Federico Macheda's Strike Could Propel Manchester United To the Quintuple

Federico Macheda's injury time winner that saw Manchester United back to the top of the Barclays Premier League could very well see the Red Devils through to five trophies.

After Liverpool grabbed an injury time winner through Yossi Benayoun that saw Liverpool reach the summit of the Barclays Premier League on Saturday, United had to beat Villa.

Villa came out on the front foot. Pressuring the United goal, and producing a couple chances early. Then a mistake from Garreth Barry was all Cristiano needed to net United's first.

The consensus World Player of the Year of 2008 hit a strike only he could from about 13 yards away off of the indirect free kick that was a result of Barry's mistake.

Villa were quick to equalize through John Carew. He peeled away from Gary Neville who found himself in an unfamiliar position to start the game at center half, and placed his header perfectly in the bottom corner of Van Der Sar's net.

Villa opened the second half as they had the first. It wasn't long before Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor headed past Van Der Sar to give the visitors the lead.

United were up against it. A loss would have been devastating. Cristiano Ronaldo had other plans.

Ronaldo took a left-footed shot from 20 yards away that rolled past Brad Friedel and into the bottom corner of the net.

After Ronaldo's equalizer went in, there had to be the feeling around Old Trafford that a winner was coming. It wasn't if or when that was the surprising thing, it was who scored it that was.

Seventeen-year-old Federico Macheda had replaced Nani earlier in the match. The teenaged Italian had a penalty claim go for not shortly after he got on the pitch, and he was very active during his opening first team appearance.

Then came the moment he may never be able to top for the remainder of his career in a United Shirt.

After receiving a slotted pass from Ryan Giggs, Macheda turned the ball back towards the middle of the box and with his back almost completely to goal turned and hit a curling strike around the diving Brad Freidel to give United the win in stunning fashion.

United held on for the 3-2 victory and climbed over Liverpool to retain their status as league leaders.

Make no mistake about it, this is the sort of result that propels United to great things. After losing their last two league matches, United needed a win.

Until Ronaldo netted the equalizer, it looked like United were going to be trailing Liverpool by two points in the title race.

Macheda's winner means United are still in great position to shock the world by finishing the season with five major trophies.

With eight league games left, United are in great position to win the league for the third season in a row and they should do it.

While there is a lot of football still to be played, you have to start believing, even if you despise Manchester United, that they have a great opportunity to win the FA Cup, the Premier League, and the Champions League by the end of May.

Should United win their next two league games, they'll have at least a four point lead with six games to play.

In the Champions League, United face Porto and the winner of the Villareal vs. Arsenal tie in the semi-final should they get past the Portuguese side.

You'd be silly not to think United are the favorites to at least make an appearance in the final in Rome.

In the FA Cup, United have a monkey on their back. Last year's exit to Portsmouth at Old Trafford has produced a bad taste that has not gone away, and they won't rest until it's gone.

Sir Alex Ferguson has his team in great shape to win five trophies this season. After the Macheda strike capped off a remarkable and resilient comeback against Villa on Sunday, would you bet against them?