[1]Alex Ferguson’s last home match in charge of Manchester United ended in a low-key 2-1 Premier League win over Swansea City as the Old Trafford crowd gave their long-serving manager a warm and emotional send-off on Sunday.
Defender Rio Ferdinand struck the winner three minutes from time, yet another one of the late goals which have been a feature of Ferguson’s 26-year reign at the club.
Ferguson, in his 1,499th match at the helm, received a rapturous reception from the fans and a Guard of Honour from the players of both teams as he walked on to the pitch as heavy rain fell at Old Trafford.
Champions United started brightly and Javier Hernandez scooped a shot on to the underside of the crossbar after five minutes.
The home side dominated possession and they opened the scoring after 39 minutes when Mexican Hernandez reacted sharply to lash a loose ball low into the net from six metres.
Swansea briefly silenced the crowd when striker Michu equalised four minutes after halftime, getting in front of Phil Jones to steer a cross firmly past David de Gea for his 18th goal of the season.
Paul Scholes, making his 717th and final appearance for United, was substituted after 66 minutes and left the field in typically modest fashion to more warm applause.
Ryan Giggs, who has played in each of Ferguson’s 13 title-winning teams, came on as a late replacement and although Swansea threatened to grab a winner it was United who found one.
A right-wing corner fell kindly to Ferdinand at the far post and the England defender gleefully lashed the ball into the net from six metres.
United are 13 points ahead of second-placed Manchester City with one match left in the season, away at West Bromwich Albion next Sunday.
Earlier, Emmanuel Adebayor struck late to earn Tottenham Hotspur a 2-1 Premier League victory at Stoke City on Sunday that kept their slim hopes of Champions League qualification alive.
Ferguson led his team out for the last time at Old Trafford before the late game against Swansea City and David Moyes, Ferguson’s replacement, watched Everton beat West Ham United 2-0 in his last home match in charge of the Merseyside club.
Norwich City and Newcastle United ensured their Premier League survival with one match left in the season. Norwich crushed West Bromwich Albion 4-0 and Newcastle won 2-1 at relegated Queens Park Rangers.
Sunderland were held to a 1-1 home draw by Southampton and can still go down as they are just four points above third-bottom Wigan Athletic who have two games left. Daniel Sturridge scored a hat-trick to lead Liverpool to a 3-1 win at Fulham.
Spurs trailed to Steven Nzonzi’s early goal but Clint Dempsey equalised and after Stoke’s Charlie Adam was sent off just minutes into the second half, Spurs made their advantage count when
Adebayor tapped in at the far post to earn his team a vital win. Tottenham climbed above Arsenal into fourth place, three points behind Chelsea with one match left. Arsenal trail Spurs by two points but have two games to play.
Scholes announces retirement ‘for good’
Long-serving United midfielder Paul Scholes announced his retirement for a second time on Saturday — just days after manager Ferguson said he would be standing down at the end of the season.
Former England international Scholes, 38, first quit in 2011 to take up a position on United’s coaching staff but returned to first team action in January last year.
“Yes, I am finally hanging up my boots for good,” said Scholes, who is expected to make his first appearance since January in Sunday’s Premier League match against Swansea at Old Trafford — Ferguson’s final home match as United manager. “Playing football is all I have ever wanted to do and to have had such a long and successful career at Manchester United, under the greatest manager of all time, has been an honour,” he said.
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