LONDON: A hotly contested goal from Nani helped Manchester United beat Tottenham 2-0 and stay within five points of Chelsea after the English Premier League leader fought back to beat Blackburn 2-1 Saturday. Arsenal is also five points adrift of champion Chelsea after Alex Song's 88th-minute header clinched a 1-0 victory over bottom-place West Ham. Manchester City, though, is three points further behind after relegation-threatened Wolverhampton inflicted the second straight loss on the league's biggest spenders. While Wolves provided Saturday's big shock, Old Trafford was the scene of the biggest controversy. United was already leading through Nemanja Vidic's 31st-minute header when Nani netted in the 84th. The Portugal winger had originally unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty and then used his hand to casually control the ball after falling. Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes placed what he believed to be a dead ball down to take a free kick, but as he prepared to take it Nani swooped in and poked the ball into the net. Referee Mark Clattenburg's assistant on the right flank initially appeared to rule out the goal. But he was overruled by the senior official after consultation, sparking furious protests from the Tottenham players. “It was handball. He put his hand on the ball and dragged it down,” Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said. “He should have been booked. The referee didn't see him handball it, that's why he's allowed play to go on. “The assistant referee has seen it, that's why he's flagged. He's (Clattenburg) gone over and he's told him what he did, he should disallow the goal.” United manager Alex Ferguson said the original penalty should have been awarded and then added that Gomes “should know better. He's an experienced goalkeeper. I thought he made a mess of it.” “The referee played on because the goalkeeper took possession of the ball,” Ferguson said. “He then went to take a free kick thinking it was a foul. He made an error.” At Ewood Park, Chelsea came under intense pressure from the start and lax defending meant it was fortunate not to have conceded before Benjani Mwaruwari did put Blackburn ahead in the 21st. Benjani rose above Chelsea captain John Terry and met El Hadji Diouf's cross with a downward header to claim his first goal of the season. But Nicolas Anelka leveled in the 39th, sweeping home after Didier Drogba headed on Florent Malouda's cross. The recovery was completed in the 84th when Branislav Ivanovic met Yuri Zhirkov's cross at the far post. United drawn against West Ham In London, Manchester United will travel to West Ham in the quarterfinals of the League Cup as it chases a third successive title. The draw Saturday also saw Arsenal handed a home match against Wigan. Unlike in previous seasons, the Gunners are using many of their top players in the competition as they try to win their first trophy since 2005. A Birmingham club is guaranteed a spot in the semifinals after local rivals Birmingham and Aston Villa were paired in the draw. Second-tier club Ipswich, the only side from outside the top flight remaining in the competition, will host West Bromwich Albion. Games will be played in the week beginning Nov. 29.
