Match Report (CL): United 1-0 Roma
A well-taken Wayne Rooney goal gave United the points and another one-nil victory in a hard fought match with Roma.
United rode their luck, especially in the later stages and will be grateful to their England forward because until the 69th minute goal, United had advertised all the attacking failings which have been remarked upon in recent weeks.
Sir Alex sprung a a surprise in sending out possibly his boldest selection of the season so far. Injured Wes Brown was replaced by John O’Shea. The midfield featured Nani instead of Giggs alongside Scholes, Carrick and Ronaldo. At last, up front, Ferguson chose Rooney and Saha, most people’s idea of the best United strikeforce currently available.
The opening stages of the match was typically cagey with two well matched teams probing for openings without wanting to give too much away. On 21 minutes, Nani crossed from right and found Ronaldo, who headed over the bar. In the 28th minute, Saha shot from just outside the box but the keeper saved well. Totti performed a similar feat two minutes later from a free kick but stand-in Tomasz Kuszczak saved low to his near post.
United’s best chance of the first half came on 33 minutes. A fierce Rooney volley from the right followed Nani’s fine leftwing cross but for once, the striker’s accuracy erred and his shot sailed over the bar.
The tempo of the match increased in the second half. Roma found more purpose and adventure and in the 48th minute, Totti caught Vidic flat-footed in the area but the Italian could do nothing more than lift his shot over the advancing Kuszczak and over the bar. Two minutes later, a Nani mistake conceded possession in United’s half but Aquillani skied his shot over the bar too.
The match looked like heading for a goal-less draw when on 69 minutes, United managed to unhinge the well-drilled Roma defence. A quick interchange of passes involving Carrick and Tevez found Nani in some space just outside the box. His clever pass to Rooney was seized upon eagerly by the attacker who shot on the turn for the far post, leaving the Italian goalkeeper in despair.
Roma now poured forward and missed a glorious chance to equalise when failing to capitalise on disarray in United’s defence in the 82nd minute. Worse was to come five minutes later, when United’s defence was again caught out. Esposito looked certain to score when he received the ball unmarked in the box but angled his shot wide of the left post.
United survived to claim a position of strength in the group. Another solid if unspectacular performance has delivered an excellent result.
TEAM
Kuszczak, Evra, Ferdinand, O’Shea, Vidic, Carrick, Nani (Ryan Giggs 79), Ronaldo, Scholes, Rooney (Anderson 84), Saha (Tevez 66)
POSTSCRIPT
Sir Alex: “Overall, I’m pleased with the performance and I think it was a fair result. We controlled most of the match but we got a break in the last 15 minutes. They were good chances so I was relieved they were all missed. I think it would have been unfair if they had equalised but football can be unfair.
“Ten points will get us through. We don’t want to have to go to Rome looking for a result in our last game and hopefully we can avoid that.”
