Carlos Tevez again scored a vital late goal as United rescued a point at Ewood Park to remain in pole position in the championship race.The Reds were far from fluent on a frustrating afternoon but just as he’s done against Tottenham and Lyon in recent months, United’s Argentinean striker popped up to find the net with time running out.
In the 88th minute, Tevez showed lightning reactions to turn in Paul Scholes’ flick-on from close range and cancel out Roque Santa Cruz’s first-half opener. But more than simply earn a point on an afternoon where it looked for long periods like United would return to Manchester empty-handed, Tevez’s goal dramatically strengthened the Reds’ title challenge with just three games to play.
Sir Alex’s men now travel to Stamford Bridge next Saturday with a three-point lead and a significantly better goal difference than rivals Chelsea. And so, while the performance at Ewood Park was hardly vintage United, it may yet turn out to be highly significant.
The manager certainly knew the importance of this fixture and, despite a Champions League semi-final to look forward to on Wednesday, named a strong side. The only notable absence was Edwin van der Sar, who was left out due to a slight groin injury. The Dutchman is expected, however, to be fit to face Barcelona in mid-week.
Nemanja Vidic made his first appearance since injuring his knee in Rome 18 days ago, while Tevez partnered Wayne Rooney up front. That meant Gerard Pique and Ji-sung Park had to be content with places on the bench, while Ben Foster, Carlos Tevez again scored a vital late goal as United rescued a point at Ewood Park to remain in pole position in the championship race.The Reds were far from fluent on a frustrating afternoon but just as he’s done against Tottenham and Lyon in recent months, United’s Argentinean striker popped up to find the net with time running out.
In the 88th minute, Tevez showed lightning reactions to turn in Paul Scholes’ flick-on from close range and cancel out Roque Santa Cruz’s first-half opener. But more than simply earn a point on an afternoon where it looked for long periods like United would return to Manchester empty-handed, Tevez’s goal dramatically strengthened the Reds’ title challenge with just three games to play.
Sir Alex’s men now travel to Stamford Bridge next Saturday with a three-point lead and a significantly better goal difference than rivals Chelsea. And so, while the performance at Ewood Park was hardly vintage United, it may yet turn out to be highly significant.
The manager certainly knew the importance of this fixture and, despite a Champions League semi-final to look forward to on Wednesday, named a strong side. The only notable absence was Edwin van der Sar, who was left out due to a slight groin injury. The Dutchman is expected, however, to be fit to face Barcelona in mid-week.
Nemanja Vidic made his first appearance since injuring his knee in Rome 18 days ago, while Tevez partnered Wayne Rooney up front. That meant Gerard Pique and Ji-sung Park had to be content with places on the bench, while Ben Foster, Carlos Tevez again scored a vital late goal as United rescued a point at Ewood Park to remain in pole position in the championship race.The Reds were far from fluent on a frustrating afternoon but just as he’s done against Tottenham and Lyon in recent months, United’s Argentinean striker popped up to find the net with time running out.
In the 88th minute, Tevez showed lightning reactions to turn in Paul Scholes’ flick-on from close range and cancel out Roque Santa Cruz’s first-half opener. But more than simply earn a point on an afternoon where it looked for long periods like United would return to Manchester empty-handed, Tevez’s goal dramatically strengthened the Reds’ title challenge with just three games to play.
Sir Alex’s men now travel to Stamford Bridge next Saturday with a three-point lead and a significantly better goal difference than rivals Chelsea. And so, while the performance at Ewood Park was hardly vintage United, it may yet turn out to be highly significant.
The manager certainly knew the importance of this fixture and, despite a Champions League semi-final to look forward to on Wednesday, named a strong side. The only notable absence was Edwin van der Sar, who was left out due to a slight groin injury. The Dutchman is expected, however, to be fit to face Barcelona in mid-week.
Nemanja Vidic made his first appearance since injuring his knee in Rome 18 days ago, while Tevez partnered Wayne Rooney up front. That meant Gerard Pique and Ji-sung Park had to be content with places on the bench, while Ben Foster, Attacking the end containing United’s vocal travelling support, the Reds dominated possession in the early stages of the second half. But time and time again, a Blackburn interception or a misplaced final pass prevented the Reds from carving out clear-cut chances.
When the Reds did finally create an opening – Ronaldo crashed a shot against Friedel’s left-hand upright on 65 minutes – Lady Luck smiled upon the home side.
United’s fortunes, meanwhile, dipped further when Rooney took a blow to his back/hip, which severely hampered the England star’s movement for a significant period.
Rooney did recover well enough to lay on a chance for Ronaldo with 11 minutes to go but the Portuguese winger was narrowly beaten to the ball by Johann Vogel. The crumbs fell to Carlos Tevez, who spun and fired goalwards from close range. Friedel thrust out an arm to take the pace off the ball, but even then it looked like it would spin into the net. Such was United’s luck, the American stopper scrambled back to gather on the line.
The last 10 minutes saw the Reds lay siege to the Blackburn goal. Brett Emerton appeared to handle on the line from Michael Carrick’s header before Friedel again denied United when Rooney was one-on-one with five minutes remaining. There was even better to come from the 36-year-old, saving unbelievably from John O’Shea’s close-range shot.
But there was nothing he could do in the 88th minute when Tevez headed home what could well turn out to be his most important goal in a United shirt. Bring on the Blues next weekend! United: Kuszczak; Brown (O’Shea 81), Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra; Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs (Nani 46); Rooney (Park 90), TevezSubs not used: Foster, Pique
Blackburn Rovers: Friedel; Emerton, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock; Reid, Bentley, Vogel (Mokoena 86), Pedersen; Roberts, Santa Cruz
Subs not used: Brown, Ooijer, McCarthy, DunnBooked: Rooney (United), Reid (Blackburn) Next Match:
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Barcelona V UNITED
Thursday, April 24, 2008 12:45:00 AM BST
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