Arsenal v United, Wednesday

The turn out at Speakers Corner this morning wasn't too bad with a couple of Mincers watching United, who they will play should they beat Barca.  Same venue next week for the 2nd leg at The Emirates.  Try and get along if you can

United win

A solitary goal from John O'Shea, gave Manchester United a one - nil victory over Arsenal this morning.

Match Report

United v Arsenal, Thursday

The game will be on tomorrrow at Speakers Corner Browns Bay.  All welcome to attend

Manchester Utd v Spurs

A five goal haul in the second half, gave United victory at Old Trafford this morning.

Match report

72 hours

Over three days have past, but I still can't get over that penalty kick.

But good news this morning with the win over Portsmouth, pushing us clear with a game in hand.

And on the local front, Man Utd NZ drew two all with the Old Farts at Takapuna on Sunday.

Manchester United v Porto

A stunning goal by Cristiano Ronaldo gave Manchester United a one nil win and entry to the semi finals of the European Cup.
Ronaldos shot from forty yards out dipped and curled, leaving the Porto keeper with no chance.

A fantastic goal.

United at Sunderland

Rooney fired a shot across the Sunderland goal within 16 seconds of kick-off when he curled a right-foot effort just wide, but as the game unfolded, it seemed only a matter of time before his side took the lead. They would have done just that with 17 minutes gone had Danny Collins not hacked Vidic's towering header off the line and then looked on as the Serbia international sent an overhead kick just wide with United laying siege. Ferguson's men did not have to wait much longer to edge their way in front when Rooney cut inside on to his right foot to deliver the perfect cross for the unmarked Scholes to glance a deft header past the stranded Craig Gordon and into the top corner.

Then Park Ji-Sung smashed a shot across Gordon in first-half injury-time after United broke swiftly, but the visitors returned to the dressing room knowing the game was still very much alive. United re-emerged looking as if they meant business with Rooney seemingly intent on securing the points single-handedly. In the space of four minutes, he forced Davenport to cut out a cross and concede a corner, and also drilled a 25-yard effort inches wide.

Scholes smashed a volley wide and Carlos Tevez curled a free-kick over, and it took a fine block by Bardsley to keep out the Argentinean's 63rd-minute effort. Cristiano Ronaldo eventually joined the fray as a 69th-minute replacement for Park.

But it was Macheda's arrival as a 75th-minute replacement that once more changed the game. The youngster had been on the pitch for just seconds when he steered Carrick's shot past the helpless Gordon to further enhance his blossoming reputation. He was in the right place at the right time to deflect home Michael Carrick's shot as it sped through a crowded penalty area and clinch three precious points.

Sir Alex Ferguson's troops will now regroup ahead of their testing Champions League quarter-final, second-leg trip to Porto on Wednesday evening knowing they remain a point clear of Liverpool with a game in hand in the race for the Premier League title.

United vs Villa

United opened the scoring in the 14th minute and the nature of Ronaldo's 19th goal of the season took the breath away. From a free kick, for a back-pass, Ryan Giggs brushed the ball to his illustrious young team-mate, who sent it over the wall and into the roof of Friedel's net in a flash.
A sense of calm should have spread across home ranks. Instead, Villa merely came again. Showing the form that established them in the Champions League position, Aston Villa terrorised the United defence. Edwin van der Sar was called upon on three occasions to keep Villa out but there was nothing he could do to deny Carew when the Norwegian steered a deft header into the bottom corner.
The contest picked up and on the hour Villa scored again to take the lead.

Ferguson's response was to introduce 17-year-old Federico Macheda, which in itself said something about United's plight. It did however bring an immediate improvement and when Michael Carrick exchanged first-time passes with Giggs on the edge of the Villa box, he then presented Ronaldo with a lay-off. Ronaldo did not have a lot to aim at but he found the one small gap Friedel was unable to cover.

And now the scene was set for one of those amazing finishes that have been the hallmark of so many United triumphs down the years, Friedel denied Danny Welbeck two minutes from time, then in the dying seconds Macheda turned onto Ryan Giggs' low pass before unleashing a stunning shot that curled past Brad Friedel for the most amazing debut goal and sent Old Trafford into ecstasy.
“It is the kind of day you dream about, Maybe no-one knew about me before but I think that might have changed now” said Macheda.