Nani magic undoes brave Spurs

Manchester United's season is up and running after Nani's spectacular goal gave Sir Alex Ferguson's champions a 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in a controversial game on Sunday.

It was a cruel blow on Spurs, who enjoyed the better of the exchanges but were undone when the Portugal winger beat England keeper Paul Robinson from 30 yards in the 68th minute to earn United their first victory of the season.

Starting the day one off the bottom of the table after two points from the first three games, United desperately required a confident start yet they were fortunate not to fall behind inside the opening minute as Robbie Keane hit the bar with an ambitious lob from outside the area. Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves went close for United, but Robinson was forced into just one serious save before the break.

With England head coach Steve McClaren looking on, Robinson produced a flying stop to deny his international team-mate Rio Ferdinand, yet that was the closest United went as Tottenham carved out the better chances in the first half.

The second half was full of drama, with Webb turning down two Tottenham penalty appeals in quick succession after Rocha had wasted a golden chance by heading wide from the edge of the six-yard area.

A powerful run by the impressive Gareth Bale found Berbatov, who clattered to the ground inside the penalty area underneath a challenge from Vidic. As the ball trickled towards the line, Ferdinand made a dramatic clearance while Tottenham appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears. Tottenham were then denied another penalty when Berbatov's effort struck Brown, the visitors claiming the England defender had used a hand.

In a frantic spell, Jermaine Jenas denied Carlos Tevez with a 66th minute clearance off the line before Nani's tremendous winner raised the roof. The Portuguese winger was given time by Anthony Gardner to line up a long-range shot, which took a slight deflection off Tevez as it flashed past Robinson

source: www.fifa.com