Manchester United Reds
| FA Premier League |
| Wednesday 12th December 2007 |
| Manchester United. | 1 | 1 | Roma | A |
| Match Rating: 3
Star For the second season running violence scarred Manchester United's visit to Rome with a 16-year-old believed to be among seven Red Devils fans requiring hospital treatment after trouble outside the Stadio Olimpico. Mercifully, there were no problems inside with 1,200 visiting fans well policed and able to watch their team perform impressively but eventually lose their 100% Champions League record when Mancini levelled Gerard Pique's first-half header. But yet again, despite a marked improvement in security from the disgraceful baton-wielding policing on United's last visit in April, the talk will still be about the apparent inability of the Italian authorities to contain the scourge of hooliganism, which has already twice seen soccer suspended in the country. It overshadowed what was supposed to be a dead-rubber of a game between two teams whose exact positions in the knock-out phase was already known but almost turned into a history-making night as United, despite fielding a vastly under-strength team, came within 19 minutes of recording only their third win on Italian soil. Although Sir Alex Ferguson was able to include eight full internationals in his starting line-up, and call another couple off the bench if required, United's youthfulness was there for all to see. Little wonder some seasoned Red Devils watchers were talking purely of damage limitation beforehand, hoping only to avoid the kind of embarrassment Roma suffered at Old Trafford eight months ago. Luciano Spalletti must have felt reasonably confident about ending United's perfect record in Group F but it soon became apparent the visitors were not in the mood to roll over. Had Nani's set-piece delivery matched the eye-catching nature of his blistering left-wing raids, United would probably have been in front long before they eventually seized the initiative. Wayne Rooney, responding to the captaincy in exactly the way Ferguson would have wanted, led from the front, covering every blade of grass as he aided his side's cause in attack and defence. Michael Carrick's measured performance perfectly complimented the more aggressive efforts of central midfield partner Darren Fletcher, while at the back Pique and Johnny Evans responded to the mistakes they did make with fortitude. Evans was certainly caught flat-footed by Cincinho's right-wing cross when Mauro Esposito glanced narrowly wide. Keeper Tomasz Kuszczak produced a couple of excellent saves to deny David Pizarro and Mancini, who also struck the crossbar after being set up by captain Francesco Totti. But it was United who claimed the spoils during that opening period, with Pique's name the one going up in lights. The Spain Under-21 international has supposedly had his attitude criticised by Ferguson's assistant Carlos Queiroz recently. If those stories are true, then the Barcelona-born youngster provided the perfect answer as he rose to nod home when Nani eventually got a corner right. Coupled with his similar goal against Dynamo Kiev last month, Pique is now United's joint third highest scorer in European competition this season. Ghanaian midfielder Ahmed Barusso left a nasty imprint on the game and Evans' shin at the start of the second half as he went straight over the ball with a woeful tackle which could have brought a greater sanction than the yellow card produced by referee Martin Hansson. John O'Shea, the nearest United player to the incident, could not hide his anger - and rightly so judging by television replays. O'Shea was replaced by Wes Brown not long afterwards. Having already shown the worst side of his game, Barusso offered a glimpse of his best, sending a 25-yard effort whistling just wide of Kuszczak's goal. United were never on the back foot for long though and would have doubled their lead if Doni had not raced out to block Saha's shot at point-blank range after Rooney had sent his strike partner clear with a superb through-ball. The introduction of Mirko Vucinic changed that theory as the Montenegrin quickly set up Mancini for a well-taken equaliser before striking the base of a post with an excellent snap-shot, the nearest Roma came to a winner. Report courtesy of ESPN Soccernet |
Premiership Table 2007/08
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