An exhibition of a first half was followed by a controversial end – Nani was prominent once more, scoring and providing as Manchester United’s recent surge in results continued against a formidable Tottenham Hotspur side.
The first half was as open as it was entertaining, with both sides creating numerous opportunities thanks to the space on offer; none more spectacular than a chance a piece in the first ten minutes that rattled each others woodwork. After Park Ji-Sung had lashed a 25 yard effort against the post, in-form Spurs midfielder Rafael van der Vaart beat Michael Carrick but not United’s upright from a similar distance.
In the 13th minute, Park had another chance after flowing football between Nani and Berbatov, but the South Korean’s finish was lacking in purpose or direction – Rafael, 5 minutes later, found himself in a similar position following a mazy run but he dragged his own left foot effort at the near post and easily wide. Michael Carrick forced Gomes into a save from 25 yards; the Spurs keeper recovering from spilling it with Chicharito pouncing, as United began to flex their muscles.
The breakthrough came on the half hour – Kaboul flattened Chicharito, earning him a yellow card, and Nani’s delivery from the free kick was exceptional. Nemanja Vidic met it with a header that owed more to sensational precision than brute power from 12 yards out, and United were ahead. Spurs’ best chance to level before the break came from Modric, whose chest and volley from a corner was remiscent of Scholes, but Edwin van der Sar was equal to it, albeit at full stretch.
The second half was a procession until the last 10 minutes; a Bale run and shot and a Chicharito effort were the only efforts of note until the 83rd minute, when Nani – not the first time – became the centre of a moment of controversy that sealed the game. Racing onto a clipped pass from substitute Wes Brown, Nani got goalside of Kaboul, who was all hands. The winger delayed his reaction and went down when no penalty could rightly be given; Gomes picked the ball up and rolled it down, assuming Spurs had won a free kick for a dive. Referee Mark Clattenburg clearly gestured to play on, and Nani crept around the keeper and slide the ball into the net.
Tottenham players surrounded the ref and linesman, who appeared to flag against the goal. Referee and assistant discussed; Clattenburg overruled his colleague, sealing the result.
United kept up their recent good run to see off their London opponents but not for the first time, Tottenham will feel aggrieved at their bad luck with officiating at Old Trafford.
Ratings : van der Sar 7, Rafael 8 (Brown 7), Ferdinand 7, Vidic 8, Evra 7, *Nani 9, Carrick 7, Fletcher 7, Park 7, Berbatov 6 (Scholes 7), Chicharito 7 (Obertan)
Corrections! Gomez assumed it was a free kick for the hand ball which the referee obviously had not seen. And we deserved that mistake as we clearly deserved a penalty just moments earlier. All said and done. that goal was completely legitimate and the mediocre pundits of espn should learn football before telling bad stuff about United and United’s players. Atleast we dont cheat and score offside goals like chelsea did last time.
F**k you Spurs 🙂
United were totally the better team & spuds apart from van der vaart were toothless up front.they were talking about making a statement HA HA!!.
Everytime we play them it’s somehow a injustice & jon champion was bang out of order.I hate espn and it is officially the worst united coverage there is.always bias & most of the crew came from setanta who were completely anti-united.can’t watch a match on espn without hearing champion having a gripe when he supposed to be neutral.considering the way spurs take defeat to us I am f**king DELIGHTED we left them bitter.
I won’t even look at the papers tommorrow as it is diluted with arsenal & Liverpool journalists who will be crying conspiracy.
We were totally the better team & we had another gear in us which espn conveiently didn’t mention.
I love beating spurs.
F**k you spurs!!!!!
F**k you jon champion!!!!
F**k you keegan!!!
F**k you anti-united tards in the media!!!!
very well said irish devil..:) love your comment :))