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2008-08-29
Manchester United 1-2 Zenit St. Petersburg
Stade Louis II
(18,500) (ESup) (19:45)
Lineup: Van der Sar, NevilleG, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, FletcherD, AndersonL, Scholes, Nani, Rooney, Tevez
Goals: Vidic1 Pogrebniak(44); Danny(59)
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| Handy Dandy; a personal TV report | | by PaulJ
Handy Dandy
The Super Cup is part way between a friendly and a competitive match; a kind of European Community Shield except nobody as far as I know gives any money to any deserving cause. Nowadays the match is played in Monaco where the Russian fans who had come en masse, many of them (unfortunately only the males, it would seem) sans chemises, appeared to outnumber ours significantly. A match in the comfortable warmth of the French Riviera seemed cruel to someone who could not go and had spent the day exhilarated but numb in the cold of the Atlantic surf.
United’s record suggests that we have never taken this cup seriously. Even our one win was an embarrassment; we were utterly outclassed on our own ground by a Red Star team against which we somehow managed to scrape a 1-0 with a goal from Choccy McClair. You can do that if you have a striker. This time the players gave it their all but Zenit St Petersburg proved more than a match. They have good players and an inspirational captain and they are fast and attack-minded. They are also half way through their domestic season and therefore fitter than us.
Gary Neville was preferred at right back to Wes Brown (I was tempted to wonder why) and John O’Shea made way for the returning Nani. Owen Hargreaves had been due to play but did not feel right in training. The sick note passes like a relay baton to him from dear old Louis.
The match began boldly, each side getting down its right flank. Aleksandr Anyukov, their right back, was zig-zag lightning; Patrice Evra was given a torrid time; Rio Ferdinand had to be at his best to clear several dangerous crosses and Edwin Van der Sar looked solid; good, clean catches. Nani looked a danger up front and the right wing was ours for the taking but for United the feature of the first half hour was a series of crosses, each one of which was just nicked by a defender, or just skimmed Rooney’s head, or fell into space where there might have been an attacker. The on screen statistics at this point gave United 66% possession.
On the half hour Carlos Tevez took it to another level. He pursued a chase down the right touchline, just kept it in, left the challenger for dead, raced down to the bye line, used his pace to go round the full back and his muscle to hold off the challenge and delivered a cut back to Rooney who had got himself unmarked ten yards out. It looked a certain goal but somehow it got caught up in Rooney’s legs and though he recovered and swivelled and shot Vyacheslav Malafeev saved it.
Within a couple of minutes Alejandro Dominguez took a free kick wide on the left, Gazza on the far post allowed Ivica Krizanac to go past him and Van der Sar did well to block the goalbound flick. Nemanja Vidic gave Gazza nearly as much of a bollocking as I did, only he was closer to him. A few minutes later their big centre forward Pavel Pogrebnyak, who had been a handful, showed coolness and footwork in the area and chipped to the far post where Danny put a clear header over.
When a left wing corner came in Gazza was beaten to the near post header which lobbed high over Van der Sar and was bound for the net unless Paul Scholes, one hand on the far post, could jump to it. Enter Pogrebnyak, steaming in like a stampeding elephant. Kevin Moran or Nemanja Vidic might have made a stand and collected a dozen face stitches but Scholes winced like I would and the big Russian headed it into the roof of the net decisively from about six inches; 44 minutes 0-1.
At half time Andrei Arshivin, coveted by clubs all over Europe, came on and Zenit were looking more confident. Central to much of what they did was their captain Anatoliy Tymoschchuk. He looks like a big Diego Forlan, complete with flowing hair and Alice Band. He was heavily involved and showed a full range of skills from effective tackling to a thunderous shot which Van der Sar was grateful to stand and fist out, and a penchant for going down and rolling around convincingly. I could see why their fans would love him; to me he was a big irritating fairy.
Danny, whom Pat Crerand had been going on about as being astonishingly overpriced, got a nothing ball near the centre circle. He chested it and then took it on a long, curving run, challenged by nobody until he got into the area. He left Rio for dead and as Vidic came stretching in with a potentially saving tackle Danny slotted the ball inside Van der Sar’s right hand post for a lovely goal; 58 minutes 0-2. That is what they paid the £24 million for, Pat.
Zenit began to stroke it about a bit. The signs were ominous and our possession was down to 41%. O’Shea came on for Anderson and Ji-Sung Park for Fletcher; I would have made neither change but both the newcomers were effective. It was Tevez who turned it around. After his first half performance they were taking care to cover him everywhere he went but, tackled on the margins of legality by Tymoschchuk, he bit back, robbing the pimply blond and feeding O’Shea whose shot was saved well; Park moved in on the rebound and the goalie parried that one, too. United were back in business; Tevez got in a shot just over, Rooney failed to get a decent touch to another, Tevez produced a wonderful ball for O’Shea who is no striker and took that extra touch to be sure; the defender smothered him.
Nani won a corner on the right. His dead ball kick was poor but fell to Rooney in the area who produced a chip to the far post which Tevez controlled with the perfect trap and then rolled back to Vidic. He cracked his shot through a forest of legs and into the net; 72 minutes 1-2. We now had nearly a quarter of the match remaining and the makings of a classic; United coming forward with purpose and effect but leaving ourselves open to the break; Danny, the scorer of the sublime, managed to put one miles wide when they had a man over.
Brown came on for Gazza and Park twice got so near to scoring. Once Wes had found his bearings he put in a couple of excellent crosses; O’Shea’s header was tipped over. The Russians were hanging on now, looking tired and it would have been no injustice if United had forced extra time; legally, that is. With seconds left of normal time Scholes leapt to another Brown cross and utterly inexplicably lifted his hand high above his head to palm it into the net, volleyball style from twelve yards. Why, oh why? He can not have imagined that nobody would spot it. Tevez and Park were queuing up in the flight path to convert the cross. His earlier booking was harsh and had been occasioned by Tymoschchuk’s cheating antics but now the referee had no option but to send him off with a second yellow card and more or less settle the match. Not that we gave up; there were four minutes of added time and Tevez continued his harassment, Nani showed uncharacteristic maturity and worked hard to conjure something, a free kick just shaving Rio’s head, a ball for Park not quite getting him through.
Paul Scholes has been round the world and back again making dubious tackles, but trying to replicate the “Hand of God”? Oh dear, oh dear. The lads and Ferguson went up to receive their losers’ medals from Platini, who has publicly accused us of cheating our way to the European Cup through debt. Fergie resisted any urge to have a word with the man who has transformed himself from artiste exquis to petit merde, but he took his medal off before he reached the bottom of the stairs (which is not very far in the Stade Louis II) and stuffed it carelessly into his jacket pocket.
I am glad Zenit are not in our group in the Champions League; they look as dangerous as did Porto the year they bribed their way to a kind of glory.
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| Manchester United 1-2 Zenit St. Petersburg | | by Bill
Paul Scholes was sent-off as Manchester United squandered a chance of lifting a trophy only two weeks into the season.
The former England midfielder's rash action in the final moments of the match saw him dismissed by referee Claus Bo Larsen.
Scholes, who had been booked earlier, got a second yellow for a deliberate handball in the area with United looking to draw level.
Pavel Pogrebnyak opened the scoring and Danny, who cost an astonishing £24million, extended their lead before Nemanja Vidic pulled a goal back.
While there will be bigger prizes to win than the UEFA Super Cup and more competitive games, it is clear the champions League holders are thin on numbers in attack.
Cristiano Ronaldo helped lighten their load in spectacular fashion last season with 42 goals.
But he is currently sidelined through injury and United, not surprisingly miss his cunning and eye for goal.
Dimitar Berbatov could be the missing link as Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez worked hard but could not break down the Russian side, who sealed a memorable victory.
Sir Alex Ferguson had spoken on the eve of the match of his admiration for managerial counterpart Dick Advocaat - and United found themselves chasing the game.
Former Rangers boss Advocaat has won widespread acclaim for the way he has transformed Zenit and turned them into winners.
The Russians chalked up a notable double last season securing the UEFA Cup and their domestic title.
It was obvious from the start their confidence was high and they took the game to United.
With Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick both sidelined, Anderson and Nani were given added responsibility in midfield.
However, they struggled to make an impact and Nani in particular looked rusty after suspension.
United were anxious to make up for the disappointment of losing to Lazio the last time they appeared in the Super Cup nine years ago.
However Pogrebnyak was quickly into the action and peeled away from his marker before spooning his effort over the top.
United responded and Tevez sent a shot into the body of Vyacheslav Maleev after 19 minutes.
Zenit carried a threat for set-pieces, though, and a superb free kick from Alejandro Dominguez went narrowly wide of the post five minutes later .
Rooney almost put United ahead in the 35th minute after a surging run by Tevez only for the goalkeeper to make a marvellous block.
Zenit hit back immediately and Ivica Krizanac came close after another good free kick from Dominguez.
Danny then headed wide in the 42nd minute before Pogrebnyak made the breakthrough. He headed in at the back post after Igor Denisov had flicked on a corner from Dominguez to leave United rattled.
The unsettled Andrei Arshavin, who has been linked with a move to Tottenham, came on for Zenit at the start of the second half but Rooney gave them a scare in the 56th minute, getting clear on the edge of area only to see his effort go narrowly wide of the post.
Tempers flared a minute later when Vidic and Pogrebnyak were left on the floor in a nasty clash of heads.
Anderson, in particular took exception to the challenge and was booked for his troubles.
Zenit stunned United again in the 60th minute by erxtending their lead with a magnificent effort from Danny.
He ran from deep, shrugged off Rio Ferdinand and cut inside before rifling a shot beyond Edwin Van der Sar.
United were stung but pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute when Vidic scored from close range after Tevez had cut the ball back from the by line.
Substitute John O'Shea almost pulled United level in the 86th minute, only to see his header tipped away by the goalkeeper.
Zenit then launched a swift counter attack and Danny chipped Van der Sar but his effort went over the bar.
United's irritation at playing second fiddle to Zenit was emphasised at the death with Scholes dismissed and he will now be suspended for the home Champions League game against Villarreal.
Teams:
Man Utd Van der Sar, Neville (Brown 76), Ferdinand, Vidic,Evra, Fletcher (O'Shea 60), Anderson (Park 60), Scholes, Nani,Rooney, Tevez.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Gibson, Campbell, Possebon.
Sent Off: Scholes (90).
Booked: Scholes, Anderson, Tevez.
Goals: Vidic 73.
Zenit St Petersburg Malafeev, Krizanac (Radimov 70), Aniukov,Puygrenier (Shirokov 62), Sirl, Zyryanov, Danny, Denisov,Tymoschuk, Pogrebniak, Dominguez (Arshavin 46).
Subs Not Used: Contofalsky, Kim, Tekke, Faitzulin.
Goals: Pogrebniak 44, Danny 59.
Att: 18,500
sportinglife.com | | |
| Ferguson ready for Super Cup revenge | | by Barry
MANCHESTER (AFP) - Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be motivated by revenge in Friday's Super Cup showdown against Zenit St Petersburg. Ferguson is still bitter about Lazio's post-match celebrations when the Italian club beat United in their last Super Cup appearance in 1999 and has no intention of suffering a repeat in Monaco. "I want to win. I remember the last time we went there I only played half a team because we had a Monday league game against Newcastle," Ferguson said.
"When I saw Lazio celebrating at the end, it was like they had won the World Cup. I was not too pleased. I thought: 'That will not happen again'." Ferguson has pledged to send out a strong team against UEFA Cup holders Zenit, with England duo Gary Neville and Owen Hargreaves set to feature after injury. Hargreaves has been trying to overcome a tendinitis problem, while Neville is still working his way to full match fitness after an ankle injury. Nani is also available having completed a three-match ban for his dismissal against West Ham last season. Ryan Giggs should be fit as well after missing Monday's win at Portsmouth with a hamstring problem.
news.yahoo.com | | |
| Super Cup date for United and Zenit | | by Barry
Having won UEFA's two major club competitions this month, Manchester United FC and FC Zenit St. Petersburg will contest the annual UEFA Super Cup in August – for which ticket information is now being made available.
Monaco venue
Monaco has been the traditional venue for the game, as well as other festivities kicking off a new European campaign, and this summer is no different as the Principality's Stade Louis II welcomes UEFA Champions League winners United and UEFA Cup victors Zenit on Friday 29 August.
Winning finals
United carried off the European Champion Clubs' Cup thanks to a nail-biting penalty shoot-out win over English rivals Chelsea FC in Moscow – the third time they have captured the prestigious trophy. Zenit were the pride of Russia after defeating Rangers FC 2-0 in Manchester to claim the UEFA Cup – the club's first-ever European honour.
Ticket sales
Tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks, and Manchester United and Zenit supporters are asked to contact their respective clubs directly with regard to available tickets. Members of the general public will be able to purchase tickets via uefa.com. Tickets will be on sale between 7 and 21 July, and they can be collected at Stade Louis II the day before the game or before 16.00CET on the day of the match.
©uefa.com 1998-2008. All rights reserved.
http://www.uefa.com/competitions/supercup/news/kind=1/newsid=703347.html
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