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Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official
Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM
United finally finished top of Group E only after sharing
the spoils with the Danish side AaB Aalborg due to Celtic
beating Villarreal at Celtic Park 2-0.
An early goal from Carlos Tevez & a early second half Wayne
Rooney goal drew the Reds level at the same time equaling
the Champions
League record of 19 games unbeaten.
Already qualified SAF took the opportunity to rest many but
at the same time giving the responsibility to Darron Gibson,
JOS, Jonny Evans, Tomasz Kuszczak, Ryan Giggs & Gary Neville
who all received starting berths.
Straight out of the traps, United took only three minutes to
take the lead as Wayne Rooney & Ryan Giggs combined
brilliantly before the Welshman found Carlos Tevez who
finished well past Zaza in the visitors goal.
The in-form Argentine Striker almost doubled his tally
immediately after again excellent link play from Anderson &
Rooney gave Tevez a golden chance but the Striker missed
when he should have done better.
The 1st period seem to suggest the minnows from Denmark
would be in for a miserable night as Anderson, Nani then
again Tevez tested the Aalborg defence with attempts on
goal.
The game suddenly turned for the visitors when poor
defending & goalkeeping gave the UEFA Cup qualifiers a shock
equalizer after a free kick from Due entered United's
penalty area and United fan Jakobsen flicked a header past
the whole of the United defence & beat Kuszczak in the
United goal even after the Pole had a pawed at the header.
Unusually slack at the back the European Champions were
guilty of mistakes again as a poor pass from Darron Gibson
was collected at the death of the 1st half, Due who had
caused problems with his delivery off his set piece earlier,
ran down the right of the United's defence before crossing
deep at the far post & finding time, space & just about
anything else he could have wanted for a gift of a goal , Curth headed
unchallenged giving Kuszczak absolutely no chance for a
shock 2-1 lead.
SAF no doubt read the riot act on his players in the
dressing room at the half time whistle & after such a poor
display defensively & with Anderson & Giggs in midfield
guilty of optimistic passing & loss of possession, the Scot
decided for change.
Paul Scholes
and Ji-Sung Park were introduced for Gibson & Giggs & within
minutes United's game look more balanced & rhythmic as
Scholes started to take the responsibility to build attacks,
this also gave Anderson's passing more of a useful outcome
as he found his range with impressive long cross field balls
spraying to his United team mates.
Rooney after he tangled with Jakobsen had found himself in
hot water especially with Thomas Augustinussen the Aalborg
captain after his challenge was deemed dangerous by many
Allborg players, but the White Pele soon found himself on
the score sheet thanks to Anderson.
The Brazilian demonstrated his passing ability after he
threaded a pass to Rooney & the England Striker emphatically
smashed home to equalize, shortly after French
Referee Laurent Duhamel then got both Rooney and Thomas Augustinussen
together to discuss Augustinussen's continuing gripe with
Rooney.
As the match wore
on Rooney, Tevez & Anderson were creating & making the best
of United's work as a save from Zaza foiled a rare Gary
Neville foray into the penalty box causing the Veteran
United fullback to beat his fists into the ground in
frustration.
Woodwork saved the Danes next after Rooney had crossed and
defender Olfers directed the cross goal bound with his head,
beating his own keeper only for the bar to impede United
taking the lead.
With that man Rooney creating chances for United once more,
Carlos Tevez thankfully gathered before rounding Zaza only
for the angle to be made too tight as the hard-working Argie
found the side netting.
Sloppy defending
cost United a victory but SAF will have taken the game much
easier in the knowledge that Celtic had beaten Villarreal
back in his home country.
What's your
opinion on the Match?.....HAVE YOU'RE SAY BELOW |
Tevez (3 mins),
