Macheda rescues United again

Super-sub Federico Macheda fired Manchester United back to the top of the Barclays Premier League table with a 2-1 win at Sunderland.

The 17-year-old, who snatched victory at the death against Aston Villa last weekend, did the same within seconds of his introduction as a 75th-minute substitute at the Stadium of Light.

United, who had earlier been knocked off their perch by Liverpool, looked to be cruising when Paul Scholes headed them into a 19th-minute lead, but Kenwyne Jones' 55th-minute equaliser left them having to dig deep once again.

Wayne Rooney fired a shot across goal within 16 seconds of kick-off and Danny Collins hacked Nemanja Vidic's towering header off the line after 17 minutes.

United did not have to wait much longer to score when Rooney cut inside to deliver the perfect cross for the unmarked Scholes to glance a deft header past the stranded Craig Gordon.

Sunderland went close to an equaliser when first Djibril Cisse and then defender Calum Davenport, making his first start, met Phil Bardsley crosses.

Goalkeeper Ben Foster had to tip Cisse's rasping effort over but he needed the help of the woodwork five minutes before the break when Carlos Edwards saw his driven cross flick off former team-mate Jonny Evans and come back off the foot of the post.

The equaliser arrived with 55 minutes gone when Foster failed to claim Teemu Tainio's cross under pressure from Jones, and the striker capitalised on a second attempt to stab home.

Scholes smashed a volley wide and Carlos Tevez curled a free-kick over and it took a fine block by Bardsley to keep out the Argentinian again.

Cristiano Ronaldo eventually came on in the 69th minute but it was Macheda who made the vital contribution, deflecting Michael Carrick's shot past Gordon.