Premier League: Norwich 1 Manchester United 2

A last-gasp Ryan Giggs winner – in his 900th Manchester United appearance – secured his club a 2-1 win over Norwich at Carrow Road on Sunday.

Without an ill Wayne Rooney, United made a great start to the match when Paul Scholes nodded home from close range in the eighth minute, but Grant Holt levelled for the hosts in the 83rd minute.

Giggs was there for United when they needed him yet again, with the 38-year-old scoring in the second minute of stoppage to time to trim Manchester City’s lead at the top of the English Premier League to just two points.

Norwich opened brightly with some quick crosses but United quickly settled down and broke through early when Nani floated a cross into the area and Scholes was waiting at the far post to nod it into the back of the net.

The visitors could have had a second a few minutes later when they advanced with ease down the right flank, the ball being cut back for Danny Welbeck in space close to goal, but the young striker’s low shot was well saved by John Ruddy.

The hosts’ nearly carved out an equaliser when Kyle Naughton’s delightful lobbed pass found an onrushing Anthony Pilkington in the area, but David de Gea blocked smartly with his foot to deny the winger.

The two sides began to trade blows in an exciting match. First Welbeck and Hernandez teamed up delightfully again to put the Mexican through for a low shot, but Ruddy dropped low once more to keep it out.

At the other end, Norwich countered with an excellent flowing move on the right. Pilkington’s left-footed cross swung in toward Holt, whose header across the face of goal was intercepted well by de Gea.

It remained 1-0 at the break, and the pace slowed upon the resumption.

Nearly an hour had passed before the first significant shot of the second period arrived. Bradley Johnson received the ball 20 yards out and swiped an effort low past the right post, though it never looked overly threatening.

United should perhaps have gone two up three minutes later when Welbeck found his way through the Norwich back line. With little time to manoeuvre, he dinked the ball out of Ruddy’s reach, but Zak Whitbread got back to clear before the shot reached the goal-line.

Substitute Wesley Hoolahan spurned a good chance for Norwich with 20 minutes to go when he found himself in space just outside the box and lined up a left-footed shot, but he struck over.

Norwich kept coming, Aaron Wilbraham advancing to produce a scintillating long-range shot matched only by de Gea’s brilliant leaping save, but just moments later, the Spaniard was beaten as Holt produced a wonderful equaliser.

The striker received a cross on the turn under pressure from the defence, shooting left-footed as he wheeled around and burying it past the helpless goalkeeper.

Welbeck should have restored United’s lead immediately when Giggs turned and crossed delicately to the far post. The young forward completely mistimed his header, though, and the chance was gone.

Heroics from Ruddy, saving again from Welbeck, seemed to have secured a point for Norwich but it was Giggs who had the last laugh, converting a great cross from Ashley Young at point-blank range to put the icing on the cake of a landmark day.