A dire encounter at Villa Park was turned on its head in the closing stages thanks to the introduction of Manchester United substitute Wayne Rooney.Both sides lacked ideas for most of the game, with defenders on top, but took a late lead through Cristiano Ronaldo.
As Villa pushed for to level things up, a brilliant Rooney strike in front put the game beyond doubt. Manchester United’s tremendous record at Villa Park continues.
First Half
Martin O’Neill sprung a surprise by planting John Carew right back in the starting XI in place of Luke Moore. Nevertheless, Villa still had six Englishman on the pitch in front of the on looking Fabio Capello.
Van der Sar returned in goal for United, but Wayne Rooney was only considered fit enough for the bench. Giggs partnered Saha up front.
The home side started brightly at a roaring – though surprisingly not sold out – Villa Park as Gabriel Agbonlahor skipped down the left wing and almost played in Stilian Petrov.
It was a remarkably quick game early on, with Ronaldo prominent and Anderson testing Carson side five minutes with a great run and shot. The goalkeeper proved himself adept at handling crosses as he comfortably gathered Park’s out-swinger. At the other end, Petrov’s super shot from distance whistled a foot over the bar.
United, having struggled slightly early on, began to dictate play after a quarter of an hour, yielding the greatest joy down the left. Laursen did well to put Giggs off following a well-worked move. Saha should then have made better contact with Giggs’ free-kick as both sides began to look a little weary from their intense fixture schedules.
Carrick absorbed everything Villa threw at United down the middle, but even when a great ball from Petrov put through Agbonlahor along the right channel, the Villa youngster found himself alone. Carew lagged behind, visibly lacking match-fitness.
Just when the half seemed destined to end nil-nil, Ronaldo’s bobbling shot was messily parried by Carson into the path of Giggs, four yards out on the right. The Welshman’s hashed side footer suggested he himself hadn’t expected to receive the ball.
Second Half
United continued to possess the greater menace driving forward, but lacked the necessary bite with a front line minus both Rooney and Tevez. Bunched midfield play and hopeful punts up field became increasingly prominent as Rooney – warming up along the touchline – appeared desperate for his chance to make an impact.
United continued to pressure: Ronaldo’s low shot was blocked by a claret shirt, but the Portuguese’s next effort floated woefully wide. Vidic then got a nick on a corner but the ball looped across goal and over the far post. 25 minutes into the second half, hopes for an improved game remained unfulfilled, but Fergie obliged the travelling fans by finally sending on Rooney.
Villa’s first meaningful opportunity of the half arose when Ashley Young’s run through the centre culminated in a daisy cutter that crept. It had been four on four for the home side; Young should have made use of the waiting Agbonlahor or substitute Moore.
As all around Villa Park began to doze off, a sublime one-two between Rooney and Ronaldo almost won the game – a 50 yard ball from Rooney found the Portuguese down the right, and his superb cross was volleyed marginally over the bar by the England international. It would have been a goal to remember, but United settled for a scrappier effort just seconds later. A low ball into the box evaded Villa’s defence and there was Ronaldo at the far post to out-tussle Bouma and bundle it home.
Villa threw men forward in search of an equaliser: substitute Gardner met Barry’s cross but he couldn’t keep his header low enough. But United always threatened on the counter. Carrick’s double effort forced a double save from Carson before Rooney killed Villa off for good. Ronaldo’s cross deflected into the path of the forward who lashed the ball with precision into the bottom left-hand corner.
The closing stages were entertaining but couldn’t disguise the fact that this had been a poor game. Carrick, Ferdinand and Barry were solid, but there was little here to really wow the watching England coach – that is until Rooney entered the fray. The United No10 did more in 20 minutes than anyone else managed in 90.
Line-ups:
Villa (4-4-2): Carson – Mellberg, Davies, Laursen, Bouma (Gardner 83) – Petrov (Maloney 75), Reo-Coker, Barry, Young – Carew (Moore 64), Agbonlahor
Subs not used – Taylor, Knight
United (4-4-2): Van der Sar – Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra – Ronaldo, Anderson, Carrick, Park (Rooney 70) – Saha (Hargreaves 79), Giggs (O’Shea 90)
Subs not used – Heaton, Nani
Goals:
0-1 Ronaldo, 81 (Giggs)
0-2 Rooney, 89 (unassisted)
Cards: None
Attendance: 33,630
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