Late strikes help United overcome Everton

Published October 9, 2002

MANCHESTER (England), Oct 8: Paul Scholes and Ruud van Nistelrooy plundered three goals in the last four minutes as Manchester United beat Everton 3-0 in the English Premier League Monday.

Scholes struck four minutes from time with a sweet left foot shot from 10 metres.

Van Nistelrooy converted a penalty on 89 minutes after Everton’s David Weir was sent off for a professional foul on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, before Scholes added the third with a rasping 25-metre drive in injury-time.

United had been frustrated by a diligent Everton until their fortunes collapsed.

Van Nistelrooy blasted over the crossbar early in the second half and David Beckham was unlucky to hit the woodwork with a deft chip 11 minutes from time.

Everton nearly took the lead before Scholes pounced, as 16-year-old substitute Wayne Rooney forced a diving save out of Fabien Barthez.—Reuters