Dynamo Kiev 2 Manchester United 4
=======Dynamo Kiev 2 Manchester United 4
>>>>>>> .r8797Dynamo Kiev 2 (Rincon 33, Bangoura 78) Manchester United 4 (Ferdinand 10, Rooney 18, Ronaldo 41, 68 pen)
A storming attacking display against a dreadful Kiev defence saw United become only the 2nd English team to win in Kiev.
With the defence and midfield in disarray due to injuries to Evra and Scholes, United decided to attack from the start, and blew Kiev away, exposing pretty poor defending. With an unmarked Ferdinand free to put United ahead in only the tenth minute, Rooney quickly doubled the lead after Wes Brown and Ronaldo combined on the right to give the White Pele a simple tap in (McClaren take note Rooney like to play up front, and I mean up-front not deep in midfield).
Only pretty poor defending on United’s part (not marking properly and not being on the post as Rincon headed a goal back) meant that the game was still a contest when Ronaldo got United’s third. Ryan Giggs might have lost yards of pace over the years but he has learnt how to cross the ball properly. His cross to Ronaldo was perfect and the Portuguese star powered a header home.
In the 2nd half Kiev made more a fight of it and caused United some concern at the back before the the referee ended the contest by awarding United a penalty for a handball. It looked just about in the box, but whether it was meant is another matter. Unlike Rooney, Ronaldo isn’t English and therefore can put away a penalty and duly got his 2nd of the match.
There was still time for Kiev to get a 2nd themselves when Bangoura struck a great low drive to beat Van der Saar.
Once again I was impressed by Anderson who looked both strong and skilful in midfield as he carried the unfit Fletcher all game. However in the 2nd half it was clear United missed Scholes, Carrick or Hargreaves after Kiev regrouped. United did exceptional well to take the game to Kiev before Kiev could work out the weakness in the midfield.
Rooney and Ronaldo looked very sharp indeed and whilst Tevez and Giggs were relatively quiet the helped the team link together very well. None of the defenders were tested enough, although when required Ferdinand was his usual calm and assured self. Only Darren Fletcher didn’t do well. When United attacked in the first half he didn’t contribute. And when Kiev came back into it in the 2nd half, he was mostly anonymous as well. I’m being unduly harsh as he is just coming back from injury and I wouldn’t have played if Scholes had been fit.
All in all, a very good night for Manchester United and with full points from 3 games qualification from the group is nearly there.
Popularity: 14% [?]
October 24th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Good report. This United team does not seem to have the killer instinct yet to finish poor teams off. I still think we miss P.Neville etc. - look at his commitment as in you previous blog.
October 24th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Phil would have sat in nicely instead of either O’Shea or Fletcher, I think.
It is true that United had far more chances to score and could have got more than the 7 Arsenal got.
October 25th, 2007 at 10:51 am
I have to disagree about your Fletcher comment. I thought he did OK. What exactly did he do wrong ? Fletcher’s passing was good in Kiev and United were so on top in midfeld. The first Kiev goal was down to zonal marking on a set piece again and their second goal was a mistake by Van der Sar for me - should not have been beaten from there by a shot that was not exactly Roberto Carlos standard. United’s supremecy in midfield was partially down to Fletcher using the ball well. We didn’t miss Scholes !!!! Hello!!!
October 25th, 2007 at 11:09 am
It wasn’t that Fletcher did anything wrong, but the fact that he didn’t do very much at all. In the 2nd half, Kiev came back into the game, and it is then you’d expect your central midfield to try to take the game back. But all I remember Fletcher doing is being unjustly penalised for a foul on the edge of the area.
I admit I’m being unjustly harsh here. He had just come back from injury, and was drafted in at the last minute and by the 2nd half he was probably totally knackered.
I think Fletcher is a very useful squad player. If he was fully fit, I’m sure he could have contributed more in the 2nd half. But, I’m just hoping we have Hargreaves back for the Arsenal game.
October 25th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
[...] Archives « Dynamo Kiev 2 Manchester United 4 [...]
October 31st, 2007 at 10:46 pm
[...] to the Champions League on the 23rd and United went all the way to Kiev and beat them 4-2. Whilst there were some very poor defending, United showed some great attacking prowess with [...]