Source: Telegraph
Manchester United back on top after Federico Macheda injurytime winner against Villa
Seventeen-year-old Federico Macheda sent Manchester United back to the top of the Premier League table with a winner against Aston Villa in the second minute of stoppage time.
Villa looked certain victors once John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor had overturned Cristiano Ronaldo's opener.
However, Macheda's arrival changed the course of the game. Ronaldo brought United level 10 minutes from time before the young Italian turned onto Ryan Giggs' pass and produced a brilliant finish.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side did not line-up in the formation that was expected, with Gary Neville starting his first game for two months as a centre-half, John O'Shea at right-back, while Ronaldo was on the wing and Giggs provided the support for Carlos Tevez up front.
After Liverpool's win at Fulham on Saturday evening, United did not need to be told about the importance of getting three points, although it was their penalty area which came under threat first as Edwin van der Sar
came out to punch Ashley Young's cross away from danger.
Jonny Evans slid in to turn a low cross from Nicky Shorey behind for a corner which created more panic in the United box when Carew got his head to it.
Unfortunately for Villa, Darren Fletcher was stationed by the near post and the Scotland international touched Carew's effort onto the woodwork with his knee as the hosts escaped.
United had barely been in Villa's half but when James Milner got his wires crossed with Brad Friedel, the 'keeper was forced to handle a backpass inside his own box.
Villa were fearful of the danger, with Milner booked for charging out of the wall too early. They were right to be wary too as Giggs rolled the ball square a couple of inches and Ronaldo whipped the ball into the roof of the net.
Villa, though, were worthy of an equaliser and it arrived after half an hour, with United's defence looking at themselves after allowing first Gareth Barry, then Carew too much space.
When the midfielder wriggled out of a three-man tackle by the touchline, he spotted Carew had moved into a large amount of space between Neville and O'Shea, and the Norwegian striker calmly steered his header wide of Van der Sar.
Agbonlahor was left unimpressed at a couple of debatable offside decisions in the second half, the second of which denied him a 40-yard run at the United goal.
Patrice Evra then robbed Milner to halt yet another Villa attack but on their next break, the visitors grabbed a second.
Ronaldo took a hefty portion of blame for gifting the visitors possession in the first place. But there was still a long way for Villa to go before they found the net; Stilian Petrov racing over halfway before releasing Carew, whose cross was nodded home by Agbonlahor.
The visitors were well worthy of their lead. The problem for Ferguson was how to respond given his bench was largely made up of untested rookies.
Ferguson's answer came in the form of Macheda, a 17-year-old former member of Lazio's academy, who arrived at Old Trafford in 2007. The Italian made a difference and had a penalty appeal waved away when he was sent tumbling by Curtis Davies.
Macheda's arrival did bring more direction to United's play and O'Shea got a header on target before, out of nothing, Ronaldo struck again.
Michael Carrick and Giggs exchanged passes on the edge of the area before Ronaldo was presented with a square ball that enabled him to tuck a 20-yard shot into the bottom corner.
Ronaldo then flashed a shot over before Tevez was replaced by Danny Welbeck four minutes from time. And the youngster soon thought he had scored only for Friedel to make a stunning save.
However, just as Liverpool did last night, United left the decisive moment until the second minute of stoppage time as Macheda made the most amazing arrival to English football, turning his marker before curling the ball beyond Friedel.
