The Portuguese winger poked home on 84 minutes when Spurs goalie Gomes placed the ball down near the six-yard box as he mistakenly thought the referee signaled for a foul.

No sooner had Nani realized that the game was still on than he slotted into an empty net to give United their second goal.

"It was bizarre," United manager Ferguson told ESPN after the match. "No-one knew at the time what was wrong. One minute the goalkeeper had the ball in his hands and next it's in his net.

"Nani looked back and looked at the referee and the referee said play on, so what can he do but put the ball in the net.

"You can look at the referee and look at the linesmen and blame them, but the goalkeeper should know better. He's an experienced goalkeeper.

"I thought he made a mess of it. I thought it was a penalty first of all and I think Nani felt he handled the ball. But the referee didn't blow for it.

"The referee played on because the goalkeeper took possession of the ball. He then went to take a free-kick thinking it was a foul. He made an error.''

Nemanja Vidic scored the first goal for the Red Devils one minute past the half-hour mark.