For those who criticise the Champions League group stages, this fabulous affair was evidence of the sort of entertainment it can provide.
United went behind to an early Phil Jones own goal but battled back valiantly with goals from Dimitar Berbatov, spearheading the team in Wayne Rooney's absence, and Darren Fletcher. The Portuguese visitors responded swiftly through Pablo Aimar to keep their unbeaten run this season intact and a Nani cross that deflected behind in injury time proved the final throw of the dice.
As it stands, United are second in Group C - level on points with Benfica but crucially behind Tuesday's opponents on the head-to-head format - with Jorge Jesus' outfit due to play Otelul Galati in the final round. Basel held out for a 3-2 victory in Romania and they sit only a point behind last season's runners-up in the table.
The Reds got off to a nightmare start when an incisive move down the right in the third minute saw Maxi Pereira feed Nicolas Gaitan and the winger's cross was shinned into his own net by Jones, giving David De Gea no chance.
Gradually, Sir Alex's side responded, largely through Nani's adventurous dribbling, with Artur brought into action by the Portugal international's free-kick and a shot from Ashley Young. The visitors continued to try and disrupt the Reds' flow but the breakthrough came on the half-hour mark. Young worked a free-kick short to Patrice Evra who helped it on to Nani, always likely to be the source of any inspiration. The wide man's left-wing cross was perfect for Berbatov to guide a splendid header wide of Artur and into the net for the equaliser.
The goal sparked a frantic spell, with Young firing a one-on-one opportunity against Artur's legs after linking well with Berbatov and Aimar bringing a smart stop out of De Gea seconds later. Although Berbatov later tapped the ball into the net, Evra had long since been flagged offside and Artur was yellow-carded for his attempts to get the Bulgarian booked.
Clearly gaining in influence since his leveller, Berbatov had a drive deflected over by Ezequiel Garay's desperate block following some neat work by Young as the sides went into the break all-square, allowing the fans to catch their breath.
The second half was just as exciting and began with Young's side-foot shot being blocked at close range following some fine work by Nani. Fabio spurned a glorious chance on 54 minutes when Jones' strong pressing led to him being in the clear with only Artur to beat but the keeper saved the attempted chip.
Undeterred, the Reds kept knocking on the door and, soon after Benfica lost Luisao to injury, Fletcher edged his team in front. Evra's superb ball into the box allowed the Scot to find the net, at the second time of asking after Artur did superbly to block his initial shot. Old Trafford's joy was short-lived, however, as De Gea's misplaced kick-out gifted possession to the Portuguese side and Bruno Cesar's cross hit Rio Ferdinand and fell kindly for Aimar, who gratefully smashed home from close range.
Berbatov had the ball in the net again but Young was flagged offside, probably incorrectly, before the officials got it right when Nani appealed for a penalty under Javi Garcia's challenge. Referee Cuneyt Cakir merely waved play on. Goalscorers Aimar and Fletcher traded off-target efforts, before Berbatov really should have restored the Reds' lead. Fletcher's intelligent pass freed Fabio and the Brazilian's cross was volleyed over by the unmarked Bulgarian inside the box.
It proved a costly miss as, despite the introduction of Javier Hernandez for Antonio Valencia, the Reds were unable to gain the victory that would have made the qualification process considerably easier. Indeed, Rodrigo went closest to a winner when easing past Fletcher but firing wide with his left foot. As it is, the final group fixture in Basel next month carries great significance and any hope of topping the group may have vanished in the cold Manchester air.
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Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Manchester United Vs. Benfica Highlights Video Clips
Manchester United [2 - 2] Benfica
3' [0 - 1] P. Jones (o.g.)
30' [1 - 1] D. Berbatov
59' [2 - 1] D. Fletcher
61' [2 - 2] P. Aimar
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3' [0 - 1] P. Jones (o.g.)
30' [1 - 1] D. Berbatov
59' [2 - 1] D. Fletcher
61' [2 - 2] P. Aimar
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Saturday, November 19, 2011
Swansea Vs. Manchester United Match Report Result
United ensured they remained hot on the heels of their Manchester neighbours with a first-ever victory over Swansea City in Wales.
This was the first meeting between the two teams in 28 years with the Reds never having beaten the Welsh side on their own patch in eight previous attempts. Brendan Rodgers’ side were intent on maintaining that record and indeed this season’s unbeaten run at the Liberty Stadium, but Javier Hernandez’s 11th-minute strike proved decisive as Sir Alex’s men, who were professional in their play, rather than prolific, overcame a spirited display from the Swans.
With Manchester City eight points clear at the top of the table at kick-off though, Sir Alex knew victory was imperative and he sent out a strong team with that very much in mind. There were three changes to the side that beat Sunderland with David De Gea returning in goal, Michael Carrick starting his first league game of the season and Ryan Giggs back in action in his native Wales and featuring in his first match for five weeks after a spell in the treatment room. And it was the Welshman who ensured the Reds got off to the perfect start on 11 minutes.
Angel Rangel dithered on the ball at the back and his attempted pass was easily cut out by Giggs. The midfielder powered into the area before sliding a low cross into the path of Javier Hernandez who side-footed home from five yards to keep up his impressive run of goals away from home.
Swansea, who had come out of the blocks with real intent, remained buoyant despite the early blow and went close to restoring parity on 22 minutes; indeed, Scott Sinclair will still be wondering how he didn’t get his name on the score-sheet. Just after Patrice Evra had seen a low drive well held by Michel Vorm, Danny Graham, the Swans’ lone front-man, shrugged off a challenge at the other end to put Wayne Routledge in. His cross cannoned off Carrick and into the path of Sinclair who, with the goal gaping and De Gea struggling to get back in position, completely missed the ball from eight yards out.
After breathing a sigh of relief, the Reds, who were in relative control thereafter, set about building on their advantage. After Giggs had flashed a free-kick just wide nine minutes from the break, Hernandez found himself clear down the right but he over-hit his cross towards the onrushing Rooney and the chance was gone.
It was the Swans who had the first sight of goal after the restart. Joe Allen, brought on to replace Routledge, rolled the ball out to Sinclair who sent a powerful left-foot drive goalwards, but it was well parried by De Gea. Gary Monk then miscued a free header from the resulting corner.
The Swans continued to battle but De Gea and co. held firm. At the other end, Hernandez was always a threat on the break, while Rooney was involved in virtually all of United’s good play. Indeed, the England striker tried his luck from long range on 70 minutes, but Vorm claimed well.
With only one goal in it, the Swans continued to probe. Sinclair escaped the attentions of Rooney down the left and picked out Graham in the box. His shot was well blocked by Carrick, while Ashley Williams saw his follow-up effort cleared by Ferdinand.
With time almost up, the Reds went close to doubling their lead. Rooney chipped the ball onto the roof, before Jones, on one of his now renowned bursts forward, fired a low drive, from inside the area, against the far post. Then Nani curled another effort just wide in then dying seconds.
United held out for the victory - their fifth in a row - and ensured they kept up the heat on City. Read more...
This was the first meeting between the two teams in 28 years with the Reds never having beaten the Welsh side on their own patch in eight previous attempts. Brendan Rodgers’ side were intent on maintaining that record and indeed this season’s unbeaten run at the Liberty Stadium, but Javier Hernandez’s 11th-minute strike proved decisive as Sir Alex’s men, who were professional in their play, rather than prolific, overcame a spirited display from the Swans.
With Manchester City eight points clear at the top of the table at kick-off though, Sir Alex knew victory was imperative and he sent out a strong team with that very much in mind. There were three changes to the side that beat Sunderland with David De Gea returning in goal, Michael Carrick starting his first league game of the season and Ryan Giggs back in action in his native Wales and featuring in his first match for five weeks after a spell in the treatment room. And it was the Welshman who ensured the Reds got off to the perfect start on 11 minutes.
Angel Rangel dithered on the ball at the back and his attempted pass was easily cut out by Giggs. The midfielder powered into the area before sliding a low cross into the path of Javier Hernandez who side-footed home from five yards to keep up his impressive run of goals away from home.
Swansea, who had come out of the blocks with real intent, remained buoyant despite the early blow and went close to restoring parity on 22 minutes; indeed, Scott Sinclair will still be wondering how he didn’t get his name on the score-sheet. Just after Patrice Evra had seen a low drive well held by Michel Vorm, Danny Graham, the Swans’ lone front-man, shrugged off a challenge at the other end to put Wayne Routledge in. His cross cannoned off Carrick and into the path of Sinclair who, with the goal gaping and De Gea struggling to get back in position, completely missed the ball from eight yards out.
After breathing a sigh of relief, the Reds, who were in relative control thereafter, set about building on their advantage. After Giggs had flashed a free-kick just wide nine minutes from the break, Hernandez found himself clear down the right but he over-hit his cross towards the onrushing Rooney and the chance was gone.
It was the Swans who had the first sight of goal after the restart. Joe Allen, brought on to replace Routledge, rolled the ball out to Sinclair who sent a powerful left-foot drive goalwards, but it was well parried by De Gea. Gary Monk then miscued a free header from the resulting corner.
The Swans continued to battle but De Gea and co. held firm. At the other end, Hernandez was always a threat on the break, while Rooney was involved in virtually all of United’s good play. Indeed, the England striker tried his luck from long range on 70 minutes, but Vorm claimed well.
With only one goal in it, the Swans continued to probe. Sinclair escaped the attentions of Rooney down the left and picked out Graham in the box. His shot was well blocked by Carrick, while Ashley Williams saw his follow-up effort cleared by Ferdinand.
With time almost up, the Reds went close to doubling their lead. Rooney chipped the ball onto the roof, before Jones, on one of his now renowned bursts forward, fired a low drive, from inside the area, against the far post. Then Nani curled another effort just wide in then dying seconds.
United held out for the victory - their fifth in a row - and ensured they kept up the heat on City. Read more...
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Manchester United Vs. Sunderland Highlights Video Clips
Manchester United [1 - 0] Sunderland
45' [1 - 0] W. Brown (o.g.)
1-0 Brown (Own goal) 45'+1
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45' [1 - 0] W. Brown (o.g.)
1-0 Brown (Own goal) 45'+1
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Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Manchester United Vs. Otelul Galati Match Result Report
United's Champions League victory over Romania's Otelul Galati was workmanlike rather than wonderful. But a win's a win and this one was enough to leave Sir Alex's men in a commanding position at the top of Group C, with two games to play.
Antonio Valencia's eighth-minute tap-in was all that separated the sides on the scoreboard until Wayne Rooney's late long-range effort deflected off Cristian Sarghi and past the Galati goalkeeper. But it wasn't as if United found the going particularly tough against Galati; the Reds actually looked comfortable, if not wholly convincing, for long periods.
It was a similar story a fortnight ago in Bucharest when two second-half spot-kicks, both won and converted by Rooney, handed United the three points. Rooney didn't quite get his name on the scoresheet again in this match (UEFA have declared the Reds' second an own goal), but he still had a big impact, albeit from a much different area of the pitch.
Indeed, Sir Alex took the unusual step of deploying Wayne in a deep-lying midfield role. And although it was unfamiliar teriitory, the Reds' no.10 didn't disappoint. Within 40 seconds he had chased Liviu Antal down towards the corner flag and harried the Romanian into coughing up possession.
Rooney then went on to demonstrate, in understated fashion, a knack for keeping the ball moving with simple first-time passes, interspersing these with a steady array of more ambitious long balls. In many ways, his performance was reminiscent of the way Paul Scholes used to quietly dictate a game's rhythmn.
Indeed, it was the Reds' no.10 who was responsible for launching the attack that yielded the early opener. His long, raking pass to the right wing found Dimitar Berbatov, who held the ball up briefly before releasing Phil Jones on the overlap. His ball to the near post just eluded Michael Owen’s stretch, but waiting behind, unmarked and only three yards from goal, was Antonio Valencia. He was never going to miss.
The joy in the stands was tempered a minute later when Owen, who appeared to have injured himself while attempting to reach Jones' cross, limped down the tunnel and was replaced by Javier Hernandez. It was United's two full-backs, though, who came closest to adding a second before half-time. First Fabio embarked on a dribble from the left-back position that only ended when his attempt to roll the ball across goal for Berbatov was blocked by a last-ditch tackle. Along the way he'd left countless Romanians in his wake.
Then Jones surged down the right, cut inside the penalty area and unleashed a curling left-footed effort that looked bound for the far corner until Sergiu Costin intervened with a headed clearance. Galati, too, almost troubled the scorers on 42 minutes when Ionut Neagu pounced on Anderson's loose pass and advanced on goal. His effort took a touch off Rio Ferdinand, which forced David De Gea, hitherto unworked and untroubled, into a smart reflex save.
Just after the break, Berbatov, Jones and Hernandez sparked brief panic inside the Galati penalty area with some neat interplay that cut the Romanian defence apart before goalkeeper Grahovac spread himself well to snuff out the danger. Down the other end, De Gea had to be equally alert to punch the ball clear as Antal raced to get on the end of a left-wing centre. Minutes later he gleefully clutched the ball to his chest after Costin rose at the back post to meet subsitute Sorin Frunza's corner.
Costin was in the thick of the action again when he raced back to clear off the line after Anderson combined with Berbatov to reach the return pass first and lift the ball past the onrushing Grahovac. Hernandez had a long-range shot saved and Berbatov poked a presentable chance wide of the near post on 75 minutes before Rooney added the icing on the cake with his deflected effort.
It made the final scoreline look more respectable and probably reflected more accurately the balance of play (although Galati did try and force their way back into it late on). In many ways, though, the sloppy nature of the goal summed up a match that probably won't live long in the memory of many United fans. Read more...
Antonio Valencia's eighth-minute tap-in was all that separated the sides on the scoreboard until Wayne Rooney's late long-range effort deflected off Cristian Sarghi and past the Galati goalkeeper. But it wasn't as if United found the going particularly tough against Galati; the Reds actually looked comfortable, if not wholly convincing, for long periods.
It was a similar story a fortnight ago in Bucharest when two second-half spot-kicks, both won and converted by Rooney, handed United the three points. Rooney didn't quite get his name on the scoresheet again in this match (UEFA have declared the Reds' second an own goal), but he still had a big impact, albeit from a much different area of the pitch.
Indeed, Sir Alex took the unusual step of deploying Wayne in a deep-lying midfield role. And although it was unfamiliar teriitory, the Reds' no.10 didn't disappoint. Within 40 seconds he had chased Liviu Antal down towards the corner flag and harried the Romanian into coughing up possession.
Rooney then went on to demonstrate, in understated fashion, a knack for keeping the ball moving with simple first-time passes, interspersing these with a steady array of more ambitious long balls. In many ways, his performance was reminiscent of the way Paul Scholes used to quietly dictate a game's rhythmn.
Indeed, it was the Reds' no.10 who was responsible for launching the attack that yielded the early opener. His long, raking pass to the right wing found Dimitar Berbatov, who held the ball up briefly before releasing Phil Jones on the overlap. His ball to the near post just eluded Michael Owen’s stretch, but waiting behind, unmarked and only three yards from goal, was Antonio Valencia. He was never going to miss.
The joy in the stands was tempered a minute later when Owen, who appeared to have injured himself while attempting to reach Jones' cross, limped down the tunnel and was replaced by Javier Hernandez. It was United's two full-backs, though, who came closest to adding a second before half-time. First Fabio embarked on a dribble from the left-back position that only ended when his attempt to roll the ball across goal for Berbatov was blocked by a last-ditch tackle. Along the way he'd left countless Romanians in his wake.
Then Jones surged down the right, cut inside the penalty area and unleashed a curling left-footed effort that looked bound for the far corner until Sergiu Costin intervened with a headed clearance. Galati, too, almost troubled the scorers on 42 minutes when Ionut Neagu pounced on Anderson's loose pass and advanced on goal. His effort took a touch off Rio Ferdinand, which forced David De Gea, hitherto unworked and untroubled, into a smart reflex save.
Just after the break, Berbatov, Jones and Hernandez sparked brief panic inside the Galati penalty area with some neat interplay that cut the Romanian defence apart before goalkeeper Grahovac spread himself well to snuff out the danger. Down the other end, De Gea had to be equally alert to punch the ball clear as Antal raced to get on the end of a left-wing centre. Minutes later he gleefully clutched the ball to his chest after Costin rose at the back post to meet subsitute Sorin Frunza's corner.
Costin was in the thick of the action again when he raced back to clear off the line after Anderson combined with Berbatov to reach the return pass first and lift the ball past the onrushing Grahovac. Hernandez had a long-range shot saved and Berbatov poked a presentable chance wide of the near post on 75 minutes before Rooney added the icing on the cake with his deflected effort.
It made the final scoreline look more respectable and probably reflected more accurately the balance of play (although Galati did try and force their way back into it late on). In many ways, though, the sloppy nature of the goal summed up a match that probably won't live long in the memory of many United fans. Read more...
Manchester United Vs. Otelul Galati Highlights Video Clips
Manchester United [2 - 0] Otelul Galati
8' [1 - 0] L.A. Valencia
87' [2 - 0] W. Rooney
1-0 Valencia A. 8'
0-2 Rooney W. 87'
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8' [1 - 0] L.A. Valencia
87' [2 - 0] W. Rooney
1-0 Valencia A. 8'
0-2 Rooney W. 87'
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