Daily News Channel
Champions Manchester United returned to the top of the English Premier League on Saturday after previous leaders Chelsea crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa. United held off a late onslaught from Bolton to secure a 2-1 home victory to move a point above Chelsea, who suffered only their second reverse this season — both coming away from home.
Three-time champions Germany qualified for the World Cup finals with a 1-0 victory away to Group Four rivals Russia on Saturday, thanks to a first-half winner from striker Miroslav Klose. The visitors had debutant Jerome Boateng sent off in the 69th minute, but Joachim Low’s side held on to establish an unassailable four-point lead with one match still to play.
Manchester United substitute Michael Owen broke Manchester City hearts with a dramatic winning goal deep into injury time at Old Trafford on Sunday. Owen cropped up in the fifth minute of added time to latch on to a Ryan Giggs pass and beat Shay Given with a trademark neat finish to give United a 4-3 victory in a pulsating seven-goal derby
Emmanuel Adebayor scored for his fourth successive match as Manchester City crushed his former club Arsenal 4-2 on Saturday, while English Premier League leaders Chelsea came from behind to beat Stoke 2-1 for a fifth straight win.