Ole to the rescue, again.
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer stepped off the bench to propel Manchester United into the fourth round of the FA Cup. The Norwegian striker has a habit of scoring crucial goals and this third-round match was no exception. He scored the winner in stoppage time, the striker's effort squirming under the body of goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly.
With Henrik Larsson marking his debut for United by finding his scoring touch, it was a good day for manager Sir Alex Ferguson. However Villa looked to have secured a replay when substitute Milan Baros equalised but Solskjaer had the last word. Larsson was quickly in the action and delivered a good ball into the area after two minutes that was headed clear by Liam Ridgewell. Rooney should have made the breakthrough in the 21st minute but sent a weak effort into Kiraly's arms after being set up by Larsson.
United started the second half brightly and Brown should have at least tested Kiraly in the 47th minute. The central defender got on the end of a cross from Rooney but headed over the top from inside the six-yard box. Ronaldo then raced forward after being released by Giggs in the 52nd minute but pulled his 20-yard effort wide of the target.
Larsson marked his debut and announced his arrival at Old Trafford by making the breakthrough in the 55th minute. He showed good composure after being picked out by Rooney in the area to rattle a shot beyond Kiraly. It could have been worse for Villa three minutes later had a delightful free-kick from Giggs not come back off the bar. Hughes then headed clear a goal-bound chip from Giggs and Ronaldo found the side-netting from an acute angle. Villa drew level in the 74th minute through substitute Milan Baros and the goal stunned United's supporters. The Czech Republic striker took advantage of some slack marking to score from close range.
Larsson was rightly given a rousing reception in the 78th minute when he was replaced by Solskjaer. Rooney almost regained the lead for United in the 85th minute only to drag his effort wide. But then up stepped Solskjaer to score the winner for United in stoppage time after a mistake by Kiraly, who allowed the Norwegian's shot to squirm under his body.
Manchester United 2 - Aston Villa 1
With Henrik Larsson marking his debut for United by finding his scoring touch, it was a good day for manager Sir Alex Ferguson. However Villa looked to have secured a replay when substitute Milan Baros equalised but Solskjaer had the last word. Larsson was quickly in the action and delivered a good ball into the area after two minutes that was headed clear by Liam Ridgewell. Rooney should have made the breakthrough in the 21st minute but sent a weak effort into Kiraly's arms after being set up by Larsson.
United started the second half brightly and Brown should have at least tested Kiraly in the 47th minute. The central defender got on the end of a cross from Rooney but headed over the top from inside the six-yard box. Ronaldo then raced forward after being released by Giggs in the 52nd minute but pulled his 20-yard effort wide of the target.
Larsson marked his debut and announced his arrival at Old Trafford by making the breakthrough in the 55th minute. He showed good composure after being picked out by Rooney in the area to rattle a shot beyond Kiraly. It could have been worse for Villa three minutes later had a delightful free-kick from Giggs not come back off the bar. Hughes then headed clear a goal-bound chip from Giggs and Ronaldo found the side-netting from an acute angle. Villa drew level in the 74th minute through substitute Milan Baros and the goal stunned United's supporters. The Czech Republic striker took advantage of some slack marking to score from close range.
Larsson was rightly given a rousing reception in the 78th minute when he was replaced by Solskjaer. Rooney almost regained the lead for United in the 85th minute only to drag his effort wide. But then up stepped Solskjaer to score the winner for United in stoppage time after a mistake by Kiraly, who allowed the Norwegian's shot to squirm under his body.
Manchester United 2 - Aston Villa 1
posted by Swanson Red at 8:55 am
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home