Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa

United took the lead when Cristiano Ronaldo scored from an indirect free-kick after a James Milner backpass.

Villa deservedly equalised when Carew headed in Gareth Barry's superb cross and Gabriel Agbonlahor headed Villa in front from Carew's left-wing delivery.

But Ronaldo's low shot made it 2-2 before debutant Macheda turned in the box and curled home to snatch victory.

It was an incredible finish to a match that twisted and turned - and had looked to be going the way of Villa rather than the Champions.

But after digging deep, and finding inspiration from an untried 17-year-old, United have leapfrogged Liverpool at the top of the table.

And they also avoided a third successive league defeat, which would have been more galling given that Villa were thumped 5-0 by Liverpool in their last match.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez said his side's last-gasp 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday had placed the pressure on United, and he he looked to be right from the way the champions started against Villa.

They struggled with an unfamiliar back four that was forced upon them because of Rio Ferdinand's injury and Nemanja Vidic's suspension.

Gary Neville, retuning from injury, was brought in to partner John O'Shea in the heart of defence, but that proved to be a costly mistake.

Carew quickly served notice that he would enjoy the mismatch against Neville when his header was scrambled clear via Darren Fletcher and the post.

And the visitors were in the mood to expose United's vulnerabilities.

The pace of Agbonlahor, back in the side for the injured Emile Heskey, and the poise and passing of Barry was causing United all manner of problems.

But United were handed a lifeline when James Milner passed the ball back to Brad Friedel, who picked the ball up, and the resulting free-kick in the area was cracked in by Ronaldo after Ryan Giggs had rolled the ball to him.

The goal settled United's nerves and they began to stroke the ball around with more confidence, but without really penetrating.

And Villa remained dangerous on the break, particularly through Agbonlahor, whose speed was a big problem for Neville.

Ashley Young's free-kick was tipped over by Edwin van der Sar as Villa threatened.

From another quick counter Villa deservedly restored parity, Barry's excellent right-wing cross powerfully headed into the bottom corner by Carew as Neville stood by helplessly.

Shortly after, Neville was switched with right-back Jonny Evans - but it had been a half-hour to forget for the former United skipper.

He would have felt better if Ronaldo's glancing header had gone either side of Friedel rather than straight at the keeper and given United a half-time lead.

Instead, Villa struck again on 58 minutes when Ronaldo was caught in possession and Villa moved the ball quickly to Carew, and his cross was headed in by Agbonlahor.

United's response was to bring on 17-year-old Macheda for Nani.

The young Italian, who hit a hat-trick for reserves recently, appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty after he fell under challenge from Curtis Davies.

Then at the other end Davies was close to converting Ashley Young's free-kick.

United needed something special from somewhere and it came from Ronaldo, who picked up the ball on the edge of the box and fired a low drive into the bottom corner to drag his side level.

The impetus was all with the hosts now and it took a fine save from Friedel to deny Fletcher from 12 yards.

Substitute Danny Welbeck was next to be thwarted by Friedel as he saw his shot saved at point-blank range.

But United were not to be denied and substitute Macheda produced a moment of magic to win the game when he turned and curled a peach of a shot into the far corner.

Wasps star Lewsey to quit rugby

The World Cup winner in 2003, who secured 55 caps over 10 years, quit his international career last year.

The 32-year-old utility back has however, expressed his desire to still be part of this year's British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.

"I have never taken part in a winning Lions Test series. I would dearly love to go," said Lewsey.

Lewsey scored 22 tries for England, as well as winning earlier Lions honours, and helped Wasps to four Premiership titles, two Heineken Cups, a European Challenge Cup and two domestic cup successes.

Lewsey also revealed his next challenge would involve an attempt to climb Mount Everest in July 2010, before joining an accountancy firm as a management consultant. "I am 32 and I suppose I could have gone on for a few more years," Lewsey told the Sunday Times.

"But Vanessa (his wife) is finishing her doctorate, you have to think about real life and responsibility, the possibility of a family."

Lewsey won his first caps at inside centre and fly-half against the All Blacks on England's "Tour of Hell" in 1998 but did not establish himself as a first-choice starter until 2003, when he starred in wins in New Zealand and Australia after a Six Nations Grand Slam.

He played a major part of Sir Clive Woodward's England side that triumphed at the 2003 World Cup, playing five matches and scoring an English record-equalling five tries in the pool game against Uruguay.

The former Bristol player, who joined Wasps in 1998, has made the announcement as his club prepare for the three remaining games in the Premiership season.

He made 27 starts at full-back, 12 on the right wing, 11 on the left, one at inside centre, two at fly-half and two appearances off the bench.

After Lewsey missed out on selection for last year's Six Nations, he was then recalled to the elite squad by new manager Martin Johnson.

But following an indifferent start to the season with Wasps, Lewsey decided last December to focus his attentions on his club career.

He also failed to rule out a return to rugby, by saying: "One day, I may be back. I can count the number of great coaches I worked with on the fingers of one hand.

"Rugby has been my home, I have played it since I was four but it is time for the next step and the next challenge.

"In life, that is where the excitement comes from. Everest is seen as the ultimate challenge. It has been a goal of mine since I was young."

At the time of his international retirement last year, his Wasps coach Shaun Edwards described Lewsey as the "most successful back there has ever been in the northern hemisphere".

"That's not my opinion, that's a fact," Edwards added. "He's also one of the best big-game players there has ever been in professional rugby."

Van Pelt edges ahead in Houston

The American finished the day on 11 under after eight holes, with Fred Couples, England's Paul Casey, Colt Knost and Tommy Armour chasing hard.

Sweden's Robert Karlsson, England's Lee Westwood and Australian Geoff Ogilvy are a shot further back on nine under.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington was among half a dozen players at eight under.

Van Pelt, without a win in more than eight years on the PGA Tour, completed a second-round 67 on Saturday, then birdied three of the first seven holes in his third round.

Knost had led the field until a three-putt bogey at eight, while Casey, who shared the second-round lead at eight under, birdied the par five fourth and holed a 37-footer at the seventh.

Westwood looked in hot form, finishing the day with five birdies and a bogey, include three birdies in a row between nine and 11.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, preparing for his Masters debut next week, did not have the best of days with a second-round 73 and then dropped another two shots to fall to two under after 16 holes.

England's Justin Rose also disappointed with a two-over 74 earlier in the day, before ending his Saturday's third round on two over - level par for the tournament - after 15 holes.

The third round will resume later on Sunday, with the final round to begin immediately afterwards.