Ryan Giggs scored two penalties for Manchester United to keep the pressure on Chelsea in the English Premier League football title race by beating Tottenham 3-1 on Saturday.
The 36-year-old Giggs started and ended the scoring in the second half to take the defending champion two points clear of Chelsea, which hosts Stoke on Sunday.
Tottenham captain Ledley King equalised with a header after Giggs's first spot kick, but Nani restored United's lead before the Welsh midfielder struck again. Tottenham still occupies the fourth spot.
United had much to fear from Spurs, which may not have won at Old Trafford since 1989 but had beaten top-four rivals Arsenal and Chelsea in winning seven of its last eight league matches.
United was also missing the focal point of its attack, with Wayne Rooney sidelined due to a groin injury after having only recently recovered from an ankle problem.
The onus was placed on record United signing Dimitar Berbatov to provide goals. But although he missed several chances against the team he left in 2008 for then $55 million, the Bulgarian's backheel was instrumental in the first penalty.
It took United almost 30 minutes to threaten to score — Berbatov's shot being blocked by King after he had seized on Gareth Bale's mis-hit clearance from Nani's cross.
As United continued to press, goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes made his first save, denying Antonio Valencia's low shot. United's Patrice Evra and Berbatov both volleyed over shortly afterward.
Spurs was struggling to threaten despite a bright opening period when it confidently strung together passes on the slippery surface. Its best first-half scoring chances were Roman Pavlyuchenko shooting straight at goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and Gareth Bale sending a free kick over. Berbatov had another opportunity at the start of the second half, but his header from Evra's cross floated wide.
With Jermain Defoe making little impact for Tottenham alongside Pavlyuchenko, the England forward was replaced by Eidur Gudjohnsen.
United made the breakthrough when Berbatov flicked the ball through to Evra, and the France defender was fouled in a lunging tackle by Benoit Assou-Ekotto in the 58th. Giggs slotted the spot kick past Gomes's right hand and into the corner. Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon made a return as a substitute after four months out due to a groin injury. He replaced David Bentley and provided more pace down the right flank.
The visitor was level in the 70th when King, playing in only his second match since February due to persistent knee problems, headed in Bale's corner.
The result: Manchester United 3 (Giggs 58-pen, 86-pen, Nani 81) bt Tottenham 1 (King 70).
