Match Report: (P) Portsmouth 1 - 1 United
GOALS: Benjani (52) / Scholes (14)
A game which began with United reeling from the loss of their best striker, finished with the dismissal of the team’s best player.
Cristiano Ronaldo received a red card from referee Steve Bennett for violent conduct on 84 minutes, in an increasingly fractious match between United and Portsmouth which finished in a 1 – 1 draw.
By then Portsmouth had also been reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Sully Muntari for a second bookable offence.
Sir Alex will be furious with Ronaldo, with his team’s performance and with the result. United threw away two points needlessly after thoroughly dominating the first half, to leave the champions four points adrift of Chelsea, Everton and next weekend’s opponents Manchester City.
It should have been so different. With Carlos Tevez and Nani starting, United were controlled and purposeful in possession in the first 45 minutes and bemused their hosts with neat, quick short passing and movement. Nani in particular caught the eye on United’s left and was a constant menace to the home defence.
It was no surprise that United took the advantage on 14 minutes through the Portuguese winger’s intelligent approach work. Tevez fed Nani as he ran towards the Portsmouth goal. The winger chipped a return to the Argentine striker on the edge of the box, who pivoted marvellously to tee-up Paul Scholes for a trademark thunderbolt from just outside the box.
While United were very good, Portsmouth were a shambles. Despite the presence of more than £15 million of new attacking talent, Harry Redknap’s side could not muster a shot on target in a first half which gave little hint of the drama to come.
The second half began with two Portsmouth substitutions and a tactical change which energised the home side. Suddenly it was Portsmouth players who won their individual duels and began to assert their limited but muscular game plan on United’s back-peddling midfield and defence.
With Giggs slack all evening and Carrick again having an anonymous match, United faced increasing difficulties in keeping possession and imposing their class on the match.
Half chances did emerge for the visitors however. On 51 minutes, Scholes found Tevez tightly marked in the Portsmouth penalty area and the striker flashed a shot just over the bar.
It was a costly miss, as a minute later Portsmouth drew level. Taylor, a half time substitute was given too much room on the left and measured his cross for the on-rushing Benjani, who slipped his marker and headed powerfully past Edwin van Der Sar.
Portsmouth might have taken the lead in the 62nd minute when the goal scorer destabilised the United’s defence on the right and his cross shot could only be parried by Van Der Sar, who was grateful when Nugent failed to convert.
In the 67th minute, Giggs slid onto a pinpoint Ronaldo cross but could only watch as James, again offering sterling service in Portsmouth’s cause, tipped his effort over the bar.
United should have won the game from the subsequent corner when Giggs fed Vidic just two yards from goal but the Serbian defender shot wide of the post when it seemed easier to score.
An excellent Ronaldo 20 yard run and shot on 71 minutes was United’s last meaningful effort before Muntari received his marching orders on 82 minutes. Two minutes later, he was followed by Fergie’s talisman, now barred from United’s next three matches, to complete a disappointing evening for the champions.
TEAM
Van Der Sar; Evra; Ferdinand; Vidic; Brown ( 87 Eagles); Nani; Carrick; Scholes; Ronaldo; Giggs (81 O’Shea) ; Tevez
Subs: Kuszczak; Pique; Fletcher
POST SCRIPT
Sir Alex: “It is difficult to see what has happened on the replay. He was provoked and fell into the trap,” the United manager said. “It is his own fault — I was surprised by the decision, but Steve Bennett has sent him off before and took great delight in sending him off again.
“It means we will be missing him for three games, with Rooney out as well. Carlos Tévez took a lot of kicks from behind, which is against the laws of the game, but he made a great contribution and he will be even better on Sunday.”
Harry Redknapp: “It was a fantastic performance. I would have certainly settled for a point tonight before the game. Anything you take off United or any of the big four teams has got to be a good result.
“It has always been our trademark. We have a go and that was a typical Portsmouth performance. Although United scored in the first half, they didn’t make that many chances and David James didn’t have to fly about making dozens of saves.
“But I changed it a bit in the second half, pushed Benjani right up front and played two other attacks wide and it worked out.
“United are a great team. But we regularly take points off them here and we were well worth one tonight.
