Manchester: Ryan Giggs scored his first-ever Premier League penalties as Manchester United kept the pressure on Chelsea in the title race by beating Tottenham 3-1 on Saturday.
The 36-year-old Giggs started and ended the scoring in the second half to put the defending champions two points clear of Chelsea ahead of its match against Stoke on Sunday.
"Experience gives you that composure to place the balls the way he did," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "They were fantastic penalties."
Giggs, who made his United debut in March 1991, has played in all 11 of the team's Premier League title-winning sides and his penalties could be decisive to the quest for a fourth straight championship crown.
Giggs' first spot kick was canceled out by Tottenham captain Ledley King's header, but Nani restored United's lead by lobbing Heurelho Gomes before the Welsh midfielder was on target again.
"We played well, that was important, but the key thing was we kept our nerve," Ferguson said. "It's a good quality to have at this vital time of the season."
Despite losing Tottenham remained fourth, but saw its hold on the final Champions League spot reduced to a point as Manchester City drew 0-0 at Arsenal.
Spurs had won seven of their last eight league matches, but have not managed to win at Old Trafford since 1989.
"After beating Arsenal and Chelsea, then coming here to face a team without Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, I am disappointed with the outcome," Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said. "One or two players were way off the pace — players who normally do well for us."
United was also missing the focal point of its attack, with Rooney sidelined due to a groin injury after having only recently recovered from an ankle problem.
The onus was placed on record United signing Dimitar Berbatov to provide goals. But although he missed several chances against the team he left in 2008 for 30.75 million pounds (then $55 million), the Bulgarian's backheel was instrumental in the first penalty.
Berbatov's first effort just before the 30-minute mark was blocked by King after he had seized on Gareth Bale's mis-hit clearance from Nani's cross. Another opportunity came thee Bulgarian's way at the start of the second half, but his header from Evra's cross drifted wide.
And United made the breakthrough when Berbatov flicked the ball through to Evra, and the France defender was fouled in a lunging tackle by Benoit Assou-Ekotto in the 58th. Giggs slotted the spot kick past Gomes' right hand and into the corner.
United was not being troubled by the visitors despite a confident early spell, with neither Jermain Defoe or Roman Pavlyuchenko providing much threat in front of goal.
Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon made a return as a substitute after four months out due to a groin injury, replacing David Bentley and provided more pace down the right flank.
And Tottenham was level in the 70th when King, playing in only his second match since February due to persistent knee problems, headed in Bale's corner.
Ferguson made an attacking change 10 minutes later, sacrificing right back Rafael da Silva for teenage striker Federico Macheda.
And it was the 18-year-old Italian who passed to Nani before the Portugal winger chipped the ball over Gomes to score in the 81st.
"Kiko played a great ball for Nani," Ferguson said. "And Nani had the audacity and courage to chip the goalkeeper from a tight angle. It says a lot about him — not a lot of players would do that at that late stage."
More slack defending allowed United to go further ahead, with Nani hauled down by Wilson Palacios and Giggs this time tucking the ball into bottom right from the spot.
Nani was playing despite feeling sick like defender Patrice Evra, who vomited on the pitch at the start of the second half.
"Patrice didn't feel too well yesterday, but felt OK to play," Ferguson said. "The heat maybe brought it on or it might have been something they ate or perhaps a bug is going around the place. They've got eight days to recover though so hopefully they will be OK."
United is at Sunderland next Sunday before ending the season against Stoke the following weekend.
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