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Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official
Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM
In total 360+ minutes of football has elapsed between
Manchester United & Villarreal CF in competitive games & for
the fourth time in succession both sides failed to find the
back of net at the final whistle. Not all doom and
gloom though as United as well as Villarreal both qualified
on the night joining another 14 teams in the European Cup
K.O. Stages.
With only a draw
needed to advance to the next stage United didn't need to
win, but just not loose & with Villarreal in the same
situation the game failed to light the Spanish sky's to say
the least.
SAF decided on a 4-5-1/4-4-2 with Rooney occupying the lone
role upfront & now and then being partnered by Ronaldo, and
with one eye on the big game against City, SAF rested Vidic,
Tevez, EVDS & Giggs giving starts to Fletcher, Anderson,
Nani & Jonny Evans, with Kuszczak starting in-between the
Sticks.
United not getting out of second gear controlled the game
easily with Carrick & Fletcher busy & industrious in the
packed midfield, Anderson who's job it was to get forward as
much as possible, tested impressive keeper Diego Lopez with
a shot & as United began to control the game the ball was in
the back of the net for the visitors.
MUFCINFO's MOTM Patrice Evra
who acted more like a left winger than full back, on a
typical raid pulled the ball across goal for Rooney to
convert, but Italian Ref Roberto Rosetti ruled that Evra had
strayed offside.
Villarreal then replied with a Tomasz Kuszczak save from a
shot from Santi Cazorla.
Lopez continued the pattern of foiling United with more
saves from Ronaldo and Fletcher, but the Villarreal keeper
created a Kodak carrier moment after Ronaldo was teed up by
Rooney, a tearing ball flew goal bound, only for Lopez at
full stretch to parry the ball onto the bar to save his team
from conceding a goal.
The home side then lost their influential skipper as Marcos
Senna after a tussle with JOS required to be substituted
before half time, however the Villarreal bench decided he
could play out the remaining minutes much to the despair of
the Spanish midfielder.
Ronaldo the creative hub to almost all United's attacks
again went close as Lopez saved at the near post, but the
Portuguese forward was booked shortly after not clearing the
area when requested & moving the ball from where it was
originally placed.
Darren Fletcher then almost broke the deadlock almost on the
hour only to shoot wide & the Scottish Team Captain released
Wayne Rooney shortly after, Rooney chipped Lopez but saw his
effort narrowly miss the post.
Anderson still frustrating many with his inept shooting
ability, shot tamely at Lopez ending a spell of dominance
with no end product.
Villarreal almost took the lead when Cazorla crossed from
the right but the ball deceived the United defence &
Villarreal attack with Capdevila just and so missing the
ball ending his chance to break the deadlock.
Wayne Rooney then found himself in a Goalscoring opportunity
as he volleyed over his shoulder with his left foot,
striking sweetly but straight at the Yellow Submarines
keeper the game was still 0-0.
Lopez was finally beaten but the deflected Rooney cross was
cleared off the line by Capdevila & the man who saved his
team earlier then turned villain as Capdevila was sent off
for a poor dirty challenge on Ronaldo who writhed in pain on
the floor before showing his damage in the form of a cut to
his leg.
Despite the one man advantage, United failed to take the
opportunity to capitalize & the clock ran out for both teams
on the positive side seeing both sides advance with the
winning of the Group stages still to be decided on the final
day of Matchday 6.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
Wayne Rooney Diving, what exactly was baldy doing?, Your
not Stevie G (anyone who says Stevie G wants filled in) &
you wont get penaltys like he does, so cut the bullshit,
your a Red. TUT TUT
What's your
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