Saturday 26/11/2011
Premier League
Manchester United are denied all three points after contentious penalty decision.
Wayne Rooney was deemed fit to start after missing the mid week draw with Benfica. Nemanja Vidic also found himself back in the starting line up after missing the draw through suspension. United were looking to build on the three consecutive league 1-0 victories since the 1-6 loss to Manchester City.
And it was United who started the brighter forcing Newcastle back into their own half. Chicharito was looking sharp with two early shots on goal, both comfortably saved by Newcastle 'keeper Tim Krul. It didn't take the Magpies long to find their feet with Jonas Gutierrez and ex-red Gabriel Obertan looking threatening down the wings.
Neither side was able to dominant the game, with both sides being careless is possession. In the 30th minute Luis Nani released Chicharito through on goal with a cutting through ball, but the Mexican scuffed his shot over the bar. Seconds later Tim Krul made a fine reaction save to deny Ryan Giggs following a cross into the box from Fabio.
United struggled to maintain the pressure and the game soon fell back into a midfield battle. The sides went into half time level, Newcastle had been more than able to cope with United. Neither side made any changes during the interval, but it was Manchester United that came out with increased vigour as it only took four minutes for United to take the lead as Chicharito was in the right place at the right time as the ball ricocheted off him and into the net following a Wayne Rooney free kick.
Newcastle were not deterred by the goal, and in the 59th minute when Fabricio Coloccini forced David De Gea into a world class reaction save. Moments later Newcastle were awarded a penalty, replayed showed Rio Ferdinand had made a clean challenge on Hatem Ben-Arfa, a truly awful decision from the linesman. Demba Ba despatched the spot kick to bring the scores level. Sir Alex Ferguson, enraged by the poor decision fired his team up to try and make things right.
With twelve minutes to go Jonas Gutierrez picked up his second yellow card following a late challenge from behind on Luis Nani. From the results free kick Tim Krul made a stunning close range save from a powerful Nemanja Vidic header.
The final stages were manic as first Ashley Young hits the post with a driven shot, shortly followed by a goal-line clearance from Danny Simpson after a flicked Chicharito's header. Deep into stoppage time United thought they had won it as Chicharito tapped home from close range, but it wasn't to be as he was ruled offside. Replays seemed to show he was in fact on side.
1-1 it stayed and United can feel incredibly hard done by as they drop two more points in the title race.
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