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Manchester United lost a close game on penalties to Everton
at Wembley on Sunday as the Reds crashed out 4-2.
Ex United players Tim Howard who saved two penalties & Phil
Neville who converted in the shoot out helped Everton book
themselves a return trip to Wembley in May.
For the game SAF opted to rest several key 1st teamers as
Giggs, Ronaldo, Rooney & Carrick were all completely left
out of SAF's plans for the semi-final, the decision which
raised many eyebrow.
With the latest
crop of youngsters all given starts in a massive game aka
Fabio, Welbeck, Macheda, Foster & Gibson, in many an opinion
SAF got his team selection wrong (Editor: not in my eyes).
In a classic
defensive game, both teams defended exquisitely, with
probably Player of the Year Nemanja Vidic flawless for
United, the game due to the domineering defensive play of
all 4 centre half's on both teams ensured the game went to
extra time & inevitably penalties.
The hero of the last appearance at the new & expensive
Wembley, (Editor: a Wembley which on sheer principle,
your Editor sold his ticket because Wembley is a magical day
& should be reserved for FA Cup Finals, not a money making
rip off for the FA) Ben Foster almost became a zero when
after dilly dallying in the penalty area almost saw a Louis
Saha nip in and get a foot in to block his clearance,
fortunately for Foster the ball managed to fall into his
arms.
With chances hard
to come by referee Mike Riley, under the spotlight after
comments from David Moyes earlier in the week suggesting Mr
Riley was a United fan, waved a Everton penalty claim away
when Rafael had potentially fouled Steven Pienaar.
Tim Cahill tested Foster with a low shot, but it was United
who looked the better team for a goal as Macheda & Danny
Welbeck especially looked lively in the early exchanges.
Welbeck continued his dangerous start but Lescott managed to
block a Welbeck shot when he was found by Rafael.
Appearing like a monster, Nemanja Vidic was gobbling up
header after header & challenge after challenge if Everton
dared to cross his path & with his reunited partner Rio
Ferdinand much the same, Everton looked lost & void of any
danger toward United.
In the second
period JSP smashed a shot just wide of the Everton net &
Darron Gibson struck another decent shot which Tim Howard
failed to hold on to but United still failed to find much in
the success of a breakthrough goal as Tevez & Macheda began
to loose their battle with the brilliant Jageilka &
Lescott.
The big talking
point of the match came next as Mike "United Fan" Riley
failed to award United a clear penalty when Jagielka caught
Danny Welbeck in the penalty area, with Tim Howard rushing
off his line, Welbeck was even arguably denied a Goalscoring
chance as he had beaten both Everton defenders to the ball.
With a face that could turn milk sour & a war dance of
death, SAF unleashed some "furious anger" on any official on
the side lines but the cold hard fact was United weren't
going to get anything.
Searching for a breakthrough United went close again & still
showing encouraging glimpses of his form from last season,
Anderson on a surging run almost opened his goal account as
the Brazilian finished his run with a a powerful shot.
With Patrice Evra
replacing Fabio due to injury & Scholes replacing JSP, SAF
brought on Berbatov for Macheda at the start of Extra time
to try to unlock the Everton defence, the Bulgarian who
started his United career looking like a unlocking machine,
has hit a slump in form & looks tired & jaded & more like a
rusty key at the moment.
And once again
with both defenses on top little in the way of attacking
highlights would surface until Tim Cahill forced Ben Foster
intro a save from a smart shot.
Sensing a possible breakthrough Everton's fans roared their
team on as Vidic almost deflected James Vaughan scuffed shot
into the path of Cahill who could have easily saw him score
from close range.
The dreaded lottery of penalties came next and with Everton
starting poorly as Cahill smashed one over the bar, Berbatov
wasted the chance to capitalize with a piss poor penalty
before Rio Ferdinand's effort was saved by Tim Howard.
Baines, Neville & Vaughn all scored for Everton in between
Vidic & Anderson for United, but ironically Phil Jagielka,
the man who fouled Welbeck for a penalty earlier beat Foster
to send the Toffees to Wembley.
Firstly, congratulations to Everton & i really hope you
stuff the Rent boys in May.
Secondly I write this in fecking agony as ive done my back
in & might not be able to go on Wednesday night or Saturday
and finally
Did
SAF get his team selection right??
Why did Carlos Tevez not take a penalty?
What the hell was Berbatov doing with his penalty?
Anything to
say......anything at all..........THEN SAY IT BELOW. |
Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official
Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM.
