Premier League - United scrape last-gasp draw

Eurosport - Sat, 03 Oct 19:17:00 2009

Manchester United scored another dramatic late goal but still had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Sunderland at Old Trafford.

2009-2010 Manchester United-Sunderland - 0

Patrice Evra's 93rd-minute shot deflected in off the luckless Anton Ferdinand to earn United a point they hardly deserved.

Sunderland were the better side and led twice. First, through a brilliant seventh-minute goal by Darren Bent, then through a header just before the hour from his strike partner Kenwyne Jones.

But a sensational overhead kick from Dimitar Berbatov and Ferdinand's own-goal gave the champions a share of the spoils in a thrilling climax, two weeks after Michael Owen's 96th-minute winner in the derby against Manchester City.

United old-boy Kieran Richardson was sent off for a second bookable offence after kicking the ball away, and 10-man Sunderland failed to hold out.

The point takes Steve Bruce's side to the dizzy heights of sixth in the Premier League, while Chelsea can knock United off top spot with a win at home to Liverpool on Sunday.

Sunderland deserve credit for an organised, combative display built on a central midfield fulcrum of Lee Cattermole and Lorik Cana. Yet United were poor throughout, especially in midfield where Ryan Giggs was sorely missed.

Giggs made a match-winning contribution from the substitutes' bench against Stoke City last weekend, but was mystifyingly left out of the 18-man squad here.

With his flicks, tricks and tendency to run down cul-de-sacs, Nani is an easy target for critics. But it becomes even simpler to point out his deficiencies when he completes none of his first six crosses and continually makes bad decisions in important situations.

Wayne Rooney left his foot in on Andy Reid in a moment of frustration at his side's dismal performance. A stricter referee might have sent the England striker off, but Alan Wiley chose to give Rooney no more than a talking-to.

Bent's goal was a gem. He received a slick pass from Cattermole, turned sharply and hit an early shot low past Ben Foster into the left corner.

Foster was recalled after being dropped for United's Champions League match against Wolfsburg. It cannot have been part of the goalkeeper's plans to concede within seven minutes.

Berbatov admitted this week that he has been a disappointment since his £30 million arrival from Tottenham Hotspur, but he did plenty to win over his doubters with a magnificent equaliser.

John O'Shea crossed from the right and the Bulgarian met the ball acrobatically, directing it past Gordon into the right corner with a perfect bicycle kick.

Old Trafford fully expected United to do what they have done so many times and go on to win the game, yet they contrived to surrender the initiative again.

Seven minutes later Sunderland were back in front when Andy Reid clipped a hanging cross into the United box and Foster, Jones and the ball all converged at the same time.

A stronger goalkeeper would have have taken out man and ball with authority; Foster allowed Jones to muscle in front and bundle the ball home. Edwin van der Sar's return cannot come soon enough.

Yet United roused themselves for another piece of stoppage time magic. Nemanja Vidic headed across goal and Sunderland cleared to what they thought was safety, but Evra returned the ball with interest and a wicked touch off Ferdinand took the ball into the corner.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

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  1. Iam not at all happy as a united fan not only because­ we lost but our passes and ball control are largely out­ of sort. How Rooney touches let him down will never­ make him in the same category unfortunately with the­ likes of Ronaldo, Messi, Kaka, Torres etc in the­ footballing stage. Our two best players this season so­ far are Scholes and Giggs. How long can we keep on­ relying on this old folks? We need a striker that hold­ the ball and work the centre backs like Jones and­ Drogba. Then again there is certain Ben Foster, if he­ is the best bet for England then they dont have a­ chance going to South Africa.'Nough said, SAF take­ note.

    From opemonebi, on Mon 5 Oct 12:25PM

  2. daz, seeing that you are not responding, i can only­ presume that you are stinking in your bug ridden bed ,­ or you are in a drugged up sleep, when you eventually­ wakeup don,t forget to wash will you , here,s me been­ on the go since six, but then i supoose we the workers­ have get out to pay the taxes, that pay your benefits,

    From TEVEZ, on Mon 5 Oct 9:04AM

  3. dazmanutd, comment 440 , you sure know the termology­ for being around public toilets , why is that ?

    From TEVEZ, on Mon 5 Oct 8:57AM

  4. hey daz, don,t forget i,m in your neck of the woods on­ tue,s earning the wedge, arrive by train around 10am­ piccadilly

    From TEVEZ, on Mon 5 Oct 8:54AM

  5. HEY DAZ, THAT WAS FROM MY I, PHONE, SO­ PLEASE EXCUSE ANY GRAMMER, GOOD LUCK TODAY , WITH THE­ BIG ISSUE,S.

    From TEVEZ, on Mon 5 Oct 7:43AM

  6. DAZMANUTD, WELL I FINALLY GOT TO YOU, YOU TOERAG, I­ WON,T BE IN MOSSSIDE , WYTHENSHAW, DENTON, NOR SHIPMAN­ TERRITORY, I READ THAT A THERE,S A YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL­ HAS BEEN MURDERED IN STOCKPORT, WHAT KIND OF PLACE DO­ YOU POOR PEOPLE LIVE, BUT HEY DAZ DON,T GET ALL UPSET,­ JUST SPEAK WITH YOUR PARENTS ABOUT YOUR UPBRINGING,­ IT,S NOT YOUR FAULT YOU RESIDE WHERE YOU DO, DOWN HERE­ IT,S FANTASTIC. BUT I,M SURE YOU ARE DEPRESSED ENOUGH,­ TRY SOME MORE CANNIBIS, IF YOU CAN AFFORD ANY , I­ REALLY DO PITY YOU AND THE LIKES OF YOU , MUST BE­ HORRIBLE HAVING TO LIVE LIKE YOU DO . BYE FOR NOW YOU­ SORRY STATE OF AFFAIRS. NEVER TRUST A SNIFFER , NOT­ EVEN A RIOFORMED ONE !

    From TEVEZ, on Mon 5 Oct 7:41AM

  7. mugs=hyenas r sucks! S.L.R is da #1 modele. All hail­ S!L!!R!!!

    From thekeysandscores, on Mon 5 Oct 6:47AM

  8. tevez is a giant c.o.c.k who blows off fat men for a­ living dirty turdburglar and juice swallower­ extraordinaire ha ha ha muppet

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 4 Oct 9:28PM

  9. tevez is a giant c.o.c.k who blows off fat men for a­ living dirty turdburglar and juice swallower­ extraordinaire ha ha ha muppet

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 4 Oct 9:28PM

  10. tevez is george michaels suckmonkey dirty little f.a.g

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 4 Oct 9:28PM

  11. tevez is george michaels suckmonkey dirty little f.a.g

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 4 Oct 9:28PM

  12. tevez is a giant c.o.c.k who blows off fat men for a­ living dirty turdburglar and juice swallower­ extraordinaire ha ha ha muppet

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 4 Oct 9:27PM

  13. tevez is a giant c.o.c.k who blows off fat men for a­ living dirty turdburglar and juice swallower­ extraordinaire ha ha ha muppet

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 4 Oct 9:27PM

  14. tevez is a giant c.o.c.k who blows off fat men for a­ living dirty turdburglar and juice swallower­ extraordinaire ha ha ha muppet

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 4 Oct 9:27PM

  15. tevez is a giant c.o.c.k who blows off fat men for a­ living dirty turdburglar and juice swallower­ extraordinaire ha ha ha muppet

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 4 Oct 9:27PM

  16. tevez is a giant c.o.c.k who blows off fat men for a­ living dirty turdburglar and juice swallower­ extraordinaire ha ha ha muppet

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 4 Oct 9:27PM

  17. tevez you tool you sure talk a lot of garbage .a run­ then a bottle of red shut up you baghead more like a­ bit of cottaging in the public toilets with your mate­ george michael you f.a.g and you dont work you dole­ grabbing gobshite your probably a african fraudster­ fleecing old ladies cash you scummy muppet now feck off­ and dont post to me again dipstick and if you come to­ manchester i hope some moss side gangster mugs your­ sorry arse then shoots you you pillock

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 4 Oct 9:24PM

  18. Never normally question Fergie but what the hell is­ Nani doing on the field. He is hopeless and Man Utd­ second worst player. He is not only a passenger but a­ liabilty who caused every Man Utd move to break down.­ Second worse I said? Only to Anderson. How he can be­ considered Man Utd class is beyond me. With O'Shea,­ Berbetov, Wellbeck, Foster, and the gruesome twosome,­ Nani and Anderson, Man utd had more than half a team of­ misfits on display. It was the worst performance I have­ seen from them in recent years. Fergie can't give­ half time rollickings because most of the players he is­ picking are obviously useless.

    From Andy, on Sun 4 Oct 8:40PM

  19. ok man utd did,nt play well.still got a point.still­ champions. still championship favorites.still the team­ every kid wants to play for. still the biggest side in­ europe possibly the world. not many teams could lose­ 100 million quids worth of talent and still be up the­ top of the league.they will add to the side and come­ the end of the season will be thereabouts.i,m not a­ massive utd fan but thank them for all the years of­ enjoyment they gave me for many seasons when they were­ the only english side representing england in europe.a­ great team a great manager and a great success­ story...city till i die

    From sjmatt, on Sun 4 Oct 8:37PM

  20. SILENT ASSASSIN, COMMENT 397, JUST TO SAY I ENJOYED MY­ JOG , MET UP WITH SOME FREINDS LATER ON THE EMBANKMENT­ HAD A GREAT LUNCH , GOOD BOTTLE OF RED, HOW WAS YOUR­ DAY ON THE BIG ISSUE, HOPE YOU SOLD LOTS WHAT IS IT­ THESE DAYS 5P A COPY NEVER MIND MATE SOMETHING WILL­ TURN UP . DON,T FORGET I,M UP IN MANCHESTER ON TUE,S ,­ IF I SEE YOU I,LL BUY A B.I. HEY TELL DAZ I.LL BUY ONE­ OFF TO, POOR SOLES , NEVER TRUST A SNIFFER ­ NOT EVEN A RIOFORMED ONE,

    From TEVEZ, on Sun 4 Oct 8:21PM
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