Manchester United 3 – Manchester City 1: Match Review

Finally Manchester United sealed a position in the Carling cup final after a dramatic game at Old Trafford against their arc rivals Manchester City. United’s superstar striker Wayne Rooney headed a cross from Ryan Giggs to send Manchester United into the Carling Cup final in the stoppage time of second half. At the end Manchester City did not looked very comfortable in handling the pressure of big game.

The result was an expected one but the way it came was not expected. After a goalless first half, Scholes scored in 52^nd minute to bring United equal on aggregate. Carrick made it 2-0 with just about 20 minutes left in the game. Carlos Tevez made it 2-1 and looked to have sent the semi-final into extra-time. But the final goal from Rooney sealed the game for Manchester United in the stoppage time.

Earlier in the Premier league Man City have faced similar situation when Owen scored in the stoppage time for United to win the game 4-3. Yesterday it was similar situation and City lost it 4-3 on aggregate.

For Manchester City Richards and Tevez came close to score but Van Der Sar denied them in doing so at both occasions. The game started in tight security and Man City showed great composure in both attack and defense. But games first goal came from 35 years old Paul Scholes when he stroked from 18 yards early in the second half.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson started the game with Rooney as a lone striker with Nani and Giggs on wings. Rooney’s dream form continued and he scored the most important goal of the game for United.

Teams:

Manchester United

Van der Sar

Rafael Da Silva - Ferdinand - Evans - Evra

Giggs - Carrick - Scholes - Nani

Fletcher

Rooney

Manchester City

Given

Richards - Zabaleta - Kompany - Garrido

Wright-Phillips - Barry - De Jong - Boyata

Tevez Bellamy

Final Score:

Manchester United 3 (Scholes, Carrick, Rooney) – Manchester City 1 (Tevez)

Facts of the game:

• All the three goals came from English players for Manchester United
• Garry Neville and Berbatov did not appear in the game. Neville was not even on the bench.
• Sir Alex Ferguson preferred to play with single striker.
• Carlos Tevez scored third time in two games against United.

Manchester United v Burnley: Match Preview

Manchester United will face Burnley in the Premier League match on Saturday. United will be without Darren Fletcher because the Scot was sent-off in last week’s 1-1 draw at Birmingham. Nemanja Vidic, who was suffering from a calf strain could be available.

In normal conditions United is expected to take all three points from this game but seeing the current form anything can happen. On the other hand Burnley have gone nine games without a win in the Premier League. But Burnley is the team who shocked United with a 1-0 win in August at Turf Moor. Still last time when Burnley won at Old Trafford was in 1962 and since then they have visited 10 times in the League, losing six and drawing four.

Probable Lineup for the game:

Manchester United (probable, 4-4-2)

Kuszczak
Rafael Brown Evans Evra
Valencia Carrick Scholes Giggs
Owen Rooney

Burnley (probable, 4-4-2)

Jensen
Mears Carlisle Bikey Jordan
Elliott Alexander McDonald Eagles
Blake Fletcher

Man Utd 3 - Wolverhampton Wanderers 0

Manchester United defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 to go on top of the premmier league table on points with Chelsea. At Old Trafford Rooney, Vidic and Valencia scored one goals each to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Wolverhampton manager Mick McCarthy made 10 changes from the side that defeated Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 last weekend while United started with Rooney and Berbatov upfront. De Laet, Gibson and Obertan also got a chance to start. Paul Scholes made his come back in the side.

United got a penalty and Rooney scored in the 30th minute. Then Vidic made it 2-0 for the home side by converting a corner from Gibson just before the half time.

In the 65th minute Valencia scored to seal the win for the Red Devils.

Starting Line Up:

Manchester United
Kuszczak
De Laet
Carrick
Vidic
Evra
Valencia
Scholes
Gibson
Obertan
Berbatov
Rooney

Wolverhampton Wanderers
Hahnemann
Zubar
Mancienne
Elokobi
Hill
Halford
Foley
Castillo
Friend
Surman
Maierhofer

Final Score:
Manchester United 3
Rooney, Vidic, Valencia

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0

Next Match:
Fulham vs Manchester United 19th December 2009 15:00