Garcian Smith
February 4th, 2007, 02:05 PM
As football games go, its hard to remember one this season as entertaining as this.
The first half had 3 penalty shouts, and the two that were genuinely accountable failed to bring about the correct decision. Christiano Ronaldo's blatant dive on the stroke of half time, however, awarded United with a penalty, which the Portuguese winger slotted away, despite Paul Robinson diving the correct way.
The second half resulted in two very quick goals from United. Njemania Vidic scoring a brilliant headed goal after a corner kick onslaught, and veteran Paul Scholes slotting away from a yard out from goal following a brilliant cross by Ronaldo.
Fellow veteran Ryan Giggs connected on to a brilliant through ball from late substitute Louis Saha - and eased the ball over a sprawled Robinson for the fourth and final goal.
However, it wasn't until the 85th minute, when Edwin van der Saar was replaced by defender John O'Shea in goal that the entertainment bar was raised. Van der Saar went of with a suspected broken nose, and with all three substitutes used, United were forced to put O'Shea in goal - and was cheered every time he got the ball.
Overall, despite looking shaky in the first half, this was a comfortable win for United, who rebuild their six-point lead at the top of the Premiership.
The first half had 3 penalty shouts, and the two that were genuinely accountable failed to bring about the correct decision. Christiano Ronaldo's blatant dive on the stroke of half time, however, awarded United with a penalty, which the Portuguese winger slotted away, despite Paul Robinson diving the correct way.
The second half resulted in two very quick goals from United. Njemania Vidic scoring a brilliant headed goal after a corner kick onslaught, and veteran Paul Scholes slotting away from a yard out from goal following a brilliant cross by Ronaldo.
Fellow veteran Ryan Giggs connected on to a brilliant through ball from late substitute Louis Saha - and eased the ball over a sprawled Robinson for the fourth and final goal.
However, it wasn't until the 85th minute, when Edwin van der Saar was replaced by defender John O'Shea in goal that the entertainment bar was raised. Van der Saar went of with a suspected broken nose, and with all three substitutes used, United were forced to put O'Shea in goal - and was cheered every time he got the ball.
Overall, despite looking shaky in the first half, this was a comfortable win for United, who rebuild their six-point lead at the top of the Premiership.