Carlos Tevez produced a stunning equalizer before Michael Carrick’s late strike earned Manchester United a 2-1 victory at Wigan Athletic on Wednesday to move within one point of a third consecutive Premier League title.
United trailed to Hugo Rodallega’s first-half goal, but the visitors surged back after the interval and now need a draw at home to Arsenal on Saturday to wrap up a record-equaling 18th crown.
The champions, who have won seven league matches in a row, have 86 points to second-placed Liverpool’s 80 with two games remaining.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Tevez, who was quoted in Sunday’s newspapers as saying he wanted to leave the club, came off the bench in the second half and produced a piece of magic after 62 minutes that left the 5,000 United fans in the stadium singing his name.
Tevez joined Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo in a four-pronged attack in the second half that finally wore down a spirited Wigan side.
United had to do it the hard way though after a poor first-half performance in which they were continually stretched by the movement of Antonio Valencia and Rodallega.
PHOTO: AP
Valencia wasted a good chance in the opening minutes, before Rooney squandered an opportunity at the other end.
Wigan went ahead after 29 minutes when Rodallega challenged Nemanja Vidic for a high ball and when it dropped to the floor, he reacted quicker than the off-balance Serb to drill a shot inside Edwin van der Sar’s near post.
Rooney blazed another effort over the bar, while Rodallega almost made it 2-0 before halftime.
United were much better after the break, especially after Tevez replaced Anderson in the 58th minute.
The Argentine had only been on the pitch four minutes when he flicked an off-target Carrick shot through his own legs with his back to goal, directing the ball beyond Wigan keeper Richard Kingson in a flash.
It was the signal for a United onslaught.
Ronaldo fired one effort high over the bar, but was involved in the winner when his low cross arrived at Carrick’s feet and the midfielder sent an unstoppable shot past Kingson.
■BUNDESLIGA
AFP, BERLIN
VfB Stuttgart stayed in the Bundesliga title race on Wednesday after Romanian striker Ciprian Marica scored the winner in a 2-1 win at Schalke 04 to stay two points behind leaders Wolfsburg with two games left.
Stuttgart remain fourth, but only two points separate the top four teams, with Wolfburg, Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin — who all won on Tuesday — still in contention to be crowned German champions when the season ends on May 23.
Stuttgart’s Brazil striker Cacau put his side ahead on 15 minutes with a good strike from 20m, but Schalke came back when Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic curled in a free-kick on 39 minutes to make it 1-1.
In the second half, Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger drove a shot at Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who could only parry his shot and Marica stabbed home the ball on 56 minutes to give his side three points.
Hamburg are fifth, but stay five points behind the leaders and effectively out of the title race, after Croatia striker Ivica Olic netted twice as they hammered VfL Bochum 3-0.
Germany midfielder Torsten Frings scored twice, including a penalty, as Werder Bremen routed Eintracht Frankfurt 5-0 as the UEFA Cup finalists stayed 10th in the league.
In the relegation battle, Borussia Moenchengladbach took a huge step toward safety with their second consecutive win when Brazilian Dante scored in injury-time to seal a 1-0 win over Energie Cottbus.
The result leaves ’Gladbach 14th, but only three points separate the bottom four places, while Hoffenheim are seventh after their 2-0 win at Arminia Bielefeld.
■LIGUE 1
AFP, PARIS
Marseille and Bordeaux remained locked in the race for the French league title on Wednesday, with a victory apiece and just three matches left.
Mamadou Niang bagged the opener for Marseille against Nice with a fine shot on the turn after 26 minutes, before Brazilian Brandao, who has averaged a goal every other game since his arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk in mid-season, made the points safe on the hour.
An end to end move saw home keeper Steve Mandanda feed Hatem Ben Arfa, who found Taye Taiwo down the left flank. The Nigerian quickly picked out Brandao, who nodded in.
Bordeaux fell behind to a Gael Danic penalty in the 21st minute after the Valenciennes striker had been brought down by Mathieu Chalme.
Fernando leveled in the 38th minute, heading in a free-kick from Yoann Gourcuff, and it was Gourcuff who ensured the win eight minutes from time when he scored from a Chalme cross.
Valenciennes coach Antoine Kombouare was sent to the stands, while Siake Tiene and Luigi Pieroni were sent off.
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