|
|
<< Home
| Sunday, April 8, 2007 |
| Portsmouth 2-1 Man United |
Pompey went ahead when Edwin van der Sar could only parry Benjani's shot and Matt Taylor followed up to score. In a thrilling finale Rio Ferdinand scored an own goal to apparently make the points safe for Portsmouth, before John O'Shea struck in stoppage time to set up one last, desperate rally from United. David James denied Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs before Rio Ferdinand put Taylor's pass into his own net to put Pompey 2-0 up. John O'Shea replied from close range but James made sure of victory with a superb last-gasp save from Alan Smith. The result leaves United three points ahead of Chelsea with six games of the season remaining, and the two still have to meet at Stamford Bridge. With Ryan Giggs starting on the bench United were missing a vital spark, as Kieran Richardson and Darren Fletcher were unable to exert any pressure on Pompey. Ronaldo smashed a long-range free-kick wide of James' goal and was close to finding the target again soon after a typically mazy run. Pompey took the lead after 30 minutes as Van der Sar parried Benjani Mwaruwari's long-range effort straight out and Taylor shrugged off the attentions of Ferdinand to reach the rebound first and poke home from eight yards. United responded well and Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney fired wide before Darren Fletcher forced James into his first save of the match. After break, Linvoy Primus headed over from a Gary O'Neil corner, then Van der Sar had to save smartly after he reacted first to Kanu's flick-on. James then somehow tipped over a powerful Giggs shot and caught a Wes Brown header as United piled on the pressure. Pompey weathered the storm and had a good spell of pressure themselves midway through the second half, when Van der Sar made amends for his earlier gaffe with an acrobatic save. Taylor's cross was turned towards the bottom right corner by Sean Davis but, leaping full-stretch to his left, the Dutchman palmed the ball behind for a corner. Alan Smith was brought on for a final push but United fell 2-0 behind with two minutes remaining as Ferdinand's attempted pass-back went straight into his own net following a breakdown in communications with Van der Sar. That did not deter United and O'Shea gave them hope in injury time when he tucked away the rebound after James fumbled Solskjaer's shot. Smith almost salvaged a point for United with a volley through a crowded penalty area but, on a mixed day for both keepers, James made one final save to clinch the points for Pompey. At the end, score still 2-1 for Poertsmouth victory,this is make united shock.
|
| posted by j4ckpot @ 9:14 AM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
