Manchester United [5 - 2] Tottenham Hotspurs
29' [0 - 1] D. Bent
32' [0 - 2] L. Modric
57' [1 - 2] C. Ronaldo (pen.)
67' [2 - 2] W. Rooney
68' [3 - 2] C. Ronaldo
71' [4 - 2] W. Rooney
79' [5 - 2] D. Berbatov
0-1 D.Bent 29'
0-2 L.Modric 32'
1-2 C.Ronaldo (Pen) 57'
2-2 W.Rooney 67'
3-2 C.Ronaldo 68'
4-2 W.Rooney 71'
5-2 D.Berbatov 79'
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Saturday, April 25, 2009
Manchester United Vs. Tottenham Hotspurs Match Report
United returned to the top of the table and moved three points clear of Liverpool after a stunning comeback against Tottenham Hotspur which produced five second half goals.
The Reds were 2-0 down at half-time following strikes from Darren Bent and Luca Modric. But Sir Alex’s men stormed back after the break thanks to a brace apiece from the outstanding Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney and another from Dimitar Berbatov.
Sir Alex Ferguson made five changes to the side that had overcome Harry Redknapp’s former side, Portsmouth, three days earlier. In came Rafael da Silva following the spate of injuries at right-back, while Nani, Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand all returned to the starting line-up. There was also a place for ex-Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov, who partnered Wayne Rooney in attack. Meanwhile, Ryan Giggs watched on from the stands knowing he would have to wait for another day to make his 800th appearance in a red shirt.
United started the match in second following Liverpool’s 3-1 victory at Hull and immediately set about gaining top spot. Berbatov almost had the first sight of goal after just 30 seconds, but Darren Fletcher’s pass was just too long for the Bulgarian allowing Heurelho Gomes to collect.
Having already secured their top flight status, Spurs came to Old Trafford with little to play for other than pride. And they weren’t about to let that pride be easily dented and with a player of Aaron Lennon’s quality in your side there’s always a chance of opening up the opposition. And that’s exactly what the pacey winger almost did on eight minutes. Fortunately Darren Bent’s header from Lennon’s floated right-wing cross was pushed around the post by Edwin van der Sar.
At the other end, Gomes had to be alert to Cristiano Ronaldo’s speculative 40-yard free-kick which bounced awkwardly in front of the Spurs stopper who claimed it at the second time of asking. Four minutes later the Portuguese winger flashed a header wide after jumping to meet Nani’s left-wing cross.
United appeared to edging ever closer to an opener, but it was Spurs, somewhat against the run of play, who took the lead on 29 minutes. Vedran Corluka’s whipped cross was missed by both Vidic and Ferdinand allowing the ball to fall to Darren Bent who duly smashed home from six yards.
Three minutes later things got doubly worse for United who looked more than a little shaky once more at the back. Lennon’s cross from the right dropped to the unmarked Luca Modric who lashed the ball inside the near post to give the visitors a two-goal cushion.
A shell-shocked Old Trafford couldn’t quite believe what they were seeing. United were in need of a minor miracle, or two, and Ronaldo almost provided it seven minutes from the break. Having seen his free-kick strike the wall, the winger reacted quickest before flicking a dipping volley towards goal. Only a superb finger-tip save from Gomes prevented the Reds from clawing a goal back.
United’s comeback mission was given a further boost when Carlos Tevez replaced Nani at the break. And the Argentine was involved in the Reds’ first two chances of the second period. First he laid on a cross for Rooney who saw his curling effort deflected wide, before Tevez himself had a close-range repelled by Gomes after a lovely little pass from Ronaldo.
The Portuguese winger was handed the chance to give United a lifeline on 57 minutes when Gomes upended Carrick in the area after a defence-splitting pass from Rooney had put the England international through on goal.
From the spot, Ronaldo calmly steered the ball down the middle of the goal as Gomes dived to his left. Old Trafford erupted – the fightback had begun.
Ten minutes later the Reds were back on level terms. A great one-two between Berbatov and Tevez allowed the latter to slide a pass into Rooney whose low shot through the legs of Corluka crept in at the near post after Gomes failed to get a strong enough contact on it.
Victory was now in sight and, quite unbelievably, a mere 60 seconds later United were ahead. Evra laid the ball to Rooney who cut inside from the left and sent an inswinger towards the onrushing Ronaldo who met it with a diving header that bounced into the roof of the net. The relief and joy around Old Trafford was palpable.
Surely things couldn’t get any better? They could, two goals better in fact. Sublime control from Berbatov was followed a neat lay-off to Ronaldo who clipped a lovely cross to the back post where Rooney was waiting. The striker brought the ball down and took aim. Gomes got the slightest of touches on the ball which rolled towards the line, before eventually dropping over it despite Woodgate’s and King’s best efforts.
Darren Bent saw a curling shot whistle just past van der Sar’s left-hand post, before United headed upfield once more to bag a fifth. And it was another excellent move, started and finished by Berbatov, from the rampant Reds. The Bulgarian sent the ball out to Rooney who again cut inside and crossed for Berbatov. His header was parried by Gomes, but the Spurs stopper and midfielder Jermaine Jenas were unable to clear the danger allowing Berbatov to poke home from two yards.
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The Reds were 2-0 down at half-time following strikes from Darren Bent and Luca Modric. But Sir Alex’s men stormed back after the break thanks to a brace apiece from the outstanding Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney and another from Dimitar Berbatov.
Sir Alex Ferguson made five changes to the side that had overcome Harry Redknapp’s former side, Portsmouth, three days earlier. In came Rafael da Silva following the spate of injuries at right-back, while Nani, Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand all returned to the starting line-up. There was also a place for ex-Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov, who partnered Wayne Rooney in attack. Meanwhile, Ryan Giggs watched on from the stands knowing he would have to wait for another day to make his 800th appearance in a red shirt.
United started the match in second following Liverpool’s 3-1 victory at Hull and immediately set about gaining top spot. Berbatov almost had the first sight of goal after just 30 seconds, but Darren Fletcher’s pass was just too long for the Bulgarian allowing Heurelho Gomes to collect.
Having already secured their top flight status, Spurs came to Old Trafford with little to play for other than pride. And they weren’t about to let that pride be easily dented and with a player of Aaron Lennon’s quality in your side there’s always a chance of opening up the opposition. And that’s exactly what the pacey winger almost did on eight minutes. Fortunately Darren Bent’s header from Lennon’s floated right-wing cross was pushed around the post by Edwin van der Sar.
At the other end, Gomes had to be alert to Cristiano Ronaldo’s speculative 40-yard free-kick which bounced awkwardly in front of the Spurs stopper who claimed it at the second time of asking. Four minutes later the Portuguese winger flashed a header wide after jumping to meet Nani’s left-wing cross.
United appeared to edging ever closer to an opener, but it was Spurs, somewhat against the run of play, who took the lead on 29 minutes. Vedran Corluka’s whipped cross was missed by both Vidic and Ferdinand allowing the ball to fall to Darren Bent who duly smashed home from six yards.
Three minutes later things got doubly worse for United who looked more than a little shaky once more at the back. Lennon’s cross from the right dropped to the unmarked Luca Modric who lashed the ball inside the near post to give the visitors a two-goal cushion.
A shell-shocked Old Trafford couldn’t quite believe what they were seeing. United were in need of a minor miracle, or two, and Ronaldo almost provided it seven minutes from the break. Having seen his free-kick strike the wall, the winger reacted quickest before flicking a dipping volley towards goal. Only a superb finger-tip save from Gomes prevented the Reds from clawing a goal back.
United’s comeback mission was given a further boost when Carlos Tevez replaced Nani at the break. And the Argentine was involved in the Reds’ first two chances of the second period. First he laid on a cross for Rooney who saw his curling effort deflected wide, before Tevez himself had a close-range repelled by Gomes after a lovely little pass from Ronaldo.
The Portuguese winger was handed the chance to give United a lifeline on 57 minutes when Gomes upended Carrick in the area after a defence-splitting pass from Rooney had put the England international through on goal.
From the spot, Ronaldo calmly steered the ball down the middle of the goal as Gomes dived to his left. Old Trafford erupted – the fightback had begun.
Ten minutes later the Reds were back on level terms. A great one-two between Berbatov and Tevez allowed the latter to slide a pass into Rooney whose low shot through the legs of Corluka crept in at the near post after Gomes failed to get a strong enough contact on it.
Victory was now in sight and, quite unbelievably, a mere 60 seconds later United were ahead. Evra laid the ball to Rooney who cut inside from the left and sent an inswinger towards the onrushing Ronaldo who met it with a diving header that bounced into the roof of the net. The relief and joy around Old Trafford was palpable.
Surely things couldn’t get any better? They could, two goals better in fact. Sublime control from Berbatov was followed a neat lay-off to Ronaldo who clipped a lovely cross to the back post where Rooney was waiting. The striker brought the ball down and took aim. Gomes got the slightest of touches on the ball which rolled towards the line, before eventually dropping over it despite Woodgate’s and King’s best efforts.
Darren Bent saw a curling shot whistle just past van der Sar’s left-hand post, before United headed upfield once more to bag a fifth. And it was another excellent move, started and finished by Berbatov, from the rampant Reds. The Bulgarian sent the ball out to Rooney who again cut inside and crossed for Berbatov. His header was parried by Gomes, but the Spurs stopper and midfielder Jermaine Jenas were unable to clear the danger allowing Berbatov to poke home from two yards.
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Manchester United Vs. Portsmouth Match Report
Another nervous evening's work at Old Trafford, but goals at either end of the 90 minutes from Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick gave United three points against Portsmouth, putting clear daylight between champions and challengers in the Premier League title race.
A procession of chances came and went in-between the two strikes, meaning much of the evening made uncomfortable viewing even though United - and in particular the front pairing of Rooney and Ryan Giggs - had Portsmouth chasing shadows.
After Sunday's FA Cup semi-final marathon against Everton, Sir Alex Ferguson made wholesale changes for the second successive game, with a string of big-name players returning. Two of them - Giggs and Rooney - combined sumptuously to put United ahead inside nine minutes.
Darren Fletcher, back from injury and on the lung-busting form of recent weeks, won the ball and it was quickly ferried forward to Anderson, whose excellent pass allowed Giggs to spring the visitors' offside trap. Waiting in the centre was Rooney, who finished with aplomb after a perfect rolled cross from his veteran colleague.
Amid the joy and release of any early tension, attentions switched to skipper Gary Neville, who sat stricken in his own half after sustaining a foot injury. After consultation with the club's medical staff, the club captain was promptly replaced by John O'Shea.
With the prospect of a three-point lead looming, United were clearly intent on also boosting a goal difference which had been overtaken by Liverpool in recent weeks, and the chances came thick and fast.
It was O'Shea who came closest to doubling the Reds' advantage, as he headed Giggs' left-wing corner past James, only for Nadir Belhadj to smuggle the ball off the line and away to safety.
Next, a mis-timed header from Sol Campbell allowed Ronaldo to break down the right and cross low across the area for Giggs. His delicate chip beat James, but also drifted just past the far post. The 35-year-old held his head in his hands, aware that a glorious chance had just gone begging.
It looked like Giggs had made amends a minute later by feeding Rooney to round James and score, but a linesman's flag belatedly - but correctly - chalked it off. Quite how half-time came and went with United only one goal ahead was a mystery.
The fact that so many chances had come and gone seemed to increasingly play on United's minds as the second half unfolded. The Reds' cause wasn't helped when O'Shea suffered an injury after a clash with Belhadj, who appeared to stand heavily on the Irishman's foot. With the injury count rising but the goals tally stuck on one, a nervous atmosphere brewed within Old Trafford.
The tension was never higher than around the 70th minute, when Pompey mustered two particularly threatening forays forward. Peter Crouch, who ploughed a lone furrow without much joy but with plenty of effort, first volleyed wide, then saw his header well saved by Edwin van der Sar.
Rooney saw another shot well saved by James after latching onto van der Sar's long punt, but a priceless second goal did finally arrive with eight minutes left. Carrick, thrown on at the expense of Anderson, came up with the goods and Scholes, fittingly on his 600th United appearance, was the architecht.
Just as he has done umpteen times in his 15-year senior career, the midfield magician exploited a gap before the Pompey defence were able to plug it by slipping an inch-perfect pass into the run of Carrick, who finished clinically into James' bottom-right hand corner.
With the three points assured, United began to press forward with more abandon, striving to make up further goal difference. Ronaldo had a goal chalked off and also fired over while Rafael was denied by James, leaving the Reds still three behind Rafael Benitez's men on that count.
More importantly, however, the telling gap between champions and chasing pack is now three points, with a game in hand still to make up.
Read more...
A procession of chances came and went in-between the two strikes, meaning much of the evening made uncomfortable viewing even though United - and in particular the front pairing of Rooney and Ryan Giggs - had Portsmouth chasing shadows.
After Sunday's FA Cup semi-final marathon against Everton, Sir Alex Ferguson made wholesale changes for the second successive game, with a string of big-name players returning. Two of them - Giggs and Rooney - combined sumptuously to put United ahead inside nine minutes.
Darren Fletcher, back from injury and on the lung-busting form of recent weeks, won the ball and it was quickly ferried forward to Anderson, whose excellent pass allowed Giggs to spring the visitors' offside trap. Waiting in the centre was Rooney, who finished with aplomb after a perfect rolled cross from his veteran colleague.
Amid the joy and release of any early tension, attentions switched to skipper Gary Neville, who sat stricken in his own half after sustaining a foot injury. After consultation with the club's medical staff, the club captain was promptly replaced by John O'Shea.
With the prospect of a three-point lead looming, United were clearly intent on also boosting a goal difference which had been overtaken by Liverpool in recent weeks, and the chances came thick and fast.
It was O'Shea who came closest to doubling the Reds' advantage, as he headed Giggs' left-wing corner past James, only for Nadir Belhadj to smuggle the ball off the line and away to safety.
Next, a mis-timed header from Sol Campbell allowed Ronaldo to break down the right and cross low across the area for Giggs. His delicate chip beat James, but also drifted just past the far post. The 35-year-old held his head in his hands, aware that a glorious chance had just gone begging.
It looked like Giggs had made amends a minute later by feeding Rooney to round James and score, but a linesman's flag belatedly - but correctly - chalked it off. Quite how half-time came and went with United only one goal ahead was a mystery.
The fact that so many chances had come and gone seemed to increasingly play on United's minds as the second half unfolded. The Reds' cause wasn't helped when O'Shea suffered an injury after a clash with Belhadj, who appeared to stand heavily on the Irishman's foot. With the injury count rising but the goals tally stuck on one, a nervous atmosphere brewed within Old Trafford.
The tension was never higher than around the 70th minute, when Pompey mustered two particularly threatening forays forward. Peter Crouch, who ploughed a lone furrow without much joy but with plenty of effort, first volleyed wide, then saw his header well saved by Edwin van der Sar.
Rooney saw another shot well saved by James after latching onto van der Sar's long punt, but a priceless second goal did finally arrive with eight minutes left. Carrick, thrown on at the expense of Anderson, came up with the goods and Scholes, fittingly on his 600th United appearance, was the architecht.
Just as he has done umpteen times in his 15-year senior career, the midfield magician exploited a gap before the Pompey defence were able to plug it by slipping an inch-perfect pass into the run of Carrick, who finished clinically into James' bottom-right hand corner.
With the three points assured, United began to press forward with more abandon, striving to make up further goal difference. Ronaldo had a goal chalked off and also fired over while Rafael was denied by James, leaving the Reds still three behind Rafael Benitez's men on that count.
More importantly, however, the telling gap between champions and chasing pack is now three points, with a game in hand still to make up.
Read more...
Sunday, April 19, 2009
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