Man Utd Vs Villarreal Highlights: Champions League Highlights

Posted on September 17, 2008 
Filed Under Manchester United, UEFA Champions League, Villarreal

Not even the return of talisman Cristiano Ronaldo could prevent Manchester United fluffing their lines as the defending champions could only manage a disappointing draw against Villarreal at Old Trafford.

United could come no closer than a late Jonny Evans diving header that bounced back off the post as their 12-game winning streak on home soil in the competition was brought to an end, the Yellow Submarines almost defeated Sir Alex Ferguson’s men altogether when Guille Franco hit the woodwork in the first half.

With record signing Dimitar Berbatov failing to recover from the knee injury he sustained at Liverpool, Michael Carrick ruled out with an ankle problem and Paul Scholes suspended, a legacy of his needless dismissal against Zenit St Petersburg in last month’s Super Cup, Ferguson was forced to make changes. Nevertheless, the presence of Gary Neville - his first competitive start since March 2007 - and Evans in the home defense were surprise inclusions.

Aside from one powerfully struck short from an acute angle by Robert Pires which van der Sar saved easily enough anyway, Villarreal created nothing.

In contrast, United threatened at regular intervals but were affected by a combination of bad finishing, poor refereeing and excellent goalkeeping,which meant the scores were even heading into half time.

After just five minutes when Owen Hargreaves curled over a corner that Diego Lopez completely misjudged to leave Rio Ferdinand an empty net to steer the ball into, but Ferdinand could only send the ball back in the general direction it had come from.

Then it was Wolfgang Stark’s turn to make blunder. The German official didnt even notice Park Ji-sung falling outside the area and then opting not to make any significant protest.
But there was little doubt Sebastian Eguren caught the South Korean inside the box and a penalty should have been awarded.

Park, was a constant menace with Carlos Tevez. The Argentina star came agonizingly close to scoring as his powerful drive was tipped away by Lopez. Nani had a couple of long-range efforts and Darren Fletcher’s header was blocked at close range.

After some intricate passing involving Wayne Rooney and Fletcher, plus an up and under from Nani which Lopez collected with some difficulty, failed to convince the United boss a goal was going to come so, much to the fans relief, Ronaldo was told to get stripped.

The winger was still waiting to be introduced, Villarreal almost hit their hosts with the ultimate sucker punch. Finding space just outside the box, Angel Lopez crossed for Franco. Franco flicked the ball goalwards with the back of his heel and was unlucky as the ball bounced back of the post and Van der Sar gathering the rebound, knowing he would not have been able to do a thing to stop it going in.

With the introduction of Ronaldo and Anderson Red devils were completely transformed and looked lively. But things still remained the same and there were many half chances and Ronaldo eventually managed a header that floated wide before Evans diving header hit the post but it was a familiar tale of disappointment for the hosts in front of goal this season.

Ferguson will need no reminding that the last time Villarreal gained a draw at Old Trafford, three years ago, United did not make it out of the group. It is unlikely to happen again but as Chelsea are lying in wait on Sunday,Red devils will desperately need some of those 42 goals Ronaldo scored last season.

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