27/01/2008 16:00, Report by Nick Coppack
Report: United 3 Tottenham 1
A goal from Carlos Tevez and yet another Cristiano Ronaldo brace sealed United’s spot in Monday’s FA Cup fifth round draw.
Tottenham Hotspur came to Old Trafford and put up a brave fight – and indeed took the lead – but the Reds’ patience paid off to keep alive dreams of another trip to the new Wembley.
Juande Ramos’ side were far from favourites going into this fixture, despite thumping Arsenal 5-1 on Tuesday in the Carling Cup semi final second leg. History had been against Tottenham on that occasion – it was their first victory over their North London rivals in nine years – but to not nearly the same extent as when they arrived in Manchester.
Without a win at Old Trafford since December 1989, Spurs have endured a horrible run on the Reds’ turf and, despite going in front through Robbie Keane on 24 minutes, now see that record stretched to 20 games.
The match started brightly, with both sides venturing forward at startling pace. Wayne Rooney had two half chances in the opening five minutes; he first failed by inches to reach Edwin van der Sar’s mammoth clearance before sweeping a low Ryan Giggs cross into the side-netting.
The visitors didn’t create any firm opportunities until Dimitar Berbatov's header was cleared off the line by Wayne Rooney in the 15th minute. They had, however, shown promising signs in the early stages, stretching the Reds’ defence on a number of occasions.
Without Nemanja Vidic, Wes Brown came inside to partner Rio Ferdinand in the heart of the back four,
while John O’Shea slotted into the right back position.
Tottenham seemed to be allowing Cristiano Ronaldo a surprising amount of space in midfield and a minute before Berbatov’s header was nodded wide by Rooney, the Portuguese winger found himself unmarked 25 yards from goal.
With the crowd urging the no.7 to shoot, Ronaldo duly pulled the trigger but, unusually, his aim failed, the shot skewing wide of Radek Cerny’s right-hand post.
Tottenham took heart from Berbatov’s near miss and, spurred on by a raucous travelling support, took the lead through captain Robbie Keane. Aaron Lennon collected the ball wide on the right and, despite Patrice Evra’s close attention, found enough space beyond the Frenchman to tease a low ball across the Reds’ six-yard-box.
The cross eluded both Edwin van der Sar and Rio Ferdinand, but Robbie Keane stretched out a left boot to send the ball into the net and Tottenham into a shock lead.
United prodded and probed in search of a way back into the match but too often mislaid passes in vital areas of the pitch. Still, when Ryan Giggs forced Cerny to tip over a rasping half-volley on 37 minutes you sensed the Reds were getting closer. A minute later, Tevez met Ryan Giggs’ knockdown inside the box, fired hard and low with his left foot and the job was complete.
Former Spurs midfielder Michael Carrick then fired over from 20 yards as United looked to have wrestled momentum back from the visitors. But there was still time for a scare at the other end, as
Jermaine Jenas forced a fine finger-tip save from van der Sar with half-time looming.
As the second half began, United fans were treated to the sight of Paul Scholes warming up on the touchline. The Reds' no.18 has been missing from action since 20 October and, although Sir Alex’s side has coped well enough in his absence, United without Scholes is akin to an orchestra without its conductor.
Out on the pitch, Aaron Lennon made life uncomfortable for Evra on the flank before clipping a cheeky cross onto the roof of the net. Jamie O’Hara then curled a free-kick past the post and Jermaine Jenas fluffed a golden chance in front of the Stretford End.
Last-ditch defending from Tottenham saved the visitors on a handful of occasions, although Ronaldo’s radar was again wayward just before the hour mark when he was sent through on goal.
Midfield maestro Scholes was introduced on 65 minutes and, with his first touch, sent a raking ball out to Ronaldo on the right flank. Penetrating and perfectly weighted, it was the kind of ball Scholes has played so many times throughout his career. Indeed, such skill from the 33-year-old is almost taken for granted these days. And yet, on this occasion, some three full months since he last pulled on United's red, it was met with rapturous applause from a capacity Old Trafford crowd.
An even louder cheer greeted referee Peter Walton's award of a penalty on 68 minutes when Michael Dawson deliberately used his arm to divert the ball from Rooney’s path. Occurring where it did, deep inside the
Tottenham penalty area, Walton had little choice but to show Dawson the red card.
The delay while the Spurs defender trudged off the pitch did little to faze Cristiano Ronaldo, who calmly converted from 12 yards to give United the lead.
Although now trailing and reduced to 10 men, Tottenham pushed for an equaliser and threw on Jermaine Defoe with 10 minutes to play. It meant gaps appeared at the back from time to time, but the tactic almost paid off on 85 minutes when a curling cross saw Wes Brown deflect the ball onto the post.
The visitors may have felt they deserved an equaliser and it was a case of so near yet so far when Ronaldo’s shot squeezed underneath Radek Cerny a minute later to put the result beyond doubt.
The final scoreline may read 3-1 but it’s difficult to recall too many sterner tests at Old Trafford this season. Spurs were beaten but not outclassed.
United: Van der Sar; O'Shea, Brown, Ferdinand, Evra (Simpson 90); Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Carrick (Scholes 65), Giggs; Rooney, Tevez (Anderson 81).
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Nani.
Booked: Evra
Spurs: Cerny; Pyo-Lee (Gunter 59), Huddlestone, Dawson, O’Hara; Lennon (Boateng 72), Tainio (Defore 81), Jenas, Malbranque; Berbatov, Keane.
Subs not used: Robinson, Kaboul.
Attendance: 75,369.
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發表於 2008-1-26 10:19 AM
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