Manchester United are eight points clear at the top of English football's Premier League after beating New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen's Blackburn Rovers 2 - 1 at Old Trafford.
Blackburn ended United's clean sheet streak after 1337 minutes however when Rocque Santa Cruz's equaliser cancelled out Wayne Rooney's opener. Nelsen nearly scored his first-ever goal for Blackburn in the second half, hitting the post with the goal at his mercy.
It was a costly miss as Cristiano Ronaldo then scored the winner with a trademark free kick.
Chelsea kept their title hopes alive with a 1 - 0 win at Aston Villa in the Dutchman Guus Hiddink's first match in charge while cross-town London rivals Arsenal continue to lose ground. Arsenal drew nil-all at home to Sunderland.
There were also draws between Middlesbrough and Wigan (0 - 0) and Stoke City and Portsmouth (2 - 2).
Bolton beat West Ham United 2 - 1 to put some space between them and the bottom three, where Blackburn remain.
In Scottish football Rangers have moved a point clear of Celtic after beating Kilmarnock 3 - 1. Celtic play at Motherwell overnight.
In Australian football Adelaide United beat Queensland 1 - 0 to secure both an A-League grand final spot against Melbourne and a place in the 2010 Asian Champions League.
