STOKE, England — Robin van Persie ended his two-month goal drought to wrap up Manchester United's 2-0 win over Stoke Sunday, restoring the leader's 15-point cushion and inching them closer to the Premier League title. The Netherlands striker had gone 10 United matches without scoring before slamming home a 66th-minute penalty — his 20th goal of the campaign — to add to midfielder Michael Carrick's opening goal from close range in the fourth minute. By successfully recovering from the derby defeat to Manchester City Monday, United needs only seven more points from its last six matches to clinch a 20th English championship. That would also require second-place City winning all seven of its remaining games. Van Persie is likely to win a maiden title in his first season at Old Trafford, and he has arguably done more than anyone to help rip the trophy from City's grasp. However, his goals — if not his impressive performances — had dried up of late and he was in the midst of his driest spell in nine years in English football. The relief on his face was understandable then, as he sprinted down the touchline after slotting the spot kick past Asmir Begovic and headed straight for Alex Ferguson. The manager has kept faith in the Dutchman, who lifted him up after a hug and then high-fived teammates. It was just as happy a day for Wayne Rooney, who was given a rare start in central midfield by Ferguson and gave a masterful display, controlling play with class, poise and a wonderful range of passing. In fairness, Rooney was given an easy ride by the host, whose famed physical approach was distinctly lacking on a bitterly cold and windy afternoon in the midlands. Its midfield was toyed with and it offered precious little in attack, leaving under-fire manager Tony Pulis with plenty to ponder in the forthcoming relegation battle. Joy for Di Canio Paolo Di Canio enjoyed his first win as Sunderland manager following a trio of spectacular goals in a 3-0 victory over local rival Newcastle Sunday, lifting the team three points clear of the relegation zone. The combustible Italian celebrated the goals wildly, sprinting down the touchline to deliver repeated double fist pumps after Stephane Sessegnon's 27th-minute opener and then sliding on his knees after Adam Johnson curled in a superb second in the 74th. After David Vaughan sealed victory in the 82nd, a buoyant Di Canio joined a group team hug. The result ended Sunderland's 10-match winless run in the league and kept Newcastle in trouble, two points above its neighbor with five games left. Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse had a goal wrongly disallowed in the 61st for offside. — Agencies
Standings P W D L F A Pts 1. Man United 32 26 2 4 73 33 80 2. Man City 31 19 8 4 57 27 65 3. Arsenal 32 17 8 7 64 35 59 4. Chelsea 31 17 7 7 61 33 58 5. Tottenham 32 17 7 8 55 40 58 6. Everton 32 14 13 5 51 37 55 7. Liverpool 33 13 11 9 59 40 50 8. West Bromwich 32 13 5 14 42 43 44 9. Swansea City 32 10 11 11 43 42 41 10. Fulham 32 10 10 12 44 48 40 11. Southampton 33 9 11 13 47 54 38 12. West Ham 32 10 8 14 36 45 38 13. Newcastle 33 10 6 17 42 59 36 14. Norwich 33 7 14 12 31 52 35 15. Sunderland 33 8 10 15 37 45 34 16. Stoke City 33 7 13 13 28 41 34 17. Aston Villa 33 8 10 15 36 60 34 18. Wigan Athletic 31 8 7 16 37 57 31 19. QPR 33 4 12 17 29 54 24 20. Reading 33 5 9 19 36 63 24
