Manchester United, the runners-up in the 2009-10 Barclays Premier League season, are bound to feel frustrated after playing out a 2-2 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage. iSporter Akshay Iyer shares his views about the game. Read on!
United, who thrashed Newcastle United 3-0 in their first match of the 2010-11 season, were expected to put in a similar dominating performance against Fulham. And, for the first quarter of the match, it did seem that United would run away with the match and Fulham would be forced to become hapless spectators on their own home turf.
Paul Scholes gave United the lead with a low drive in the 12th minute. This was incidentally Scholes’ 150th goal for the Red Devils. The run-up to Scholes’ strike itself was indicative of United’s attacking brand of football. After Dimitar Berbatov had forced a corner, Antonio Valencia’s pin-point resultant kick found the Bulgarian, who passed the ball to Scholes for his 25-yard scorcher that flew past Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale.
Manchester United usually take the attack to the opposition after taking the lead, but brilliant counter-attacking from Fulham meant the Red Devils were thrown off their usual game. United’s defence was found out repeatedly by Fulham’s forward line led by Bobby Zamora. While United captain Nemanja Vidic had a decent outing at the back; Jonny Evans was repeatedly found wanting and failed to stop any of Zamora’s runs down United’s defence line. This is an area that Sir Alex Ferguson will have to address sooner than later.
United’s talismanic forward Wayne Rooney was ruled out of the match because of illness. Javier Hernandez got his first start in United colours, and while he gave a good account of himself, it will still take some more time for him to get used to the Premier League and for his other teammates to get used to his style of play and vice-versa. Berbatov and Scholes both played well, but failed to create as many chances as they ought to. Scholes’ passing, however, was once again top-notch.
Manchester United staved off Fulham’s attempts at an equaliser and went in to the break leading 1-0, but Simon Davies equalised for the hosts early in the second half despite a good effort by United ‘keeper Edwin Van der Sar’s effort to keep the ball away from the back of the net. The match was again a see-saw affair, and though Fulham’s attacks stepped up, Manchester United kept up the pressure on the hosts and was rewarded when Brede Hangeland conceded an own goal with barely 10 minutes left in the match.
And, substitute Nani could have all but sealed the match in United’s favour in the 87th minute when the Red Devils were awarded a fortuitous penalty. However, Nani made a mess of the penalty kick which was brilliantly saved by Stockdale. In hindsight, Michael Owen or Ryan Giggs, should have stepped up to take the penalty. Rejuvenated by Stockdale’s save, Fulham stepped up their attack, and Hangeland made amends by scoring a late equaliser for the hosts in the 88th minute of the match.
With defending champions Chelsea hitting top gear in their first two matches of the 2010-11 season, a draw against Fulham would have been the last thing United wanted. These are still early days in the campaign, but United will want to ensure they don’t slip too far behind Chelsea in the points table.
Fulham probably deserved to share the points with Manchester United, but for the Red Devils it is a case of two points that slipped away. United will, however, be looking to take all three points when they take on West Ham at Old Trafford on August 28th.
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... Man U should be happy to get a point from an away game against fulham. B'coz, the last 2 away games at fulham they had lost  |
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