Tuesday October 2, 2012 Group Stage: Group H Finished Stadionul Dr. Constantin Radulescu

CFR 1907 Cluj 1 - 2 Manchester United

  • Kapetanos 14’
  • van Persie 29’, 49’

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  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • CFR 1907 Cluj
    • Manchester United
    • 90+3' The final whistle goes and United go top of the group! They made hard work of it at times, but United leave Romania as deserved winners.
    • 90+1' Great counter-attack late on from Cluj. Nicoara gives it to Rafael Bastos, who plays it wide to the right and continues his run. He meets the cross with a decent header that De Gea saves at the near post!
    • 89' The fourth official signals three minutes of injury time.
    • 87' De Gea hasn't had much to do for a while, but he claims a cross well and keeps hold of it even when barges unfairly by a Cluj player.
    • 85' A booking for Ferdinand after he swung a leg out and catches Rafael Bastos in the midriff. That's the defender's first yellow card since February.
    • 83' United substitution: Danny Welbeck replaces Hernandez.
    • 80' Cluj substitution: Viorel Nicoara replaces Aguirregaray.
    • 79' United substitution: Scott Wootton replaces Evans.
    • 78' Darren Fletcher is a little fortunate to win a free-kcik in midfield after he miscontrolled and was double-teamed in midfield.
    • 77' The home fans beginning to make a bit of noise now. Their team could do with a lift as United starve them of the ball.
    • 75' United's possession share is still at 73 per cent. They have had 13 shots to Cluj's seven at this point.
    • 73' United beginning to get a stranglehold on this game now. It's been a while since the last foray forward from Cluj. Rooney, Anderson and Cleverley all keeping possession so well at the moment.
    • 72' Van Persie stretches for a low cross from the left but he can't get to it in time.
    • 70' Van Persie celebrates scoring against Cluj
    • 68' An important header from Evans there to clear a cross bound for Bjelanovic after the Croatian had won their initial aerial duel.
    • 66' The pace of the game has slowed quite considerably since United went in front, but there is a look about Cluj as they break that suggests United may yet get punished again if they are not careful.
    • 64' Bayern Munich are STILL losing to BATE, by the way. Chelsea are winning 1-0 at Nordsjælland. Follow live scores and scorers here
    • 63' Clever reverse pass into the box from Anderson, but Rafael plays the ball to Rooney and the gap is quickly closed up by Cluj.
    • 61' Cluj substitution: Sasa Bjelanovic replaces Kapetanos.
    • 59' Until United score another goal, they will not be at ease in this game.
    • 58' Cluj holding United about 30 yards from goal until Rafael cleverly draws a foul on the wing. United decide against delivering the set piece into the box, though.
    • 57' United really looking shaky at the back at the moment. Individual moments are covering for the collective failure of the back line right now.
    • 56' The second corner is much more threatening and Cadu forces De Gea into tipping the header over the bar!
    • 55' Evans heads behind at the near post for another corner.
    • 54' Pinto motors down the right and plays the one-two with Kapetanos. The return pass is cut out but Cluj build again and earn a corner.
    • 53' Kapetanos on the ball and looking to head for goal, but he is intercepted by Ferdinand.
    • 51' It will be interesting to see how Cluj play this now. Will they feel confident enough to go out and push for an equaliser now they are behind?
    • 50' Van Persie has now scored seven goals in eight appearances at the start of his United career.
    • 49' GOAL!! Rooney has time to float in a diagonal ball from the right. Felgueiras is too slow off his line and Van Persie cheekily knocks it past the keeper into the unguarded net!
    • 47' Rooney's speculative effort from range yields an early corner for United. The set piece ends up with a goal-kick to Cluj as Anderson heads off target.
    • 46' The second half is underway! No changes for either side.
    • HT David Richards (‏@Skydiver2853) has just two words to sum up that first half: "Lucky United." Their equaliser was fortunate, but they probably do deserve to be level. There could be a long way to go yet, mind.
    • 45+1' The whistle blows for half-time, and United have looked far from convincing. Cluj have set up to defend and hit on the counter, but they fully deserve to be level. In fact, it was a slice of luck which saw United equalise. Share your half-time thoughts with me via Twitter @tony_mabert. Follow on Twitter
    • 45+1' Rooney has a pop at goal from a free-kick some 30 metres or so out, but it's an easy catch for the Cluj keeper.
    • 44' Rooney drops low to try and guide a header on goal that bounces wide.
    • 43' Cluj defend the corner well. Cleverley goes to ground but there are no real calls for a penalty. Cluj break but the opportunity is wasted with a poor shot from distance.
    • 42' Aguirregaray and Jonny Evans clatter each toher as they battle for the ball near the touchline. Moments later, CLeverley also takes a bump off Pinto, but he wins a corner for his efforts.
    • 41' Hernandez races after a cross that misses everyone in the box and just fails to stop it going out for a throw on the other side.
    • 39' Cluj now trying to slow the game down when they have the ball as United build momentum in the final few minutes of the half.
    • 38' Rooney strolls over to take a United corner. The whistle blows for a free-kick against Van Persie, who really has a go at the official for doing so.
    • 37' Rafael Bastos makes a good run down the right, but after receiving the ball his impudent backheel only gives possession back to United.
    • 35' Hernandez finds Van Persie in space on the left of the area but the Dutchman's low shot is blocked by Felgueiras!
    • 34' Aguirregaray pings a crossfield pass to Camora, who plays it to Sepsi on the overlap. The eventual cross into the box misses the one Cluj player in there, however.
    • 33' For those of you still eager for an upset this evening, Bayern Munich are losing 1-0 at BATE. Follow live scores and scorers
    • 32' Clevelrey again sneaks a pass through to a team-mate inside the box. This time it's Hernandez, whose shot is time and right at the keeper.
    • 31' That was a big slice of fortune which has drawn United level, but it is Van Persie's sixth goal in eight appearances for the club. Rooney with the assist, too, on their first start together.
    • 30' GOAL!! Van Persie tries to glance his header on target with his back to goal. He mistimes his jump but the ball bounces off his shoulder and loops over the helpless keeper!
    • 29' Cadu concedes a free-kick on the left wing for a shove in Hernandez's back. Rooney will deliver.
    • 28' United beginning to increase the pressure now, but Rafael Bastos wins the ball back with some quick close control.
    • 27' Van Persie drifts out to the right to link up with Rafael, but his left-footed cross into the box is poor and easily cleared.
    • 26' United's possession count is still in the low 70s, but they have only had four shots to Cluj's three so far.
    • 24' Cluj substitution: Luis Alberto replaces Sougou. Evra will not shed a tear.
    • 23' This could be key - it looks like Sougou is injured and cannot continue. Patrice Evra caught his shoulder with a trailing leg earlier, but it didn't look too bad.
    • 22' Smart play from Tom Cleverley who high-kicks the ball into Robin van Persie's path in the area. The Dutchman has to take the shot early on the turn and he fires wide!
    • 20' The keeper gathers the United corner comfortably enough, but soon enough he is diving again as Anderson's strike flies wide.
    • 19' Rooney has a speculative shot from 20 yards or so which bounces awkwardly in front of goalkeeper Mario Felgueiras, who makes the save.
    • 18' Another slick, one-touch move down the right involving Sougou and Kapetanos ends with Aguirregaray's miscued kick. Not sure if that was a cross or a shot from the Uruguay international.
    • 17' Normal service has now resumed, with United bossing the possession, only with rather less conviction at the moment.
    • 16' That goal is Pantelis Kapetanos's fourth in his last six games, by the way.
    • 14' United concede early again. That was after Cluj's first genuine spell of possession, too. The Romanian side were not afraid to take their time and build the move patiently, and they got their reward.
    • 13' GOAL!! CLUJ ARE AHEAD!! Rafael Bastos pings a great diagonal ball to Sougou, whose low cross is swept home by Pantelis Kapetanos!!
    • 11' United have had 76% possession in the opening 10 minutes or so.
    • 10' Barcelona are already winning 1-0 at Benfica. Follow live scores and scorers here
    • 9' The home side do look champing at the bit to hit United with a fast break everytime they win possession back.
    • 8' Rafael pings the ball in from the right but Cluj captain Cadu clears the ball as Javier Hernandez tries to bring it under control.
    • 7' Paul Bennett (@bennyjr0) has got in touch to say that United "need to start games at a faster tempo to win anything this season". They have certainly been sluggish early in games recently. They look like a team eager to prove a point this evening.
    • 5' Rooney playing very deep this evening and he is seeing plenty of the ball. Cluj already pinned back as though they were the away team.
    • 4' This time the Cluj corner is headed tamely off target for tha goal kick.
    • 3' Cluj win the first corner of the evening. Modou Sougou leaps for the near-post header but the last touch was a United player and the ball goes out for another corner.
    • 2' Plenty of early possession for United. The visitors are playing the ball around with purpose but they already look rather narrow.
    • 1' United kick off and we're underway in Transylvania!
    • 19:43 The teams are walking out onto the pitch now. We're almost ready to get underway. Remember, you can share your thoughts with me during the game by getting in touch via Twitter @tony_mabert. Follow on Twitter
    • 19:40 Darren Fletcher continues his reintroduction to the United team after almost a year out of the game. After coming on as a substitute against Galatasaray and then starting against Newcastle in the Capital One Cup last week, this is his first European start since the 2-2 draw with Benfica last November. Ferguson has described this match as "a big night for the boy".
    • 19:35 United have only faced Romanian opposition once before in Europe, Otelul Galati in last season’s group stage. They won 2-0 both home and away. United have won just two of their last seven matches in Europe (W2 D1 L4), though they have kept seven clean sheets in their last nine Champions League away games.
    • 19:30 Cluj blocked a Match Day One high 13 shots from their opponents. Mario Felgueiras made more saves than any other goalkeeper on Match Day One (10).
    • 19:25 This is Cluj's third Champions League campaign and they have won their opening game on all three occasions, but won no other matches, drawing one and losing four of the remaining five games in their previous two appearances in the Group Stages.
    • 19:20 Cluj are actually top of Group H after one round of matches. They are there courtesy of a 2-0 win at Portuguese club Sporting Braga, while United won 1-0 at home against Galatasaray last time out. Rafael Bastos, who starts tonight, scored both goals for Cluj in that win two weeks ago. Group H details
    • 19:15 We have already had one big result this evening in Europe after Celtic claimed a dramatic 3-2 win at Spartak Moscow. Georgios Samaras scored the winner in the 90th minute after the Russians had gone down to 10 men. Match report
    • 19:10 Cluj boss Ioan Andone: "All of Romania is behind us. The level of enthusiasm has been something else, I hope it makes a difference. We want to show that our five league wins are no fluke, If we score, anything can happen, but Ferguson knows what he's doing so I don't expect them to be complacent."
    • 19:05 Cluj's Vasile Maftei returns from a one-match ban in the last European outing, but Ciprian Deac (knee), Adam Vass (foot), Bakary Sare (leg) and Ronny (knee) are out. United are without Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs due to illness. Paul Scholes is being rested after playing 90 minutes against Spurs, while Antonio Valencia is also out. Nemanja Vidic is a long-term absentee, as are Ashley Young, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.
    • 19:00 You can share your thoughts in the comments section below or, if you are on Twitter, you can get in touch with me @tony_mabert. Follow me on Twitter
    • 18:55 CFR Cluj: Mario Felgueiras, Ivo Pinto, Sepsi, Cadu, Rada, Camora, Muresan, Rafael Bastos, Aguirregaray, Kapetanos, Sougou Subs: Stancioiu, Maftei, Piccolo, Diogo Valente, Luis Alberto, Nicoara, Bjelanovic /// Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Anderson, Fletcher, Cleverley, Rooney, Hernandez, Van Persie. Subs: Lindegaard, Buttner, Wootton, Nani, Powell, Kagawa, Welbeck.
    • 18:50 Full team news to follow shortly, but Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie start a match together for the first time this evening in a team which also includes Javier Hernandez. United are going big this evening as they seek a response to Saturday's defeat at home to Tottenham.
    • 18:45 Good evening and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE coverage of the Champions League Group H clash between CFR Cluj of Romania and Manchester United at the Dr. Constantin Radulescu Stadium.

  • Summary

    • 90+1' Great counter-attack late on from Cluj. Nicoara gives it to Rafael Bastos, who plays it wide to the right and continues his run. He meets the cross with a decent header that De Gea saves at the near post!
    • 56' The second corner is much more threatening and Cadu forces De Gea into tipping the header over the bar!
    • 49' GOAL!! Rooney has time to float in a diagonal ball from the right. Felgueiras is too slow off his line and Van Persie cheekily knocks it past the keeper into the unguarded net!
    • 35' Hernandez finds Van Persie in space on the left of the area but the Dutchman's low shot is blocked by Felgueiras!
    • 30' GOAL!! Van Persie tries to glance his header on target with his back to goal. He mistimes his jump but the ball bounces off his shoulder and loops over the helpless keeper!
    • 22' Smart play from Tom Cleverley who high-kicks the ball into Robin van Persie's path in the area. The Dutchman has to take the shot early on the turn and he fires wide!
    • 19' Rooney has a speculative shot from 20 yards or so which bounces awkwardly in front of goalkeeper Mario Felgueiras, who makes the save.
    • 13' GOAL!! CLUJ ARE AHEAD!! Rafael Bastos pings a great diagonal ball to Sougou, whose low cross is swept home by Pantelis Kapetanos!!
    • 18:55 CFR Cluj: Mario Felgueiras, Ivo Pinto, Sepsi, Cadu, Rada, Camora, Muresan, Rafael Bastos, Aguirregaray, Kapetanos, Sougou Subs: Stancioiu, Maftei, Piccolo, Diogo Valente, Luis Alberto, Nicoara, Bjelanovic /// Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Anderson, Fletcher, Cleverley, Rooney, Hernandez, Van Persie. Subs: Lindegaard, Buttner, Wootton, Nani, Powell, Kagawa, Welbeck.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.2 6
      Defenders
      6.6 6
      6.6 6
      6.2 6
      6.5 6
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out81′ 7 6
      6.4 6
      Substitution Out24′ 6.9 7
      6.9 6
      Strikers
      6.5 7
      Goal Substitution Out61′ 7.3 6
      Subs
      Substitution In24′ 5.6 6
      Substitution In61′ 4.5 6
      Substitution In81′ 4.8 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6 6
      Defenders
      6.5 6
      Yellow Card 5.2 6
      Substitution Out79′ 5.3 5
      4.9 5
      Midfielders
      5.6 7
      6.1 7
      6 7
      Strikers
      6.8 7
      Goals ×2 7.1 8
      Substitution Out83′ 6 6
      Subs
      Substitution In83′ 4.7 -
      Substitution In79′ 4.9 -

Comment 123 - 143 of 143

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  1. Do any Utd supporters actually originate from­ Manchester or are they all saddos who come from around­ the globe who only support success and will move on­ once Ferguson goes and the team sink

    From Sadoldgit, on Fri 5 Oct 13:16

  2. THANK YOU MU!!!!! HAIDE U CLUJ!!!! ANTI- cfr !

    From Decebal, on Wed 3 Oct 20:45

  3. Manu are overly reliant on Van Persie. He always has to­ come up to save Manu

    From Techy Saint, on Wed 3 Oct 12:44

  4. anderson u need to go forward,

    From Rock!, on Wed 3 Oct 12:15

  5. Clement L - So don't you mean Fatman and Robin!!

    From Les, on Wed 3 Oct 11:20

  6. Oi Sadoldgit, Can you name me 8 Arsenal players that­ United have signed in the last 10 seasons, no you­ f*****g well cant you #$%$.... I suggest you get your­ facts straight before trying to engage your obviously­ missing brain!!!!

    From Les, on Wed 3 Oct 11:18

  7. Duke Asrul ,the point is the self proclaimed biggest­ team in the world should dominate a team like Cruj ,a­ team that would probably be in the championship if they­ played in England ,but United made hard work of it­ ,Evra even had to hobble Sougou as he was causing him­ and the defence too many problems ,they played long­ ball football as the midfield was too weak ,the defence­ was a shambles and conceded a goal in amateurish­ fashion and was lucky not to concede another at the end­ ,United's game play has resorted to kick the ball­ to Van Persie and hope for the best­ ................considering united are the richest club­ in the world and is the richest by the amount of money­ that the fans pay to that club ,then they have every­ right to expect more from the team they love and­ support ,it also exposes United's artificially­ inflated position in the English top flight with the­ help from the officials as they are woefully exposed in­ Europe even against the minnows

    From tafft, on Wed 3 Oct 10:30

  8. CFR,CFR...

    From Bsun, on Wed 3 Oct 8:35

  9. FOR ONCE... UNITED FANS STOP MOANING!!! WE DOMINATED­ THE GAME. WE BOSSED IT FROM THE 15TH MINUTE TO THE 85TH­ MINUTE. we will build on our performance from here. we­ just started playing the 4-3-3 we've been working­ on for so long and it worked pretty well against Cluj­ who beat Basel 2-0. let us not forget in a hurry that­ Basel sent us parking last CL. give the team the kudos­ they deserve(except evra) . they did well. next time,­ we'd do even better. GGMU!!!

    From Duke of Heysel, on Wed 3 Oct 6:15

  10. Just play them together fergie!!! Rooney and robin

    From Clement L, on Wed 3 Oct 5:36

  11. VAN PERSIE U CAN DO IT

    From , on Wed 3 Oct 4:46

  12. No diving ? Oh Manu won otherwise will hear a lot of­ comments about no penally for Manu from Alex Ferguson..

    From Srawut, on Wed 3 Oct 3:44

  13. RVP is the best one while Welbeck is the worst one­ ever.

    From Antares H, on Wed 3 Oct 0:56
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Did Fergie complain about only 3 min added? ManU­ should thank Arsenal for VPC, else even the ref would­ be able to save the team. Very soon the holiday will­ be over for VPC when all the skills he brought is­ exhausted.

    From Jack C, on Wed 3 Oct 0:04
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Mr Ferguson PLEASE RETIRE

    From The, on Tue 2 Oct 22:21

  16. donkey john how can i be jealous wen i am a united­ supporter. the 90s team upto 2010 those were the games­ to watch i guess your just a glory hunter type­ supporter. And the Truth always hurts.

    From The, on Tue 2 Oct 22:13

  17. @NO MIDFIELD. So you think that none of the MU players­ will make it into the MCity first team, or even the­ reserve team. Is that because they are not bad enough­ or mercenary enough? Tell me, which team - which has­ the players you slug off - is above you in the EPL­ table? Which team with the players you slug off has 6­ out of 6 points in the CL and top of their group? How­ many CL points does MC have with your praised­ players??? What is their position in the EPL with your­ praised players? Nice to know they don't play for­ City isn't it?

    From , on Tue 2 Oct 22:11

  18. jealousy

    From john, on Tue 2 Oct 22:08

  19. The crapest United game ive seen in my life. A sunday­ pub team could have beaten united at this rate

    From The, on Tue 2 Oct 22:07

  20. Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile,­ Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile,­ Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile,­ Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile,­ Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile,­ Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile,­ Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile,­ Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile,­ Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile,­ Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile,­ Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile,­ Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile,­ Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile,­ Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile, Bile,­ Bile, Bile,

    From Dingdonger, on Tue 2 Oct 22:05
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