Man Utd v Spurs Re-Match
Manchester United put on a stunning display today in a behind-closed-doors
rematch ordered by the FA after Tuesdays debacle at Old Trafford.
The Super Reds went ahead just before the kick-off when Giggs was sent away
down the left wing. His cross was handled on the half way line by a Spurs
defender and a penalty was awarded for this cynical foul. Paul Scholes
stepped up to slot the ball home for United's 33rd penalty of the season. It
was no more than United deserved.
The 15th minute saw the Super-Smashing Reds go two up after Michael Carrick
was penalised for coughing just outside the area. Christiano Ronaldo's
resultant free kick was slightly miss-hit, but even if the keeper was not
being pinned to the floor by Roy Keane, he would not have saved it. 2-0. It
as no more than United deserved.
The 21st minute saw more trouble for Spurs when Erik Edman was sent-off for
enquiring about the referee's Man United shirt. However two minutes after
the interval Spurs struck back after an amazing piece of good fortune. The
referee's assistant could only parry Pedro Mendes' shot and Robbie Keane
thumped the ball home. Confusion reigned for 10 minutes as the entire
Manchester United squad surrounded the referee, arguing that the referee's
assistant had been fouled 15 minutes earlier. The referee grudgingly had to
give the goal even though he racked his brain for a reason to disallow it.
Alex Ferguson was furious and rushed down from his seat in the stand to the
dugout, knocking over a number of blind, disabled, pensioners in
wheel-chairs on the way down. Fortunately, things settled down again as Paul
Scholes took a long-range shot, which deflected off the corner flag but had
clearly crossed the line, 3-1. It was no more than United deserved.
Just after the restart, un-sportsmanlike Nourredine Naybet was dismissed for
making ridiculous claims for a penalty after Roy Keane had nearly
decapitated Robbie Keane. The referee and his assistant missed the incident
as they were both asking Ryan Giggs for his autograph, but replays showed
that Keane's flying kung-fu kick, followed by a forearm smash was clearly
unintentional.
Ten minutes later Ferguson took off Giggs and replaced him with Alan Smith,
Eric Djemba Djemba and the suspended Wayne Rooney. Wonderful, wonderful Man
United's 4th came shortly after. Robbie Keane was caught offside just
outside the Spurs penalty area and Rooneys free-kick thundered in after
deflecting off the underside of the flood lights. It was no more than United
deserved.
The super, marvel, wonder Reds kept the pressure on until the bitter end. In
the 98th minute Ledley King conceded a free kick just outside his own area
for blatantly glancing at the referee. Ronaldo stepped up and proceeded to
chip the ball right into the referee's path and he made no mistake from 10
yards. Goal number 5 and it was no more than United deserved.
Scholes slotted home number 6 from the penalty spot after Gardner went down
with a broken leg. Fortunately Roy Keane was nearby when it happened and,
after running 50 yards, he was able to bring the incident to the referee's
attention. Unfazed by Gardner's cynical tactics, protruding bone and
spraying blood, the referee sent him off for diving (and time wasting) and
awarded United the penalty. Scholes cheekily chipped the ball over the
keeper and the crossbar, but the referee decided that it was a goal, because
based on past records, Scholes rarely missed.
When the final whistle went after 33 minutes of injury time, Spurs traipsed
off with their heads low, having been taught a footballing lesson by what is
by far the greatest team the World has ever seen. As the losers hit the
showers, a superb flowing movement by United culminated with a fine diving
header by Alex Ferguson and it was 7-1. However the referee decided that it
was such a good goal, it should count double.
8-1 then - and it was no more than United deserved.
Manchester United put on a stunning display today in a behind-closed-doors
rematch ordered by the FA after Tuesdays debacle at Old Trafford.
The Super Reds went ahead just before the kick-off when Giggs was sent away
down the left wing. His cross was handled on the half way line by a Spurs
defender and a penalty was awarded for this cynical foul. Paul Scholes
stepped up to slot the ball home for United's 33rd penalty of the season. It
was no more than United deserved.
The 15th minute saw the Super-Smashing Reds go two up after Michael Carrick
was penalised for coughing just outside the area. Christiano Ronaldo's
resultant free kick was slightly miss-hit, but even if the keeper was not
being pinned to the floor by Roy Keane, he would not have saved it. 2-0. It
as no more than United deserved.
The 21st minute saw more trouble for Spurs when Erik Edman was sent-off for
enquiring about the referee's Man United shirt. However two minutes after
the interval Spurs struck back after an amazing piece of good fortune. The
referee's assistant could only parry Pedro Mendes' shot and Robbie Keane
thumped the ball home. Confusion reigned for 10 minutes as the entire
Manchester United squad surrounded the referee, arguing that the referee's
assistant had been fouled 15 minutes earlier. The referee grudgingly had to
give the goal even though he racked his brain for a reason to disallow it.
Alex Ferguson was furious and rushed down from his seat in the stand to the
dugout, knocking over a number of blind, disabled, pensioners in
wheel-chairs on the way down. Fortunately, things settled down again as Paul
Scholes took a long-range shot, which deflected off the corner flag but had
clearly crossed the line, 3-1. It was no more than United deserved.
Just after the restart, un-sportsmanlike Nourredine Naybet was dismissed for
making ridiculous claims for a penalty after Roy Keane had nearly
decapitated Robbie Keane. The referee and his assistant missed the incident
as they were both asking Ryan Giggs for his autograph, but replays showed
that Keane's flying kung-fu kick, followed by a forearm smash was clearly
unintentional.
Ten minutes later Ferguson took off Giggs and replaced him with Alan Smith,
Eric Djemba Djemba and the suspended Wayne Rooney. Wonderful, wonderful Man
United's 4th came shortly after. Robbie Keane was caught offside just
outside the Spurs penalty area and Rooneys free-kick thundered in after
deflecting off the underside of the flood lights. It was no more than United
deserved.
The super, marvel, wonder Reds kept the pressure on until the bitter end. In
the 98th minute Ledley King conceded a free kick just outside his own area
for blatantly glancing at the referee. Ronaldo stepped up and proceeded to
chip the ball right into the referee's path and he made no mistake from 10
yards. Goal number 5 and it was no more than United deserved.
Scholes slotted home number 6 from the penalty spot after Gardner went down
with a broken leg. Fortunately Roy Keane was nearby when it happened and,
after running 50 yards, he was able to bring the incident to the referee's
attention. Unfazed by Gardner's cynical tactics, protruding bone and
spraying blood, the referee sent him off for diving (and time wasting) and
awarded United the penalty. Scholes cheekily chipped the ball over the
keeper and the crossbar, but the referee decided that it was a goal, because
based on past records, Scholes rarely missed.
When the final whistle went after 33 minutes of injury time, Spurs traipsed
off with their heads low, having been taught a footballing lesson by what is
by far the greatest team the World has ever seen. As the losers hit the
showers, a superb flowing movement by United culminated with a fine diving
header by Alex Ferguson and it was 7-1. However the referee decided that it
was such a good goal, it should count double.
8-1 then - and it was no more than United deserved.
