An own-goal by defender Pascal Chimbonda two minutes into second-half injury time rallied Manchester United to a 2-1 victory at Wigan in the Premier League on Monday.
The victory lifted United into second place in the Premier League with 57 points -- two ahead of Liverpool. Wigan stayed on 40 points in the middle of the pack.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored for United in the 74th minute, canceling out Wigan's opener.
Ronaldo's 11th goal of the season came following a pass from Ruud van Nistelrooy, who had just come on as a substitute three minutes earlier. It was Ronaldo's sixth goal in his last five games.
Wigan, which dominated the first half but failed to score, went ahead on the 60th with Paul Scharner's goal. Scharner knocked a loose ball into the net after the ball had been cleared off the line by Ryan Giggs.
"I don't think we have had a harder game away from home this season," United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports. "They [Wigan] were brilliant. We've had a bit of luck."
Dejected Wigan manager Paul Jewell added: "We have pushed Man United -- second in the league -- right to the end but the best teams always get the luck."
The loss was another blow to Wigan, which was beaten 4-0 by Man United a week ago in the League Cup final in Cardiff, Wales. Wigan also lost a league match earlier this season to United by the same score.
mccarthy sacked
Also on Monday, Mick McCarthy was fired as manager of Sunderland, the bottom club in the Premier League after a run of only two wins in 28 games.
The club appointed Kevin Ball as caretaker-manager for the 10 games remaining, with Sunderland all but sure of being relegated.
The Black Cats have 10 points -- eight fewer than next-to-last Portsmouth and 16 short of safety -- and they could break their own record of 19 for the lowest points total ever in the Premier League.
McCarthy guided Sunderland to promotion as the League Championship winners last season. But McCarthy had little money to spend and, after losing the first five games, he appeared to be fighting a losing battle from the start in the top flight.
McCarthy was positive as he drove out of the training ground on Monday.
"I've enjoyed every single minute of it. It's been a pleasure," McCarthy told reporters. "I'm sure I've got support, and I'm sure I've got people who think otherwise."
"As always, I've done my best -- I can't do anymore. I'll move on. I'll eventually do something else," he added.
The news of McCarthy's sacking came in a statement from Sunderland chairman Bob Murray a day after the Black Cats lost their 22nd league game -- 2-1 at Manchester City. They were also knocked out of the FA Cup by League One Brentford five weeks ago.
"As chairman, I take responsibility for what has proven to be an unsuccessful and heartbreaking season," Murray said. "I feel deeply sorry that the excitement, optimism and aspirations of all Sunderland fans looking forward to a return to the Premier League has been rewarded in this way."
The club's Web site said the board met on Monday morning and decided to terminate the former Ireland coach's contract.
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