|
 Article
by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official Reporter
@ MUFCINFO.COM
Everton fully deserving a point in a
spirited second half performance stopped Manchester United
dead in their tracks after being dominated in the 1st
period, United will see this as two points dropped as the
old cliché "a game of two half's" came into play at Goodison
on Saturday lunchtime.
After what was an excellent 1st half performance the Reds
performed poorly throughout the second with schoolboy
errors, poor passing and lapses in concentration especially
from our usually reliable centre half's occurring
frequently.
SAF made changes to his team with Ferdinand and Evra
restored to the line up, Ryan Giggs played central with
Darren Fletcher & Wes Brown and Ji-Sung Park made starts.
The Everton team had a few familiar faces included in their
line up with Ex Reds, Tim Howard, Louis Saha & Phil "Dirty
Boy" Neville in the Toffees starting 11.
The Reds settled quickly with Ryan Giggs making his 753rd
appearance in a competitive game for Manchester United
running the show with some ease from his central position &
with Darren Fletcher energetically buzzing around midfield
in support, the visitors enjoyed possession, passing the
ball with limited resistance as Berbatov linked well looking
a decent bet for an opener.
Everton replied with Fellaini shooting and Nemanja Vidic
getting in the way before the resulting Arteta corner was
headed over again by Fellaini.
Saha then tried an effort but former team mate Wes Brown
blocked well.
United then had a
clutch of chances as Fletcher's defected header from a Giggs
corner went wide, Cristiano Ronaldo shot but was thwarted by
Phil Neville & Wayne Rooney then hit a blocked free kick
wide of the mark.
Building on their dominance, the Champions took the lead
through Darren Fletcher who collected a pass from Ryan
Giggs, before beating Lescott & placing his shot past Tim
Howard.
Steamrolling Everton looked don the cards as Vidic had an
chance cleared off the line by Osman & Howard producing
Schmeichel like saves from both Ronaldo and a curled shot
from the impressive Ryan Giggs.
With no team ever
being out of the game at 1-0, Everton still looking a threat
on a set piece or crosses into the box had United's
defenders on high alert after a free kick from a foul on
Saha both Yakubu and Steven Pienaar tried their luck as
United's defence was stretched.
Just before the interval, Giggs supplied the ammunition for
Wayne Rooney who headed just wide, signaling what would be
the last signs of United's dominance & the end of the 1st
half.
What ever SAF
said in the half time talked seemingly back fired as United
came out on the back foot immediately, bruising & kicking
their way to a point both Berbatov & Ronaldo were caught
with ugly tackles, Phil Jagielka splattering the Bulgarian &
Phil Neville causing riots with old team mates as his caught
Ronaldo late.
The Toffees were
well worth a point as United failed for the entire half to
get any sort of momentum going & the home side were rewarded
almost on the hour Phil Neville crossed from the right and
Fellaini & all of his hair got up above Vidic & co beating
EVDS for the equalizing goal.
Mistakes started
creeping into United game as Yakubu on Ferdinand's shoulder
caused himself a nuisance by stealing possession from the
usually un-rattleable England defender & after racing toward
goal, the Everton strikers goal bound shot was saved by EVDS
saving embarrassment for Ferdinand.
SAF threw on
Anderson for Park switching to 4-3-3 before Rooney was then
booked, sensing Rooney may be sent off after responding to
the crowd by kissing the badge, SAF removed Rooney for Nani.
Tevez was brought on for Darren Fletcher to salvage a
possible victory with Ronaldo being switched to a more
central position.
United's luck
finally ran out with only minutes left as Ronaldo the player
that you would want a chance to fall to,
somehow blazed a excellent chance wide of goal, when he
could have done much better giving Everton a fully deserved
point.
What's your opinion on the Match?.....HAVE YOU'RE SAY BELOW |
