A thunderbolt from Rafael da Silva set Manchester United on the way to a 2-0 win at bottom club Queens Park Rangers on Saturday that sent Alex Ferguson's side 15 points clear in the Premier League.
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The Brazilian right-back struck in the 23rd minute, arrowing a crisp, first-time drive right into the top left corner from outside the box after Julio Cesar had pushed away a shot from Robin van Persie.
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The goal came at a cost for United, however, with top scorer van Persie tumbling into the photographers' pit behind Cesar's goal and sustaining a hip injury that forced him off four minutes before halftime.
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The evergreen Ryan Giggs sealed victory in the 80th minute, ghosting onto Nani's through ball and whipping a low shot past the exposed Cesar.
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Victory gives United a massive lead at the league summit, ahead of nearest rivals Manchester City's home game with third-place Chelsea on Sunday. United manager Ferguson sought to play down concerns about van Persie's early exit.
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"It's a hip injury, so it might be tender and sore for a few days, but hopefully he'll be all right, particularly for the Real Madrid game (in the Champions League)
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Ferguson also saluted Giggs for helping United to close the game out.
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"You have to get that second goal and Ryan Giggs has a great record of scoring here," said the Scot.
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"He's delivered again – he's an amazing man."
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Meanwhile, Arsenal put their recent woes behind them as Santi Cazorla completed a brace with an 85th-minute goal that condemned relegation- threatened Aston Villa to a 2-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium.
everything is just going well with Man.united so far. i hope they won't stumble along d way