Premier League - Hull push United in thriller

Eurosport - Sun, 02 Nov 09:59:00 2008

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace as Manchester United held off a Hull City fightback with a thrilling 4-3 victory in an entertaining clash at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo celebrate v Hull, FOOTBALL - 0

The newly-crowned FIFPro World Player of the Year opened the scoring in just three minutes, although Hull equalised twenty minutes later through Daniel Cousin.

Michael Carrick restored the lead before Ronaldo's second just before the break made it 3-1. Nemanja Vidic scored a fourth from a corner, although Hull substitute Bernard Mendy chipped a second for his side before winning an 82nd-minute penalty for Geovanni to convert to make it 4-3.

However, Hull could not find a remarkable equaliser as they slipped to a second consecutive defeat having had their four-game winning run ended at the hands of Chelsea in midweek.

United were always going to be heavy favourites once it became clear that Hull boss Phil Brown would be sticking to his normal attacking philosophy, and the home side were ahead inside three minutes when Ronaldo collected a pass on the edge of the box, turned and fired a low left-foot shot beyond the dive of Boaz Myhill, the ball bouncing in off the near post.

But Hull checked any thoughts of an onslaught with an equaliser on 23 minutes as Cousin deftly headed a wicked in-swinging free-kick past Edwin van der Sar.

However, any hopes that Hull were about to repeat their remarkable comeback victory over Arsenal were banished when Carrick restored the champions' lead, moving into the box after collecting Dimitar Berbatov's pass before hitting a left-foot drive across the keeper and in off the far post.

Wayne Rooney had a goal correctly disallowed for offside, then nodded over from six yards, before Ronaldo doubled the lead just before the break when Nani floated a corner to the near post and the forward rose to head home.

Vidic helped himself to United's fourth before the hour when he met Rooney's outswinging corner with a neat side-foot finish, although Myhill might have done better with the save at the near post.

That looked to make the result completely safe and ensure a comfortable final half-hour, but when the ball broke for Mendy inside the box after he and Patrice Evra had challenged for a header, the substitute superbly lofted the ball over the on-rushing van der Sar, although Vidic almost kept it out.

Mendy was then tripped by Rio Ferdinand inside the box to give Geovanni the chance to cut the deficit to just one, which he did with a calm authority from the penalty spot.

Rooney was lucky not to be sent off for a wild, reckless challenge on Andy Dawson as the game - played in a fine spirit up to that point - threatened to boil over in the final minutes, although United closed out the win in relative comfort.

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport

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  1. hahahahah....Manchester United is the "ONE"

    From ErrolD, on Tue 4 Nov 9:33AM

  2. Next MAtch The Red Devils will 100% strike down the dumpish GUNNERS 6-0 By Ronaldo's Hatrick & also afew penalty willl be conceded by the GUNNERS ..................!!

    From Eugene C, on Tue 4 Nov 1:31AM

  3. we @#$% hull city . haha ! im from malaysia . we love MANCHESTER UNITED . glory glory man utd .

    From Naz Photography, on Sun 2 Nov 5:22PM

  4. hello im a scotsman called john from goole and hope hull city can keep up the good work for there fans as well as the outsider watching the game , i work for a building contractor and im gonna give the head joiner my handshake for a place in europe this year come on cousins ,,,,and steve

    From JOHN G, on Sun 2 Nov 4:41PM

  5. I'm a United fan and United did seem to be cruising at 4-1 up after an hour, but credit to Hull for fighting back and making a game of it. I was impressed with Hull's spirit and "never say die" attitude. It was a fantastic game and a great advert for English football.
    What a match at White Hart Lane yesterday! Spurs looked in complete disarray for the first hour and must have been relieved to be only 1-0 down up to that point. Liverpool wasted several chances to make the game safe and paid the price by dropping 3 points. Credit to Spurs for fighting back and good old Harry Redknapp for pulling off another miraculous Houdini act.

    From Dino, on Sun 2 Nov 4:19PM

  6. as a hull city fan i think the lads did us proud

    From susegee, on Sun 2 Nov 3:51PM

  7. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP
    ALL MATCHES ON WEB: PREMIER LEAGUE, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA AND CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - UEFA CUP
    ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS OF PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES

    From go to www.premiership.altervista.org, on Sun 2 Nov 3:05PM

  8. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP
    ALL MATCHES ON WEB: PREMIER LEAGUE, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA AND CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - UEFA CUP
    ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS OF PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES

    From go to www.premiership.altervista.org, on Sun 2 Nov 3:05PM

  9. what about liverfool

    oh dear oh dear
    top for less than a week
    but we knew they'd f*** it up
    we knew they'df*** it up

    From U R SOLES, on Sun 2 Nov 1:44PM

  10. same post as carrick

    From mcis303, on Sun 2 Nov 1:11PM

  11. rezwanasif, i think...no wait i know you are jealous. its the only thing i can think of for you typing c.rap like that. cop on. your team will win nothing this year.

    From alfa147x, on Sun 2 Nov 12:35PM

  12. What an exciting game Man U had it in the bag by half time,scores of chances to increase lead,then the tigers roared back making Man U defence looking a little ragged at times. I must admit Im a tigers supporter and delighted with the performance. Manys thanks to the Man U supporters who gave us credit for an entertaining Match. Only blot on game was Rooneys red mist tackles and Turners 50/50 on Carrick

    From Peter C, on Sun 2 Nov 12:01PM

  13. you silly mancs why do you always think you are better than everyone else your scotish manager's era is coming to an end very soon and you have no true fans just glory hunters can not wait to see the manc's f**k up again alex ferguson never deserved the honnor to be classed as a (SIR)it was given to him cus us british took pitty on him, all you manc,s are devil worshipers sad sad sad bast**d's get a life. just remember mufc is a one man team come on what sort of manager is alex ferguson for making a player play for him when it's not his wish you can see it in his eye's he CR7 has realised he does not want to play for you @#$%'s (devil worshipers).later

    From rezwanasif, on Sun 2 Nov 11:07AM

  14. Do'nt relux you red devils.Yes yo're really of the 21st century but take every match as a big match.Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooood for Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooood

    From michaeln, on Sun 2 Nov 10:08AM

  15. i support spurs and i no every one hates them but i think you should just give them some credit.... i mean i will give credit to you tht was an amazing match chances both ends but man u finished on top again...

    good luck

    From Trevor, on Sun 2 Nov 9:13AM

  16. GOOD RESULT LADS .,CREDIT TO HULL ,THEY MADE US WORK HARD FOR THE 3 POINTS. BRING ON DA CELTIC

    From broadband184, on Sun 2 Nov 8:18AM

  17. I think Man U should consider themselves very lucky. It's a pity it wasn't a draw Hull deserved a point, certainly more than Man U deserved the win! Come on Hull!

    From Dave, on Sun 2 Nov 6:56AM

  18. oops................ arsenal next week? sure they're (arsenal) lose again to man utd soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    go 4 BPL hatrick diz year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !! viva man utd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

    From Syafiq, on Sun 2 Nov 3:18AM

  19. who wanger is gong to put in his team next week, Wallcot, adyboyer, van persie all out! its going to be fire work!!!

    From hupa, on Sun 2 Nov 2:38AM

  20. manu is the best..........hull played well but we did well to hang on to the lead ..in the end thats wht matters...:):)lol..every team has lows and downs...last afternoon our defence had an low match...but they will surely make up for tht against celtic and arseh(O)le....lol...

    From arpit, on Sun 2 Nov 2:30AM
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