fa premiership, Matchday 30
Old Trafford, Manchester, 16.00pm GMT, Sunday 5th April 2009.
Attendance: 75,409

A last gasp awe-inspiring Federico Macheda goal, sent Manchester United back top of the pile as the young Italian capped off a rollercoaster of emotions match against Aston Villa. With the bin dippers scoring in injury time against our previous 2-0 conquerors Fulham, United who seem to have lost their way recently especially in defence were shaky throughout with Gary Neville taking one on the chin for the club at the expense of the missing Rio Ferdinand & Nemanja Vidic.

With injuries/suspensions aplomb (Berbatov, Ferdinand, Vidic, Brown, Hargreaves, Anderson, Scholes, Rooney) United's massive squad was stretched almost to the max as SAF named Macheda, Martin, Eckersley, Welbeck & Gibson on an inexperienced bench.

With Villa not chalking up a single victory in 16 previous attempts at Old Trafford this combined with a slump in from United, this game surely would come as a thumbs up for the home side.

Aston Villa started the better team with Gary Neville being dragged & pushed around by Young & Carew, with O'Shea & Jonny Evans struggling to come to terms with Villa quick & powerful attack & Patrice Evra struggling for form United have a venerable look to the team, a venerable look which your Editor is sure will pass.

Norwegian International John Carew shortly before the opening goal struck a post when his header was bundled off the line by Darren Fletcher as the impressive start continued.

Keeping the Villains at arms length despite the defensive frailties it was United who struck first as Cristiano Ronaldo smashed (not the wall for a change) an indirect free-kick past Brad Friedel after the Ex bindipper keeper had collected a back pass in the box from James Milner.

With JOS making a nuisance of himself in the Villa wall Ronaldo promptly smashed home a powerful rising & falling shot which Shorey on the line failed in his attempt to clear with his head.

United gave Villa a scare when Michael Carrick passed a long ball through the middle which after a mistake by the Villa defence Ryan Giggs gathered, but the Welshman failed to trouble Villa.

EVDS then made a great save from a free kick just outside the box after Darren Fletcher fouled Petrov, with three Villa players including Ashley Young standing around the ball the England youngster struck a decent shot EVDS way as the Dutchman made a splendid save.

Continuing with their style of play Villa continued to look a threat and when Gareth Barry gave Evans & Evra the slip on the right after showing some clever play, he dashed into space & crossed a perfect ball for the massive rising figure of John Carew to level & score a well deserved equalizer.

United almost took the lead when the Portuguese combination of Nani & Ronaldo combined when the United No7 met a free kick from his fellow countryman, but the glancing header was saved easily by Friedel.

Showing his Jeckel & Hyde nature this season, Ronaldo offering little in the way of tracking back when it matters, gave a sloppy ball away to Petrov who fed Carew on the left, the Villa striker then ran toward goal before lofting a teasing ball in toward their penalty area when United were outnumbering the attack 3-2, Gabriel Agbonlahor marked by Evra was then ignored by Evra as Carew crossed & Agbonlahor nodded past EVDS injuring himself in the process.

SAF then made a change as Nani who failed to pressurize the Villa defence was subbed for 17 year old Italian Federico Macheda.

After the substitution Jonny Evans headed over the bar from a Giggs corner before United scored through Ronaldo, combining together with great effect both Giggs & Carrick fed Ronaldo on the edge of the box & a thankful Ronaldo struck a shot with his left foot into the corner of Brad Friedel's goal giving United an equalizer.

Having their best passage of the game United were dictating play as pressure from Gary Neville on the right saw United interchange a series of passes before Darren Fletcher smashed a scorcher goal bound before Friedel tipped over.

Looking a certainty for a winning goal United could smell blood as Welbeck after being introduced for Tevez almost squeezed his shot under the Villa keeper after good work from Ronaldo.

With the pressure mounting for Villa as they looked stretched, the resulting corner sailed passed the box & out to Carrick on the left, the United midfielder then sent a cross into the box where Jonny Evans just an so failed to make contact as Cuellar managed to get a touch.

With 5 minutes of added time left & poor old Gary Neville finally getting a break from his nightmare at the back, the United Captain roared forward when played in by Carrick crossing into the box found Macheda who with some clever play ran into space after seeing a tackle force the ball to Ryan Giggs, after a return pass from Giggs the 17 year old showed the skills & football brain of a seasoned Paulo Rossi as he left the Villa defenders for dead with a deft turn & curling shot like something from Roy of the Rovers.

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