A stunning injury-time strike by 17-year-old Federico Macheda gave Man United a 3-2 home win over Villa to restore the champions to the top of the Premier League.
In the 92nd minute, the previously unknown Italian curled an unstoppable shot into the top right after leaving Luke Young for dead with a delightful backheel.
Villa had been leading through goals by John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor, with Cristiano Ronaldo adding an 80th-minute equaliser to his first-half opener.
Burly former Lazio schoolboy Macheda came on as a second-half substitute for the disappointing Nani and was only in the squad because United were missing seven first-team players through injury and suspension.
Ferdinand, Berbatov, Fabio Da Silva and Wes Brown are all out for varying time frames while Vidic, Scholes and Wayne Rooney were serving bans for recent red cards.
The net effect was that United's defence looked shaky and a bench filled with teenagers could barely provide inspiration when Sir Alex Ferguson's side went behind
Villa started brightly and they went close through a Carew header cleared off the line by Darren Fletcher on five minutes.
Gabriel Agbonlahor was getting the better of Gary Neville as United looked unsure at the back with Rio Ferdinand injured and Nemanja Vidic suspended.
But the hosts took the lead after a moment of madness saw James Milner touch the ball back to Friedel with the American keeper already diving on to the ball.
It was a clear backpass inside the area and, after Milner was booked for encroachment, Giggs touched the indirect free-kick to Ronaldo, who smashed the ball across the face of goal and into the top right corner for 1-0 on 14 minutes.
United could have gone two up straight from kick off when a long ball played Giggs through, but Carlos Cuellar got back to block his finish.
Villa recovered from the shock of going behind and Young forced a smart stop from Van der Sar with a free-kick on the edge of the United area.
They levelled on 29 minutes thanks to the endeavour and skill of Gareth Barry, who won a 50-50 ball on the right, nutmegged Evra and swung a perfect cross for giant Norwegian Carew to divert a downward header into the left corner of the United goal.
Ronaldo was guilty of a glaring miss five minutes later when he sent a free header straight at Friedel, but it would have been harsh on Villa to trail at the break as, despite United having more of the ball, the visitors created more clear-cut chances.
The second half started in subdued fashion, with United looking nervous and uninspired while Villa were happy to sit back and look to use the counter attack.
It paid off for Martin O'Neill's men when, after Ronaldo dilly-dallied in the Villa half, they countered down the left.
Neville stood back as Carew moved towards the area and allowed him time to pick out a cross that Agbonlahor rose to head past the stranded Van der Sar.
United's problems with injury and suspension were highlighted by the introduction of Macheda for anonymous Portugal winger Nani.
Jonny Evans headed a Giggs corner just over but United lacked a creative spark or inspirational figure to drive them on.
The laboured while looking hesitant at the back and it was always going to be a moment of brilliance needed to get them back in the match.
After a short spell camped on the edge of the Villa box, the ball broke to Ronaldo who took a touch before drilling a low left-foot shot through the legs of Petrov and past the unsighted Friedel into the bottom right.
The 80th-minute equaliser heralded a final push by United, but they struggled to convert possession into opportunities until Macheda's moment of brilliance gave them a win to put them one point clear of Liverpoo with a game in hand. Tidy!
Mat
Macheda screamer puts United top
Wonder goal
Linear Mode
