Collecting a cross-field pass from Paul Scholes, he dummied to go left past West Ham's Carlton Cole, switched the ball to his right foot, glided past Scott Parker and then shot through a crowded penalty area, sending the ball wide of West Ham keeper Robert Green.
The goal brought him an record of scoring at least once in all 17 seasons of the Premier League's existence - as well as scoring for United in the two seasons before it began.
Even though he is now 35, and, according to manager Alex Ferguson: "can no longer tramp up and down the wing like he used to", Ferguson said last month he will award him an extension to his contract and his "model professional" said thanks by sending United two points clear of Liverpool at the top of the table with a game in hand.
His name is deeply etched in United's glittering history having played more games for the club than anyone else -- 787 according to United's official website.
He surpassed Bobby Charlton's 35-year-old record of 758 appearances last May in Moscow when he helped United win the European Cup for the third time, the second of his career.
In all he has won 20 honours with United -- an individual record in English soccer football -- and this year is an early candidate to pick up an award he has never previously won by being named England's Footballer of the Year.
After last year's Champions League final victory over Chelsea, Ferguson said that Giggs would not feature as regularly this season -- but for once Ferguson appears to have changed his mind.
"I have a lot of admiration for him," Zola said aft
