Manchestrer United relinquished top-spot in the Barclay’s English Premier League following a nerve-wrecking encounter with Tottenham Hotspurs at White Hart Lane on Saturday. A last-second Tevez equalizer salvaged a point for the defending champions, much to the wreckage of Tottenham hearts.The game seemed to pick up where the two teams left just a week earlier in the FA Cup where United managed to overcome the North Londoners. Spurs, with their new-found pace-based style of play, took the game to United early on, with Aaron Lennon wreaking havoc on the right and in-form Steed Malbranque doing the damage on the left. It was the England under-21 international who whipped in a terrific square-ball on the 20th minute mark after midfielder Jermaine Jenas had claimed to have been fouled in the penalty area. The cross came off goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar onto the feet of the lethal Dimitir Berbatov who had no choice but to slot into an empty net. Van der Sar was then booked for his remonstrance; the first of what would be a record seven yellow cards in one game for United this season.
Some impressive defending from the giant Tom Huddlestone put United further under pressure, with nothing going past the Spurs’ back-four. But it was on the break where the hosts took maximum advantage. The understanding between Berbatov and Keane proved to be deadly as one would continually manage to find very good opportunities for the other.
And it was the Irish captain who should have put the game beyond doubt early in the first half when he shot feebly from 18 yards with only the goalkeeper in front of him. That miss was going to be decisive. Tottenham were under pressure to take their chances from a crowd that replicated the atmosphere during the League Cup semi-final when the Spurs saw-off their city rivals Arsenal.
United found their form in the last ten minutes with the exciting Christiano Ronaldo proving to be a menace every time he had his feet on the ball. Nani for Giggs and Anderson for Scholes were substitutions designed to inflict a little bit of youth and creativity to try and get something out of the fixture. A wise decision from the master tactician Ferguson.
A last minute corner from the United’s right fell gratefully to an unmarked Carlos Tevez who made no mistake in squeezing the ball into the bottom-left hand corner from a tight angle to bring his Premier League tally to 11 goals.
The draw means that Manchester United fall one step to second spot after Arsenal comprehensively beat their Ciry rivals Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium. Tottenham will stay at the bottom half of the table with just 29 points from their 25 games, seven behind tenth placed West Ham United.
1 comment:
Some news on Arsenal's Loanee Carlos Vela:
Young Guns Carlos Vela scouting report goes International , as Carlos traveled to Houston in The United States Of America, for Mexico V USA, Kick Off 2.45am English Time.
Carlos started on the left of the midfield in a 4-4-2 formation, in what looked set to be a passionate whole hearted game between these two rivals.
Inside the first 60 seconds he was already involved, flicking on two balls which he climbed high to reach helping on Marquez’s ball forward, but he gave possession away to Clarke who burst forward but had his shot charged down, Vela looked to bring the ball out but Clarke went looking for revenge and chopped the teenage Mexican down for a free kick.
Vela then drifted out to the right and cut inside and whipped the ball into the area Batista tried to reach it
Premiership duo Dempsey and Convey linked up well but just failed to pick out a final ball allowing Vela to break, he raced away but ran straight into a wall of players, the Mexicans choose a more physical approach to the Americans game, with both sides play acting
Mexico coach Hugo Sanchez came out to the edge of his technical area to tell Vela to get at the US left back which he did, he burst past the defender and whipped a low ball into the box which was back-heeled off Bocanegra by Batista, Pardo drilled the rebound over. Carlos was on corner kick taking duty, and he choose the short option but it was again cleared.
Salcido then lost possession, and Vela dived in and tackled well, the ball ran for a throw, The American commentators then talked briefly about Vela’s confidence and skills, even saying “He has a special feeling around him”.
Landon Donavon was always creating and looked very good for the Americans, Onyweu surprisingly came forward to take a long throw, he threw the ball long into the area, Landon chested it down lobbed it to the back post where Onyweu came crashing in and bulleted it into the back of the net, USA had the lead against the run of play.
With 30 minutes on the clock, Vela was looking to get Mexico level, but over hit his cross after a burst of pace, Howard gathered comfortably and the USA were playing with confidence, but the Mexicans won a free kick to the right of the box, Pardo floated a perfect ball and Maggion lifted it high into the roof of the goal to get the South American side back in the game on 35 minutes.
The goal gave Mexico confidence, Vela and Salcido linked up well on the left the latter then clattered into the impressive Donovan and was booked.
Debutant Jozay Altidore then clipped home a cross after a series of corners from the visitors, Bobby Convey broke away down the left, before his deflected cross found Dempsey to laid the ball out to Drew Moore who curled a ball straight onto the head of Altidore.
Less than 60 seconds later USA had the ball in the net again, Dempsey’s shot low into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, but the linesman ruled it out, after a push from the Fulham striker.
Mexico were stunned, and desperately looking for the half time whistle, Pardo could not find his range and Dempsey’s passing range was damaging, Altadore failed to profit.
Half Time Mexico 1 USA 2
USA got the second half under way, but instantly lost the ball, Vela played a lovely 1-2 and shot just wide from the edge of the area, in Vela Mexico had pace and energy, the then won a corner for his country, the Osasuna loanee’s Carlos took the corner whipping a deep pacy ball flicked on by Salcido for Magllion to crash home another goal, just two minutes into the second period and the South Americans were again level all thanks to excellent work from Carlos Vela.
Vela was involved in the games next move, creating space on the left the ball came to him, he took a touch and drilled another ball in which was deflected away.
The passionate rivalry continued with some late tackles and then a scuffle involving Everton keeper Tim Howard but the referee let the game flow, Pardo has found his range now, spraying passes all over the park, Vela had now pushed up to make a 4-3-3 formation, Pinto came on for Salcido on the hour, with Sanchez looking for somebody to combat the attacking influences of Landon Donovan.
With half an left Carlos came inches away from scoring, Batista rolled the ball into the teenage Arsenal striker who twisted and shot low and hard, Moore deflected the ball out for a corner, Terrardo always looking Vela who was running the show.
USA brought Benfica striker Freddie Adu on for Clint Dempsey, and the golden boy of American football, broke away from Pardo, but Pinto clattered into him and the ball was cleared.
The changes boosted The US, who were passing the ball well but not really creating anything, Mexican coach Sanchez decided to switch things Cacho coming on up front, to help with the work load of Carlos Vela.
The game was then flooded with changes, Reading winger Convey came off and was replaced with Derby County left midfielder Eddie Lewis.
On 71 minutes, and after a 10 hour flight to America from Spain, Giovanni Dos Santos came on for Carlos Vela who put in another brilliant performance, he has clearly been working on his set-pieces and he will be delighted with what was close to a man of the match performance, he ran the channels and showed his class with some touches of brilliance, carrying the cause for the Mexicans after the break.
Gio added pace to the game, his movement was not quite that of Vela but he looked bright, Marquez and Onyweu has a small tussle in a fiery contest.
Zinha was always looking to the ball and looked the biggest chance of a goal for the visitors, but in truth the game was becoming a midfield battle with both sides not giving an inch.
Both sides can look at positives, with young players featuring for both teams the future looks very bright for these two sides. and especially Vela.
Full Time - USA 2-2 Mexico
Post a Comment