February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Gary Neville sent over a cross into a gaping hole in front of the Millwall goal. Ronaldo skipped into the area unmarked and just had to get his header on target. His effortless attempt was ridiculously easy as his movement was against the grain of play. Coming in unnoticed helped a lot. The cross was also pulled back a little bit, making it difficult for Millwall to defend. Such crosses have come into play these days were forwards are able to twist their body while getting an inch or two on their marking defender. Getting into the box is all about going against the grain of play, and Ronaldo’s goal was the perfect picture.
Millwall at 0-0 for so long in the first half against an overwhelming favorite was looking good to go into the break on level terms. “The lads came in deflated at the half,” said Millwall’s player-manager, Dennis Wise. For United the goal had lifted the pressure off and the second half was a stroll in the park. It was a glimpse of how United used to dominate teams in the premier and in the Champions League. The gap in the second half was enormous it could have been more than 3-nil in the end.
Roy Keane controlled the game and oozed in the center of the field. The pace and dribbling of Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs were proving for Millwall far too much to handle. Then Giggs ran past one defender, then two, he was in the box and just as he was about to cross he was pulled down from behind. The referee had no choice. Penalty. Ruud van Nistelrooy stepped up and unleashed the ball into the upper corner of the net. No mistake this time. He raced off clenching his fists, relieved it seemed. Then Ruud boy was at it again scoring a trademark goal from a few yards as Millwall collapsed. The strike was off side. But it made no difference. It was all United. Millwall couldn’t get near Manchester’s half, never mind their box.
Redemption was served for United and their celebrations were somewhat subdued. Happy enough they were but all the players interviewed after the game had to mention how disappointing the season was. Keane, Giggs, Ronaldo and Neville all mentioned that their season was up and down. Manager Alex Ferguson said, “We served our penance in the cup after opting not to play in it a few years back. The goal,” he continued, “Took the pressure off.” Indeed, not just for the game but for the season also.
And so a happy ending it was for United and in particular Keane and fellow Irish international John O’Shea. Keane had been out injured and it was unsure if he would make the final. His return definitely steadied his team. Ferguson has used Keane like he said he would for bigger games throughout the year. He has not overworked the Corkman taking him off and resting him here and there. Of course at times Keane was not over the moon with sitting on the bench. But it is so obvious his side miss his presence and leadership when he is out. And he was out quite a bit. So it was good for the Irish to see the ultimate competitor back playing in the FA Cup.
John O’Shea was one of the eyesores for United when Keane was MIA. The Irish defender had some struggling periods this year. His passing in particular was off. At times he was just hoofing the ball out. He had lost his composure altogether. Fair play to Ferguson. He stuck with O’Shea. It’s another bonus for the Irish to see him out there in the cup looking like his old self. Even though the opposition was very much behind United’s superiority, still, it was good to see the Irish duo. It was even better when Northern Irish keeper Roy Carroll joined them. He deserved the run after filling in for out of form Tim Howard. Next season is off to a flyer when the Gunners meet United in the traditional Cup vs. League winners. A game that is said not too matter so much, but we’ll see.
BARTHEZ BLUNDER
It wasn’t such good luck for ex-United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez in the Uefa Cup Final. Valencia looked red-hot favorites to take Marseilles. The French were up against it.
Nonetheless both teams proved in the competition that they were shut out material with a total of 14 between them. Not a lot of goals were expected in this Uefa clash where Marseilles were underdogs. However, an underdog that was clicking on the continent rather than at home in the French League.
And there he was Fabien Barthez. On a platform to prove Manchester United should not have let him go. Just on the stroke of half time Barthez got a red card. He took down the oncoming attacker. So much for trying to revive Barthez who some claim he is the best in the world. It was a quick incident, it happened so fast. There was definitely a fine line in the decision. But the replay did look very dangerous showing what Barthez did. He had lunged out with both feet in the air, an extremely silly and dangerous thing to do. Such dangerous play was as much the reason for his sending off besides taking down the attacker. We see this kind of outrageous lunging in all over the world. It’s a tackle that has to stop. Valencia stuck the penalty away and went on to win 2-nil. Poor Fab.
NO FRIENDS IN FOOTBALL
Mick McCarthy may be able to get his troops to the end line as he did with Ireland and Sunderland but that’s as far as he has gone. Ireland, as we know, missed out on penalties in the World Cup against Spain, a game they could have won. If not, a PK shoot out they could have done better in. Need we be reminded that was the last 16 of the WC?
Recently Mick’s Sunderland was beaten in the FA Cup Semi against Millwall, a side they are more than capable of beating. Then the Cats went on to lose to Crystal Palace in a play off for promotion. Of course, McCarthy stays on at Sunderland with everybody behind him after a job well done, though falling a little short at the end. Axed are Jason McAteer and Phil Babb. There are no friends in football when it comes to your own neck on the block. That’s also case the Liverpool and Real Madrid, who have fired Houllier and Queiroz.