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Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official
Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM.
Manchester United achieved passage into the quarter finals
of the UEFA Champions League after defeating Jose Mourinho's
Inter Milan 2-0 @ Old Trafford.
Headed goals from Nemanja Vidic & another early in the
second half from Cristiano Ronaldo gave United enough
daylight to see off the Italian Champions, who on fair
reflection could have easily dumped the Reds out of the
competition due to some uncharacteristic & unnecessary
sloppy periods of play after such a blistering start.
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Spotted
in the Old Trafford Car Park...Who's car is this? |
United began well forcing the visitors on the back foot from
the get go as Ronaldo seeing lots of possession tested
rookie Santon playing at left back for Inter.
It was an early foray down the right hand side form the
Portuguese winger, which earned his side a corner, which
brought about the opening goal.
After winning a corner Ryan Giggs proceeded to deliver an
excellent corner, which after giving his man Patrick Vieira
the slip, the Serbian scored a trademark powerful header
past the most excellent Julio Cesar.
Looking extremely likely to add to their slim advantage the
home side almost made it two when Giggs got in behind the
Inter defence but a dangerous cross from the Welshman toward
Berbatov was blocked by Walter Samuel before a penalty claim
was waved away by German Ref Wolfgang Stark.
With Jose prowling his technical area constantly mulling
over why his team was visibly being taken to the cleaners in
the early going, the Portuguese manager made a switch taking
advantage of the space that Ryan Giggs was leaving as
suddenly Patrice Evra began struggling to contain the
forward running of Inter Milan's right flank.
Guilty of some "suicidal" as SAF called it football, United
were lucky not to be punished to the max as time after time
short passes, weak passes & general "crap" passes forced
United into a troubled patch.After an unnecessary flick from
Ryan Giggs which almost lead to a visitors priceless away
goal, a nervy United searching to retain possession of the
ball before giving away a free kick giving the Italians a
set piece opportunity. The set piece opportunity was
crossed in by Maicon, and as Rio Ferdinand saw the ball sail
over his head, Ibrahimovic met the ball with a header which
leapt from the turf & struck EVDS's bar as the Dutchman
looked thankfully.
Continuing to present Inter with gifts midfielder Dejan
Stankovic scared the Old Trafford crowd when within a
whisker of a goal his long range shot swerved inches wide of
a diving EVDS's post.
United for all their poor play still found the opportunity
to create a decent chance after more excellent play from
Giggs as he fed Rooney, the White Pele placed a perfectly
weighted pass into the path of JOS.
With O'Shea sent clean through, Julio Ceasar blocked the
Irishman's low shot on goal with his legs much to the
frustration of Dimitar Berbatov who as replays showed, had
timed a beautiful run to perfection leaving himself in a
perfect "tap in" position if only O'Shea had slipped in the
pass.
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Bruno & Balotelli
one of the same person |
The Roller skate wearing Mario Balotelli Inters' number 45.
who during the match must have hit the deck more times than
Frank Bruno did in his boxing career then proceeded to cut
United's defence open giving Ibrahimovic another gift as
running out wide to his right his resulting shot across the
goal went again inches wide.
Mourinho at half time replaced Patrick Vieira with Ex
Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari but it was United who
struck the deadly "next" goal, once again Ryan Giggs
tormented the Inter defence as his mazy run saw him dash
across the box, an exchange between Scholes & Wayne Rooney
saw Rooney deliver a ball into the box from the left which
Cristiano Ronaldo bravely nodded the cross past Julio Ceasar
for 2-0.
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The Jamaican
Bobsled Team Manager
assesses his teams Trophy haul |
Two nil down and in a match where better finishing could
have saw the Italians comfortable winners, Mourinho replaced
Stankovic for Brazilian Striker Adriano who within a matter
of minutes the substitute spectacularly met Cambiasso's ball
with a flying volley which struck EVDS post as the visitors
struck the woodwork again
On the hour, United almost put the tie beyond doubt when
more excellent work from Ryan Giggs saw the Welshman feed
Berbatov after Cesar had steered a vicious swerving Rooney
shot into his path, however making another fine save which
seems routine for the Brazilian keeper the Bulgarians shot
was saved.
Both Managers made substitutions toward the end of the game
when Mourinho introduced Luis Figo for Roller skate wearing
Balotelli & SAF replaced Scholes for Anderson & with United
slipping into the realms of sloppiness again Inter again
began to see more of the ball in dangerous positions as
United's midfielders lost possession frequently.
With Ibrahimovic and Adriano thankfully leaving their
shooting boots at home on the night, both strikers blasted
shots into row ZZ & the East Stand car parks as the game
entered the last period.
Ronaldo replied for United with a shot from distance before
the referee blew for full time as the current Champions of
Europe joined English clubs, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool,
Spanish sides Barcelona & Villarreal, Germans Bayern Munich
& Portugal's FC Porto.
SAF said after the game "After scoring the first
goal, I thought we'd kill them off," "I thought we could
score a few goals but then we started doing flicks and
back heels. We can play better than that but I am happy to
get through it."
It was really reckless football and it allowed Inter Milan
to get a grip of the game," "From the middle of the first
half to the end of the first half they were the better
team."
What's your
opinion?.....HAVE YOU'RE SAY BELOW |
Vidic (3 mins),
