United's last two UEFA Champions League Group B games. He now emulates Macheda, who reiterated his allegiance earlier this month, in showing his commitment to Sir Alex Ferguson's side. "We are delighted," said the United manager. "We see Danny as one of the great young players who has emerged from the academy. He will have a terrific career and we are glad he has placed his trust in us."

England success
A member of the England squads that finished runners-up at the 2007 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and the U19 event in 2009, Welbeck added: "I am really happy, there was never a doubt that this is where I want to be. I am enjoying every minute and learning so much from all the great players here. I would like to thank Sir Alex, the club and the fans for all their support."

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Owen glowing as goals come flowing

Michael Owen struck a hat-trick to send Manchester United FC into the knockout stages as Group B winners on Tuesday and then told uefa.com it was his team-mates who should receive the plaudits for making goalscoring "easier" for him.

Masterclass
Owen took his tally in this season's group stage to four goals with a masterclass in the art of finishing which earned United a 3-1 win at VfL Wolfsburg and ended the German team's hopes of joining their English visitors in the last 16. Modest as ever, the striker insisted much of the credit for his prolific performance should go to the men in red shirts around him.

'Expect chances'
"There are only a few teams you can play in and expect to get chances, and this is certainly one of them," said Owen, who has now struck eleven times in 26 matches in European club football's élite competition. "Scoring them is a different matter, and it's probably the hardest thing to do in the game. But given the amount of chances that you get at this club, it's easier here to score goals because of the quality you're playing alongside."

Stoic
The United lineup at the VfL Wolfsburg Arena was not, however, packed with the familiar faces that have made them such an imposing presence in the competition in recent years. No less than 14 first-team regulars did not even make the trip to Germany, while the back four featured three midfielders with Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher forming a makeshift centre-back pairing. Despite Edin Džeko giving the hosts cause for optimism with a second-half equaliser, the United rearguard – ably assisted by a stoic display from goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak – withstood the German champions' desperate late onslaught to stretch to 15 games their unbeaten run in UEFA Champions League away games.

'Pleased'
At 29, Owen was second only to Paul Scholes as the team's senior member, and with four players plucked from the United youth side to fill the bench in Germany, the ex-Liverpool FC and Real Madrid CF forward conceded the duo's big-time know-how had been vital. "There were a lot of younger lads on the bench, and if they're needed it's important they come into the game and feel that we've got it under control. It's important for the experienced players to be playing well, and that was the case today," said Owen, before looking ahead to the first knockout round. "We're delighted to finish top of the group. It means we get our second leg at home, even though we don't know who we could play yet. We're pleased to be playing the second leg at Old Trafford and you're not going to lie – you always want to avoid some of the bigger teams."

©uefa.com 1998-2009. All rights reserved.

Match facts: Wolfsburg v Man. United

Wolfsburg

UEFA milestones
• None

UEFA Champions League statistics
• The German titleholders have committed 50 fouls, fewer than any other side, and picked up only three yellow cards, the joint lowest total in the competition along with Liverpool FC.

• Grafite is available again after a two-game ban following his red card on Matchday 3.

Latest domestic information
• Saturday 5 December 2009: VfL Wolfsburg 2-2 SC Freiburg (Bastians 27og, Johnson 81; Idrissou 19, Banović 51pen)
Benaglio; Riether, Ricardo Costa, Barzagli, Schäfer (Johnson 60); Josué (Dejagah 78), Hasebe (Ziani 55), Gentner, Misimović; Džeko, Grafite.

• Armin Veh made two changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Werder Bremen on 28 November. Captain Josué returned to the starting lineup after a ban and replaced Karim Ziani, while Marcel Schäfer came in for Fabian Johnson.

• Edin Džeko scored twice against Werder and has now struck 40 Bundesliga goals in 75 appearances, a total that includes seven doubles and two hat-tricks.

• All but seven of Wolfsburg's 29 Bundesliga goals this season have been scored after half-time, with nine coming in the last 15 minutes.

• Wolfsburg have won just four of their last 14 matches in all competitions, losing four.

• Wolfsburg's seven-game unbeaten league run, dating back to a 3-2 home defeat by Bayer 04 Leverkusen on 12 September, was ended with another loss by the same scoreline at home to 1. FC Nürnberg on 21 November.

• The 3-3 draw with 1. FSV Mainz on 31 October was Wolfsburg's first in the league at home since 30 August 2008.

Injury news
• Jonathan Santana – out since 13 November (thigh)
• Obafemi Martins – out since 25 November (left shinbone)
• Alexander Madlung – out since 28 November (calf)

• Martins underwent surgery on his shin in Hamburg on 2 December. The striker had been playing despite a bone inflammation in his left leg and was originally scheduled for an operation during the Bundesliga winter break.

Miscellaneous
• During the Matchday 5 defeat at PFC CSKA Moskva, Zvjezdan Misimović's second child – a boy called Niko – was born.

Manchester United

UEFA milestones
• The 2008/09 final defeat by FC Barcelona brought an end to United's 25-match unbeaten run – the longest in the competition's history. They had last tasted defeat at AC Milan on 2 May 2007. AFC Ajax and FC Bayern München shared the previous record of 19 matches unbeaten.

• United's 23-match unbeaten home run in the UEFA Champions League was ended by Beşiktaş JK on Matchday 5. They had not lost at Old Trafford since a 1-0 reverse against Milan on 23 February 2005.

• United have scored 397 goals in the European Champion Clubs' Cup, while Rodrigo Tello's winner for Beşiktaş was the 200th they had conceded in the competition.

• They have also conceded 147 goals in the UEFA Champions League, group stage to final.

UEFA Champions League statistics
• United's players have been caught offside 30 times, more than any other side.

• Nemanja Vidić's next booking will incur a suspension.

Latest domestic information
• Saturday 5 December: West Ham United FC 0-4 Manchester United FC (Scholes 45+1, Gibson 61, Valencia 70, Rooney 72)
Kuszczak; Fletcher, Neville (Carrick 34), Brown, Evra; Valencia, Anderson, Scholes, Gibson (Berbatov 67); Giggs, Rooney (Owen 73).

• United's third successive league victory took them within two points of leaders Chelsea FC as Sir Alex Ferguson's side scored four goals in an away game for the second week in succession.

• United have won 13 Premier League away games in 2009, more than any other side.

• Of United's 34 league goals this season, 25 have come in the second half and ten in the last 15 minutes.

• Three days after losing to Beşiktaş, United recorded a second successive league win, ending a run of two straight away defeats with a 4-1 victory at Portsmouth FC on 28 November. Wayne Rooney grabbed a hat-trick while Ryan Giggs chimed in with his 100th Premier League goal.

• Rooney's treble was his third for United and his first since a hat-trick against Bolton Wanderers FC on 28 October 2006. His other three-goal haul came against Fenerbahçe SK on 28 September 2004, his United and UEFA Champions League debut.

• Giggs has registered in the top flight in each of his 20 campaigns with United and is the only player to find the net in all 18 seasons of the Premier League era.

• United overcame Tottenham Hotspur FC 2-0 in the League Cup quarter-finals on 1 December, a repeat of last year's final which Sir Alex's team won on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes. Two long-range strikes from Darron Gibson settled the contest, the first time the midfielder has scored more than once in a game.

• The holders will face neighbours Manchester City FC in the League Cup semi-finals on 6 and 19 January, with the second leg to be contested at Old Trafford.

• United will play non-league Kettering Town FC or third-tier Leeds United AFC at Old Trafford in the FA Cup third round on 2/3 January.

Injury news
• Daniel Welbeck – out 27 October to 25 November (knee)
• Dimitar Berbatov – out 18 November to 1 December (knee)
• Owen Hargreaves – out since 21 September 2008 (knee)
• Rio Ferdinand – out since 25 October (calf)
• Fabio – out since 3 November (groin)
• Jonny Evans – out since 14 November (calf)
• John O'Shea – out since 18 November (ankle)
• Edwin van der Sar – out since 21 November (knee)
• Nemanja Vidić – out since 5 December (flu)

• Gary Neville was forced off during the first half at West Ham with a groin injury, while Wes Brown also limped off late on and Rafael missed the game altogether.

Miscellaneous
• Rooney and former United player Cristiano Ronaldo have been shortlisted for the FIFA World Player of the Year award. The winner will be announced in Zurich on 21 December.

• On 1 December, Rooney finished eighth in the 2009 Ballon d'Or vote, won by Barcelona's Lionel Messi with 473 points out of a possible 480. Erstwhile United winger Ronaldo came second.

• The following day, Federico Macheda signed a new four-year contract, tying him to the English champions until 2014.

©uefa.com 1998-2009. All rights reserved.

United aglow as Blues bow to City

Frank Lampard's missed penalty handed Manchester City FC a 2-1 win against Premiership leaders Chelsea FC, with a 4-0 win at West Ham United FC allowing Manchester United FC to make up valuable ground.

Fateful miss
Only two points separate the top two in England after City finally ended a bizarre run of seven successive league draws to beat Chelsea. Mark Hughes' side were unlucky to go behind after eight minutes when Shay Given's save from Nicolas Anelka rebounded into his own net off Emmanuel Adebayor, but the former Arsenal FC striker made amends before half-time, stabbing home the rebound from a Shaun Wright-Phillips shot. Former United man Carlos Tévez then gave city the lead with a 56th-minute free-kick, but Lampard missed the chance to salvage a point, with his penalty saved by Given following a foul on Didier Drogba with less than ten minutes remaining.

United rout
Earlier in the day, a rousing second-half performance at Upton Park earned Sir Alex Ferguson's United a comfortable victory over West Ham. Paul Scholes chested down to smash home United's opener in first-half added time, with Darron Gibson striking a fine second after just after the hour mark after being set up by Ryan Giggs. Antonio Valencia then slid in to nudge home a third before setting up Wayne Rooney to make it 4-0 barely a minute later.

Villa success
Cesc Fàbregas missed a first-half penalty for Arsenal, but they still beat Stoke City FC 2-0, with Andrei Arshavin and Aaron Ramsey on target. Liverpool FC, meanwhile, were held to a 0-0 draw at Blackburn Rovers FC, with Aston Villa FC taking full advantage, securing fifth place in the table with a 3-0 win against Hull City AFC. Villa's local rivals Birmingham City FC won 3-2 at Wigan Athletic FC, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC won 2-1 against fellow strugglers Bolton Wanderers FC, while the day's early fixture saw bottom side Portsmouth FC net a 2-0 triumph against Burnley FC.