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`Genius' Ronaldo claims Best record

Cristiano Ronaldo was hailed as a soccer "genius" after the Portugal winger eclipsed George Best as the highest-scoring winger in Manchester United's history and helped edge the Red Devils closer to another English title.

Ronaldo took his United scoring tally for the season to a remarkable 33 goals after hitting the net twice as Sir Alex Ferguson's side defeated Bolton 2-0 at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

United, who entertain fourth-placed Liverpool on Sunday, are now clear favorites to retain the Premier League title after opening up a three-point advantage over second-placed Arsenal with eight games to play.

Ronaldo went past Best's record of 32 goals in a single season -- set in 1967-1968 -- with two fabulous first-half strikes, an opportunist finish from 12 yards followed by a stunning 30m free-kick.

"The second goal was genius," said Bolton boss Gary Megson, whose side are in deep relegation trouble after losing their last five Premier League games. "I honestly don't know how he does it. Even my lads were talking about it."

Ferguson was equally glowing in his praise of Ronaldo, who he made captain for the night in the absence of Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney.

"He didn't make a big issue of it," Ferguson said when asked how Ronaldo reacted to being handed the captain's armband. "He looks comfortable with the responsibility that comes with the role. It was a marvellous second goal."

Ferguson regards Ronaldo as a worthy successor to the legendary Best.

"It speaks volumes of the boy's ability [the record]," he said. "It's amazing that he can do that playing in the position he does. Nobody can do that in this day and age. The free-kick was marvellous. He does put in the practise and he has this technique."

Ferguson had bemoaned his side's "charitable" finishing before this game yet he need not have worried.

After seeing his side struggle to overcome doomed Derby County four days earlier and having been eliminated from the FA Cup the previous weekend, Ferguson had demanded his players rediscover their touch in front of the goal.

The message was heeded by Ronaldo as he notched his 23rd and 24th league goals of the campaign, but Ferguson insisted the title race remained open even though his side are in pole position.

"The important thing was that we had the opportunity and the incentive to go three points clear of Arsenal, our nearest pursuers," the Scot said.

"It's nip and tuck now. I think it's going to go to the wire. Chelsea will be key because they have got us and Arsenal at home. It's a lead, it's not a significant lead but it's a lead nonetheless," he said. "With eight games to go the team who plays with the most consistency now will win it."

Ferguson made seven changes from the side who struggled to beat Derby and revealed that he had been looking at options ahead of Sunday's meeting with Liverpool.

Gerard Pique came in for the injured Rio Ferdinand while Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs were all rested.

"It was not a great performance but it was necessary to make those changes as Rio Ferdinand is doubtful for Sunday with a back problem," Ferguson said.

In Wednesday's other game, Robbie Keane equalized in the 88th minute as Tottenham held Chelsea 4-4 to stop the Blues drawing level on points with second-place Arsenal.

With Manchester United playing Liverpool and Chelsea-Arsenal on Sunday, the Premier League title race gets hotter as the teams go into their final eight games.

United now has 70 points from 30 games, Arsenal 67 and Chelsea, which led 3-1 and squandered the lead three times at White Hart Lane, has 65. Fourth-place Liverpool appears to be out of contention with 59.

Chelsea manager Avram Grant rued the fact that his team led 1-0, 3-1 and 4-3 and still couldn't beat Spurs.

"When you lead three times and you don't win the the game, I'm not so happy with this," he said. "It's good for the supporters but we wanted to win and we didn't so it's disappointing. The team are not so happy."

Didier Drogba headed home a cross from John Terry to give Chelsea a third-minute lead at White Hart Lane. But Spurs, who beat the Blues 2-1 in last month's League Cup final, leveled in the 12th when Jermaine Jenas swung in a free kick from the right and Jonathan Woodgate scored with a powerful header.

Chelsea regained the lead in the 20th minute when Joe Cole dribbled through the Spurs defense and supplied a pass to Michael Essien to chip the ball over goalkeeper Paul Robinson who had raced off his line.

Cole made it 3-1 in the 52nd after taking a pass from Claude Makelele, but Dimitar Berbatov replied for the Spurs in the 61st, beating Terry in the air and heading home a cross from Tom Huddlestone.

Huddlestone then equalized for 3-3 in the 75th minute, but Cole edged Chelsea back in front five minutes later.

It appeared that Chelsea would draw level on points with Arsenal but Keane struck again with a shot into the top corner in the 88th minute to make it 4-4.
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