CL: Lille 0 - 1 United
Giggs Magic Seals Win Amid Chaos
A rare Euro away victory, courtesy of a late Ryan Giggs goal, has ensured United have control of their Champions League destiny.
Sir Alex will be confident of seeing off Lille’s muscular challenge and maintaining the club’s European ambitions through to the quarter finals of the Champions League next month.
The match was a poor advert for elite European football with both teams unable to bring any real quality to their play. Lille look no more than fellow travellers at this level but United seemed ready to elevate the home side’s status by a failure to play with any real conviction during the first half.
Fans have got used to United starting slowly in European matches but at least on this occasion, Sir Alex sent his team out with a mandate to win rather than not lose. The line-up was encouraging with Rooney a central attacker alongside Larsson. Behind them were the first choice players who have carried United to such heights this season.
Alas, the Lens’ ground produced a scuffle rather than a football match, with the first half particularly dreadful. Foul followed foul and booking followed booking, with misplaced passes littering the game, setting the lowest possible tone for a match of such importance.
Lille, as befitted the home side, were full of endeavour but lacked the quality of pass to do more than occassionally ruffle the composure of United’s defenders. Further upfield, Carrick and Scholes were determined to stay closer to the United rearguard than the attack, which prevented any real fluency in United’s attacking movement.
Rooney wafted a snap shot into the stands in the 19th minute and United barely created another chance until the 41st minute. Then, an act of wonderful control allowed Giggs to pass infield to Rooney in the box, whose fortunate lay-off found Ronaldo. The winger, not at his best on the night, had his shot charged down.
Perhaps, more sugar was added to the tea of both sets of players during the interval because the match became a much better spectacle in the second half. Lille, nearly converted their willing into a goal on 57 minutes, when Bodmer should have scored in his one-on-one with United’s keeper. Only Edwin Van Der Sar’s outstretched leg saved the day by guiding Bodmer’s shot wide of the post.
United sighed with relief again some four minutes later when striker Peter Odemwingie converted a fine left wing cross, only to have his effort disallowed for a push on Vidic.
Saha, on as a substitute for Ronaldo and Larsson went close for United. With a stalemate looking increasingly likely, Saha was manhandled and the referee signalled a free kick just outside the Lille box. Giggs, Rooney and Scholes surrounded the ball and then with the quickest of thinking and maximum precision, the Welsh winger lifted his direct shot over the wall and past the keeper Silva into the net.
As United celebrated, Lille’s players charged towards the Dutch referee Eric Braamhaar to protest their unpreparedness at the moment that the free-kick was taken. Those same players then appeared to be beckoned to the touchline and away from the field of play by a member of Lille’s coaching staff. Sir Alex rushed onto the field to urge his players not to get involved.
When calm was eventually restored some minutes later, United were able to finish the game without further incident and record their second Euro away win this term.
TEAM
United: Van Der Sar; Evra; Vidic; Ferdinand; Ronaldo (Saha 66) ; Carrick; Scholes (O’Shea 92); Larsson; Rooney
Subs: Kuszczak; Park; Fletcher; Silvestre; Brown
POST SCRIPT
Sir Alex: “I have never seen anything like that in football. I cannot understand it. It was a disgrace. I have seen a lot of bad behaviour in football. It is an emotional game. But I have never seen anything like this. It creates an intimidating environment and it was wrong.
“UEFA have got to do something. The Lille coaching staff intimidated the referee and it created a hostile atmosphere. I’ve never seen that. It was complete intimidation of the referee. UEFA will come down strongly - I was worried because there were missiles being thrown and Gary Neville was hit.”
“Ryan asked if he could take it. The referee moved away and that is it as far as I’m concerned.”
Claude Puel: “There were two dubious decisions during the game we could’ve well done without. We had had one goal disallowed and then a free-kick like that. It was a real shame. We didn’t deserve that.
“I would like to underline the fact that the players never intended to leave the field. In France, our way of expressing our complaint is when the ball next goes out of play. I have heard this before from Sir Alex Ferguson because he likes to influence the referee. He is trying to create a situation. Of course, we are very disappointed because I would prefer to talk about football.”
“We played a great second half and shook up this great team. We had the better chances. I’m proud of my players. They showed we’re not here by chance.
