Man United 4 Dynamo Kiev 0
Manchester United 4 (Pique 30, Tevez 36, Rooney 75, Ronaldo 87) Dynamo Kiev 0
Seems the Arsenal game was merely a blip in the 4 goal scoring spree as United strolled past a poor Kiev. United made a host of changes from the Arsenal game. Anderson, Ferdinand, Giggs, Brown and Hargreaves replaced by Carrick, Pique, Nani, Simpson and Fletcher respectively.
An initially ultra defensive Kiev proved hard to open up in the first half, but eventually the first game came from an unlikely source. It was a pinball moment as a Carrick header hit the back of Tevez’s head only to loop over the Gerard Pique who headed the ball back across the goal and into the net. Tevez was actually offside from the Carrick header but you can hardly blame the linesman for not following this.
Shortly later, a goal of a completely different nature settled the game. A Kiev player dwelt too long on the ball in the centre circle and was robbed by Carlos Tevez. Seconds later, Tevez had stormed forward, exchanged a 1-2 with Rooney on the edge of the area and fired the ball into the net. A perfect United style goal; fast, counter-attacking, skilful and breathtaking. It was Tevez’s first Champions League goal and hopefully the first of many for United.
At half time Kiev made two attacking substitution, whilst Var Der Saar was replaced by Thomas Kuszczak. Whilst this meant Kiev had some chances to score (when called upon Kuszezak did well) it also meant that Kiev’s defensive rubbishness from the first leg returned in all its glory. United players had more trouble arguing amongst themselves over who was going to score than from the Kiev defenders (specifically Ronaldo). Eventually United scored again and it was a simple goal. A great cross from Nani which Rooney side footed home.
But Ronaldo wasn’t going to be denied from getting on the goal scoring act. Of course, he had to do it with a special bit of skill. Back healing past the defender (or is it sidehealing?) into the area and then powerfully firing the ball into the top corner.
With about 3 seconds of injury time allowed, the referee called time and with Roma getting a late equaliser in Lisbon, United qualified for the next stage in style. We still need one point to finish top of the group which should be achievable in the next game at home to Sporting.
Popularity: 12% [?]
November 8th, 2007 at 12:30 am
It’s like you were sat at the game with your laptop ready to send the report off to the press. Great stuff. I trust your maths rather than the TV people. They had United in first place after the results of this evening. I just hope that Fergie does not make too many changes in the next matches. They need to keep up the momentum.