United closes in on title as Sunderland eases worries

Robin van Persie converted the penalty to seal Man United's 2-0 win.

Manchester United closed in on its 20th title when it won 2-0 at struggling Stoke City yesterday and needs only seven points from its remaining six matches to reclaim the English Premier League crown.

Michael Carrick put United ahead with a scrappy goal after four minutes and striker Robin van Persie ended his 10-match scoring drought with a 66th-minute penalty to seal the points from a game United dominated from start to finish.

It now has 80 points from 32 games, 15 clear of current champion Manchester City, which was taking on Chelsea later in the FA Cup semifinal.

At the other end, Sunderland boosted its survival chances with a 3-0 win at arch-rival Newcastle United, its biggest win in a Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park since 1966 and its first there since 2000.

It was also Sunderland's first win in new boss Paolo di Canio's second game in charge.

That victory, thanks to goals from Stephane Sessegnon, Adam Johnson and David Vaughan, together with Stoke's defeat, lifted Sunderland into 15th place with 34 points. Stoke, which has now taken just one point from a possible 21, slipped back to 16th on 34 points, level with Aston Villa and just three clear of FA Cup finalist Wigan Athletic.

Queens Park Rangers and Reading, who both have 24 points, occupy the bottom two places in the table.

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