www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Thu 09 Dec 1999 01:59 GMT
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. Keane leads the way ««
2. FERGUSON SAVOURS DUAL TRIUMPH
3. KEANE GETS UNITED BACK ON EURO TRACK
4. Manchester United 3-0 Valencia Just a perfect day...
5. Manchester United 3 - 0 Valencia Minute by Minute
6. SOLSKJAER ID SIGN FOR LIFE
7. Taibi back home for a teach-in
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
MANCHESTER UNITED DAILY NEWS Thurs 9th Dec 1999:
Webmaster Comment:
FANTASTIC Double NEWS Keano signed + 3-0 win, bulletin FULL of match reports!
What a day for REDS all over the world!
Have a wonderfull RED day with all the superlatives you can think of :))
* If you have an article for this MUFC Daily News bulletin
please mail it to Thanks!
*** Remember our December Competition!
To enter first download 1 meg here
http://www.red11.org/mickz/mufc_snow.exe
Lets see how far us REDS can get, I already made it to Level 2
Proof here: http://www.red11.org/mickz/level2.jpg
The best 3 efforts will win a copy of the NEW book
"European Glory" by RED NEWS edited by Barney Chilton
Eyewitness Accounts of United's 1968 & 1999 European Triumphs
A book celebrating the amazing events in the Nou Camp on May 26th - retails at £7,95
Enties to the competition must include an attched screen pic as proof of
your efforts mail to barrylee@post3.tele.dk GOOD LUCK Comp closes 24th Dec 1999
----------------------
If I Die In The Stretford End - scoreboardpaddock@manutd.com
Alex Hulme/Manchester/England
Made by a Manc for Mancs "If I Die In The Stretford End" is for Match Going REDS.
URL:
Taken from The Worldwide Manchester United Fans Webring - 400+ RED sites!
http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=manufan;list
* UK TV info: BBC TO COVER UNITED'S BRAZIL MISSION
The BBC will broadcast live coverage of Manchester United's World Team
Championship challenge in Brazil.
Champions League Url: http://www.red11.org/champ
Manchester United FC Champions League Squad List
1 Mark John Bosnich 2 Gary Alexander Neville 3 Dennis Joseph Irwin
4 David May 6 Jakob Stam 7 David Robert J Beckham
8 Nicholas Butt 9 Andrew Alex. Cole 10 Edward Sheringham
11 Ryan Joseph Giggs 12 Philip Neville 14 Johan Jordi Cruyff
15 Lars Jesper Blomqvist 16 Roy Keane 17 Raimond RJH Van der Gouw
18 Paul Scholes 19 Dwight Yorke 20 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
21 Henning Berg 23 Michael Jamie Clegg 25 José Quinton Fortune
26 Massimo Taibi 31 Nicholas James Culkin 33 Mark Antony Wilson
34 Jonathan Greening
1999/2000 UEFA Champions League Second Group-Match Stage - Group B
Group B P W D L F A Pts
Fiorentina AC 2 1 1 0 2 0 4
Manchester United 2 1 0 1 3 2 3
Valencia CF 2 1 0 1 3 3 3
Bordeaux 2 0 1 1 0 3 1
Second stage Euro Draw GROUP B
Manchester United Valencia Bordeaux Fiorentina
Tues Nov 23 Fiorentina v Manchester United 2-0
Valencia v Girondins Bordeaux 3-0
Wed Dec 8 Girondins Bordeaux v Fiorentina 0-0
Manchester United v Valencia 3-0
Wed Mar 1
Group B: Manchester United v Girondins Bordeaux
Group B: Fiorentina v Valencia
Tues Mar 7
Group B: Girondins Bordeaux v Manchester United
Group B: Valencia v Fiorentina
Wed Mar 15
Group B: Manchester United v Fiorentina
Group B: Girondins Bordeaux v Valencia
Tuesday, March 21
Group B: Fiorentina v Girondins Bordeaux
Group B: Valencia v Manchester United
FINAL Group D P W D L F A PTS
Manchester United FC 6 4 1 1 9 4 13
Olympique de Marseille 6 3 1 2 10 8 10
SK Sturm Graz 6 2 0 4 5 12 6
NK Croatia Zagreb 6 1 2 3 7 7 5
*******************************
Real Audio - Last weeks Daily News Sound Archive:
Click on INDEX at http://www.red11.org/sound
************************
99/2000 fixtures/match reports are at
http://www.red11.org/mufc/992000.htm
Mark Bosnich's Personal Details
http://www.red11.org/mufc/bosnich.htm
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
MANCHESTER UNITED STATS v ALL teams on the Web
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats.htm
Previous News:
BSKYB Takeover news/pics at http://www.red11.org/mufc/bskyb.htm
Brian Kidd Press conference, pic, real audio
http://www.iol.ie/~redcafe/kidd.htm
Peter Schmeichel's last Season at United!
http://www.red11.org/mufc/news/schmeichel.htm
*** RESULTS AND ATTENDANCES ON 06/12/99 ***
Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 West Ham United 36,233
*** CONDENSED LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 06/12/99 ***
Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts
---------------------------------------------------------
1 Leeds United 17 12 2 3 30 19 11 38
2 Manchester United 16 11 3 2 40 21 19 36
3 Arsenal 17 11 2 4 31 16 15 35
4 Sunderland 17 10 4 3 31 17 14 34
5 Liverpool 17 9 3 5 24 14 10 30
6 Leicester City 17 9 2 6 26 23 3 29
7 Tottenham Hotspur 16 8 3 5 25 20 5 27
8 West Ham United 16 7 4 5 17 14 3 25
9 Chelsea 15 7 3 5 21 15 6 24
10 Middlesbrough 17 7 3 7 21 24 -3 24
11 Coventry City 17 5 6 6 23 18 5 21
12 Everton 17 5 6 6 25 27 -2 21
13 Wimbledon 17 4 8 5 27 29 -2 20
14 Newcastle United 17 5 4 8 28 30 -2 19
15 Aston Villa 17 5 4 8 14 19 -5 19
16 Southampton 16 4 5 7 20 25 -5 17
17 Bradford City 16 3 4 9 13 25 -12 13
18 Derby County 17 3 3 11 15 29 -14 12
19 Watford 17 3 2 12 13 33 -20 11
20 Sheffield Wednesday 16 1 3 12 14 40 -26 6
*** TEAM STATISTICS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 04/12/99 ***
AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE: 55,171
HIGHEST HOME ATTENDANCE: 25/09/99 - Southampton (55,249)
LOWEST HOME ATTENDANCE: 11/08/99 - Sheffield Wednesday (54,941)
BEST WIN: 11/08/99 - Sheffield Wednesday (4-0)
30/08/99 - Newcastle United (5-1)
04/12/99 - Everton (5-1)
HEAVIEST DEFEAT: 03/10/99 - Chelsea (0-5)
BEST HOME WIN: 11/08/99 - Sheffield Wednesday (4-0)
30/08/99 - Newcastle United (5-1)
04/12/99 - Everton (5-1)
BEST AWAY WIN: 22/08/99 - Arsenal (2-1)
25/08/99 - Coventry City (2-1)
11/09/99 - Liverpool (3-2)
20/11/99 - Derby County (2-1)
HEAVIEST AWAY DEFEAT: 03/10/99 - Chelsea (0-5)
NEXT MATCHES
---------------------------------------------------------------
18-DEC-1999 [15:00] Manchester Utd. vs West Ham (FA Premier League, AWAY)
26-DEC-1999 [15:00] Manchester Utd. vs Bradford C (FA Premier League, HOME)
28-DEC-1999 [20:00] Manchester Utd. vs Sunderland (FA Premier League, AWAY)
06-JAN-2000 [18:15] Manchester Utd. vs Necaxa (World Club Championship, AWAY)
Current Injuries Possible return
Jesper Blomqvist ankle early Dec
Ronny Johnsen knee January
Wes Brown knee August
*** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED -
UNITED Stats v All teams:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/
ALL FIXTURES at: http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix992000.htm
First Team Fixtures 1999/2000
All dates/times subject to change
Dates of possible cup ties also shown
Date Opposition Score Pos. Attend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
15/07/99 Melbourne Australia pre-season W 2-0 - 60,000
18/07/99 Sydney Australia pre-season W 1-0 - 78,000
21/07/99 Shanghai Shenhua pre-season W 2-0 - 80,000
24/07/99 Hong Kong South China pre-season W 2-0 - 40,000
1/08/99 Arsenal Wembley Charity Shield L 1-2 - 70,185
3/08/99 Omagh Town Omagh Bomb Fund W 9-0 - 7,000
4/08/99 Wigan Athletic friendly W 2-0 - 15,000
08/08/99 Everton Away PL D 1-1 10 39,141
11/08/99 Sheffield Wednesday Home PL W 4-0 3 54,941
14/08/99 Leeds United Home PL W 2-0 1 55,187
22/08/99 Arsenal Away PL W 2-1 1 38,147
25/08/99 Coventry City Away PL W 2-1 1 22,024
27/08/99 Monaco - Lazio ESC L 0-1 - 15,223
30/08/99 Newcastle United Home W 5-1 1 55,190
11/09/99 Liverpool Away W 3-2 1 44,929
14/09/99 Croatia Zagreb Home EC D 0-0 - 53,250
18/09/99 Wimbledon Home D 1-1 1 55,189
22/09/99 Sturm Graz Away EC W 3-0 - 16,480
25/09/99 Southampton Home D 3-3 1 55,249
29/09/99 Marseille Home EC W 2-1 - 54,276
3/10/99 Chelsea Away PL L 0-5 2 34,909
11/10/99 Sir Alex Testimonial Home F L 2-4 LEGENDS 54,842
13/10/99 Aston Villa Away WC3 L 0-3 - 33,815
16/10/99 Watford Home PL W 4-1 2 55,188
19/10/99 Marseille Away EC L 0-1 - 57,745
23/10/99 Tottenham Hotspur Away L 1-3 3 36,072
27/10/99 Croatia Zagreb Away EC W 2-1 - 30,000
30/10/99 Aston Villa Home PL W 3-0 2 55,211
2/11/99 Sturm Graz Home EC W 2-1 - 53,745
6/11/99 Leicester City Home PL W 2-0 1 55,191
20/11/99 Derby County Away W 2-1 1 33,370
23/11/99 AC Fiorentina Away EC L 0-2 - 40,000
30/11/99 Tokyo Palmeiras N WCC W 1-0 - 53,372
4/12/99 Everton Home PL W 5-1 2 55,193
8/12/99 Valencia CF Home EC W 3-0 - 54,606
18/12/99 West Ham United Away PL 15.00
26/12/99 Bradford City Home PL 15.00
28/12/99 Sunderland Away PL 20.00 "live on sky"
pp 3/01/2000 Middlesborough Home PL ??? *No new date yet
pp 27/11/1999 Sheffield Wednesday Away PL ??? *No new date yet
****************************************************
JAN 05-14 Brazil WTC [3-4 games]
----------------------------------------------------
06/01/2000 Necaxa (Mexico) Neut WTC 16.00
08/01/2000 Vasco da Gama (Brazil) Away WTC 16.00
11/01/2000 South Melbourne (Australia) N WTC 16.00
Final? 14/01/2000
****************************************************
15/17? /01/2000 Leeds Away PL 15.00
24/01/2000 Arsenal Home PL 20.00 "live on sky"
5/02/2000 Coventry City Home PL 15.00
12/02/2000 Newcastle United Away PL 15.00
26/02/2000 Wimbledon Away PL 15.00
1/03/2000 FC Girondins de Bordeaux Home EC 19.45
4/03/2000 Liverpool Home PL 11.30 "live on sky"
7/03/2000 FC Girondins de Bordeaux Away EC 19.45
11/03/2000 Derby County Home PL 15.00
15/03/2000 AC Fiorentina Home EC 19.45
18/03/2000 Leicester City Away PL 15.00
21/03/2000 Valencia CF Away EC 19.45
25/03/2000 Bradford City Away PL 15.00
1/04/2000 West Ham United Home PL 15.00
5/04/2000 ? EC qf i
8/04/2000 Middlesborough Away PL 15.00
15/04/2000 Sunderland Home PL 15.00
19/04/2000 ? EC qf ii
22/04/2000 Southampton Away PL 15.00
24/04/2000 Chelsea Home PL 15.00
29/04/2000 West Ham United Away PL 15.00
3/05/2000 ? EC sf i
6/05/2000 Tottenham Hotspur Home PL 15.00
10/05/2000 ? EC sf ii
14/05/2000 Aston Villa Away PL 15.00
24/05/2000 ? EC Final
http://www.red11.org/mufc/match.htm
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
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| Click On pic - for latest interviews from OT |
Keane leads the way ««
Manchester United 3 Valencia 0
Keane 38
Solskjaer 47
Scholes 70
Roy Keane inspired United to an emphatic 3-0 win over Valencia as he
dominated midfield and opened the scoring, to the delight of a packed
house. The newly contracted Irishman's crisp edge-of-the-area volley to put
United ahead was greeted with predictable glee by an Old Trafford crowd who
had been keen to acknowledge, "there's only one Keano" from the very start
of the evening. It was his fifth goal in nine games.
A second United goal just after the break from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer added
an extra fizz to the champagne feel, and Paul Scholes' typically well taken
header late on kept the party going long into the night.
It could have been a very different story though. Old Trafford's early buzz
at the news of Keane's renewed commitment to the club was nearly silenced
inside 60 seconds. Right winger Mendieta raced past Dennis Irwin and
Raymond van Der Gouw was forced to make a smart save from Farinos.
It took United another 15 minutes to carve out as good an opportunity for
themselves. Cole flicked on Beckham's clever free kick, and Solskjaer
swivelled quickly but shot weakly and a nervy looking Palop made a
straightforward save. But from that point on United's dominance was not in
question.
Two runs from Giggs set the capacity crowd buzzing, although his shots, on
both occasions, flew wide. They did go closer on the half hour when another
Beckham free kick spanked off the crossbar with Palop rooted to his line.
And with the pressure mounting Solskjaer miscued another good chance before
Keane's telling strike.
In truth the goal had been coming for a while, Valencia's defending was
anything but convincing.
Solskjaer underlined that fact just after the break with a precision
second, nudging home Beckham's low cross from just three yards out.
Valencia hit back as United looked to relax, Lopez and Oscar both fired
over from clear openings and the rampaging Angloma brought an excellent
save from Van der Gouw. But Keane - getting through a good £40,000 worth of
labour - and United, were not to be denied.
Another Beckham cross presented Paul Scholes with the third twenty minutes
from time, his glancing header speared into the top corner and ended any
hopes Valencia had of getting back into the game.
United's performance was by no means perfect. Valencia did carve out too
many clear cut sights of goal for that to be the case, but with so much at
stake going into the game Alex Ferguson had every reason to smile at the
final whistle. Like his skipper he had enjoyed a very productive day's work.
United are now second in Group B, a point behind Fiorentina and ahead of
Valencia by dint of having conceded one less goal.
Teams:
Man Utd: Van der Gouw, Neville P, Stam, Neville G, Irwin, Beckham, Keane,
Scholes, Giggs, Cole, Solskjaer.
Valencia: Palop, Angloma, Djukic, Bjorklund, Pellegrino, Carboni, Farinos,
Milla, Mendieta, Oscar, Lopez C.
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| Click On pic - for all latest pics from OT |
FERGUSON SAVOURS DUAL TRIUMPH
By Paul Walker, PA Sport
Sir Alex Ferguson led the celebrations at Old Trafford after skipper Roy
Keane signed a four-year deal and Manchester United rediscovered the form
that made them European champions.
Ferguson watched Keane score the goal that set United on their way to a 3-0
victory over Valencia 3-0 and then revealed that Keane informed his
team-mates "at tea-time" that he was going to stay at the club.
"This has been a very good day for Manchester United," said Ferguson, after
United had put the disappointment of defeat against Fiorentina behind them
by opening their Group B account against the Spaniards.
"Firstly we knew that Roy Keane was going to sign a new contract and
secondly we got the result and performance that showed we were back to our
very best form."
United swept previously unbeaten Valencia aside to re-establish the
holders' credentials to retain the crown they lifted in Barcelona last season.
Keane, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Paul Scholes scored the goals that sent
United on to victory.
Ferguson said: "It was a first class performance, and we had already been
given a wonderful piece of news about Roy."
The United chief added: "I was always confident that he would stay despite
the fact that many people had him leaving months ago.
"I have a good relationship with my captain, and he personifies everything
I like in a player.
"His determination, his will to win and hunger. They are all qualities that
I can identify with.
"Roy told his team mates at tea time and it gave them all a lift. There was
a good atmosphere all night.
"The players want the best players to play here. They respect Roy and they
were all very pleased."
Valencia coach Hector Cuper said: "We were unfortunate to meet a Manchester
United side at the very best of form and with their full team out.
"They took their chances so well and when we created ours, we failed to do
that."
© PA Sporting Life
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| Click On pic - for latest interviews from OT |
KEANE GETS UNITED BACK ON EURO TRACK
Man Utd 3-0 Valencia
Adrian Sherling reporting
The day really couldn’t get any better for Roy Keane. Before the match, the
Irishman celebrated becoming the highest paid player in Manchester United’s
long history and he followed that with a wonderful strike to give his side
all three points in this vital Champions League encounter. Maybe it’s time
for him to ask for a pay rise.
Keane struck in the 38th minute, firing powerfully home from the edge of
the box after Valencia failed to clear. The shot fizzed past reserve
goalkeeper Andres Palop, proving that having got his mind off his own net
profits, he had re-focussed upon United’s net profits.
Considering the importance of a victory, Alex Ferguson made a daring
decision, leaving Dwight Yorke on the bench, preferring to play Ole Gunner
Solskjaer, four-goal hero from the weekend.
It was a decision that could have backfired badly on the United manager,
but it worked perfectly and that is why Fergie is now known as Sir Fergie.
Valencia, decimated by injuries, relied on a solid 3-6-1 formation, yet any
worries that they were playing for a draw vanished within with first 30
seconds. Skipper Gaizka Menideta went on a fabulous winding run, setting up
Claudio Lopez, whose effort was blocked by stand-in stopper Raimond van der
Gouw.
It took half-an-hour for the next noteworthy attempt, but when it came, it
was a moment of dead-ball magic that could only come from the feet of one
man – David Beckham.
As United waited to take a free-kick from the right, the Valencia defence
expected for Ryan Giggs to curl an in-swinger dangerously into the middle,
Becks nipped in and chipped a cheeky effort towards the near-post, which
crashed off the bar.
Seven minutes of midfield scrapping later and Keane gave United the lead.
It was just as well, as the crowd had been strangely quiet until then. This
was the biggest match that Old Trafford had witnessed this season and the
fans appeared to be enjoying the sound of silence.
Two minutes into the second half and United grabbed a second. David
Beckham, who, on Thursday, will become the second United star this week to
appear in court for speeding, created just a yard of space on the wing and
whipped in a vicious low cross for Solskjaer to tap in at the near post.
Rather bizarrely, United appeared to take their foot off the pedal after
that and nearly allowed the Spanish side back into the game, through
talented striker Claudio Lopez, nicknamed ‘The Bug’. For 50 minutes, the
United defence had swatted out the danger of the Bug, but he had four
chances to pull his side back into the match in quick succession.
Firstly, he scooped the ball wastefully over the bar after a deflection had
set him through on goal. For the other three efforts, at least he made Van
der Gouw save the ball. The Dutchman produced a string of marvellous saves
to prevent the Argentinean scoring, the best low to his right from a
stinging free-kick.
For the rest of the game, Lopez got nowhere near Jaap Stam in the home
defence, although perhaps that was because the Dutchman had been laid low
with a virus all day and he didn’t want to catch anything.
On 68, Manchester United finally made the game safe and again it was
created by the European player-of-the-year in-waiting. Beckham’s free-kick
was met by Scholes, timing his run to perfection, as always, who flicked
his header perfectly inside Palop’s far post. Three goals from only five
chances shows the quality of the Manchester finishing.
Within the course of three hours, United’s season - and the future of their
most influential player – was back on track. Strangely, and rather
ominously, they destroyed Valencia’s unbeaten European record without
really getting out of second gear. That will be the thing that will worry
their European rivals more than anything else.
Man Utd: Van Der Gouw, P. Neville, G. Neville, Stam, Irwin, Beckham, Keane,
Scholes (Butt 71), Giggs, Cole (Yorke 71), Solskjaer.
Subs Not Used: Culkin, Sheringham, Cruyff, Berg, Higginbottom.
Goals: Keane 38, Solskjaer 47, Scholes 69.
Valencia: Palop, Angloma, Djukic, Bjorklund, Pellegrino, Carboni, Farinos,
Milla, Mendieta, Lopez (Vlaovic 84), Oscar (Sanchez 68).
Subs Not Used: Bartual Molina, Camarasa, Soria Lopez, Fagiani, Cabezas.
Booked: Mendieta, Carboni, Farinos.
Att: 54,606
Ref: Kim Nielsen (Denmark).
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| Click On pic - for latest pics from OT |
Manchester United 3-0 Valencia Just a perfect day...
By Paul Walker, PA Sport
As perfect days go, it doesn't come much better than this for Manchester
United.
Roy Keane slammed home a cracking opening goal with the ink still drying on
his new four year contract, and United recaptured the form which had taken
them all the way to the European title last season.
United started their assault on the talented Spaniards with a fanfare for
Keane and a glittering exhibition of their striking talents.
Keane's new contract was announced over the loudspeakers just as the
whistle went to start this crucial Champions League group B game that
United knew they dare not lose after the defeat in Florence a fortnight ago.
The roar of approval battered the ears of United and their Spanish
opponents, and set the high octane level of performance that was sustained
by Sir Alex Ferguson's men throughout.
Ferguson had been quick to admit that United had not recaptured their
European form of last season, but they managed it tonight.
Keane was the guide and inspiration, David Beckham the architect at his
very best, while the rest of the United side clicked into top gear in
spectacular fashion to inflict Valencia's first defeat in European
competition this season.
Admittedly Valencia could have been ahead after just 40 seconds when when
Claudio Lopez saw a snap shot from 12 yards beaten away by Raimond van der
Gouw, and then his follow-up shot held by the Dutch goalkeeper.
But from then on the first half was one of growing mastery by the European
champions, who knew they needed a solid performance and result to wipe away
the memory of that awful defeat by Fiorentina.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer forced a low, diving save from Andres Palop after a
fine build-up between Denis Irwin and Andy Cole before Ryan Giggs produced
a high speed run and a deflected chip that fractionally missed the post.
Valencia were relying on the pace of Lopez on his own up front, and it was
generally an uneven battle with Jaap Stam and Gary Neville the full-back
moved into the centre of defence to counter the Argentinian's blinding speed.
Lopez did try an audacious 40 yard chip that looked for a second or two
that it would clear van der Gouw, but the back-pedalling keeper clutched
the ball above his head.
But with Keane the controller in midfield, United increased their tempo and
pressure. A foul by Luis Milla on Paul Scholes gave Beckham one of those
dangerous free-kick positions on the edge of the box, and his trademark
curler crashed against the Valencia bar after 30 minutes.
Lopez did find a way through soon after, onto a Gaizka Mendieta pass, but
Stam's perfectly timed tackle swept the ball away from danger.
It was just the spur United needed to finally take control. And the moment
arrived it just had to be Keane. After 38 minutes Gary Neville's ball into
the box was headed out by Miroslav Djukic under pressure from Solskjaer,
and there was Keane with a drilled 25 yarder that flashed into the bottom
corner past Palop.
Valencia wasted a fine opening when Mendieta put Jocelyn Angloma in on the
right, but the Frenchman saw his dipping drive fizz just over. And Lopez
and Garcia Oscar both threw away further chances to get Valencia back into
the game early in the second half, their response to another United goal
three minutes after the restart.
Beckham's ball in from the right was met by Solskjaer on the near post to
stab the ball home, fully justifying his inclusion in the side at Dwight
Yorke's expense.
Cole had a wonderful chance to make it three after 61 minutes when he
collected a Keane chip and saw Palop make an outstanding reflex save to his
left, and then block the follow up shot from point blank range.
But the third was not long in coming. Beckham was again the architect with
a curling 69th minute free-kick, and there was England colleague Scholes
making the perfectly timed run to crash an unstoppable header into the top
corner.
It was a cruise now, and off came Scholes and Cole to allow Yorke and Nicky
Butt into the fray a minute later.
Beckham was by now at his impudent best with little flicks and clever
passes, plus the appetite to chase back and tackle. He got kicked a bit
too, but this time he was on his best behaviour.
With Danish referee Kim Milton Nielsen the official who sent off Beckham in
France 98 having an outstanding game, it was obviously wiser this time for
the England man to shake a few hands, pat some backs and just destroy
Valencia with his skills. He did just that.
The game ended as it had started. with the fans belting out their 'Keano,
Keano' chant, to remind the man of the moment how much he is wanted and
admired.
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| Click On pic - for latest interviews from OT |
Manchester United 3 - 0 Valencia Minute by Minute
Wednesday December 8, 1999
Manchester United: Van Der Gouw, P. Neville, G. Neville,
Stam, Irwin, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Cole,
Solskjaer. Substitutes: Culkin, Butt, Sheringham, Cruyff,
Yorke, Berg, Higginbottom.
Valencia: Palop, Angloma, Djukic, Bjorklund, Pellegrino,
Carboni, Farinos, Milla, Mendieta, Lopez, Oscar.
Substitutes: Bartual Molina, Camarasa, Soria Lopez,
Sanchez, Vlaovic, Fagiani, Cabezas.
1 min Manchester United kick off in a match the home team
cannot afford to lose. Great work by Mendieta on the right
as he reaches the byline through pace and determination,
ignoring Irwin's challenge. His cross is cleared by Stam
onto Phil Neville, and the ricochet falls invitingly for
Farinos at the edge of the area. his strike is parried by
Van Der Gouw. Farinos stretches for the rebound, but Van
Der gouw gathers comfortably. All in the first 45 seconds.
3 A free kick for Valencia on the right is hit well and
gathered by Van Der Gouw at Lopez's feet. The Argentine
should prove a handful for Stam. The four goals he scored
against Everton on Saturday means that Solskjaer retains
his place in the starting eleven.
6 An excellent cross-field pass by Beckham, who seems to be
enjoying some early space on the right, wins United a
corner, but the centre is easily cleared and Valencia break
at pace with Lopez leading the charge. His pace may prove a
factor tonight.
8 Mendieta beats two on the right as he surges down the
flank, but his cross is a poor one. United break from the
clearance. Giggs finds space on the left and the defensive
header finds Beckham at the edge of the Valencia area, but
his shot is high and wide and in the crowd.
11 United should be boosted by the news that Roy Keane has
signed a four-year contract, and they have started
brightly. Their constant pressing upfield does expose some
gaps in defence, and the visitors are looking to catch them
on the break.
13 Dennis Irwin decides better safe than sorry as he upends
Mendieta twice in quick succession. A free kick is awarded,
and United clear comfortably upfield. The referee is having
none of it, as David Beckham would be able to inform his
teammate. It's Kim Nielsen, the Danish official he last met
in St. Etienne.
15 An cleverly worked free kick from United sees Beckham
float a free kick from the centre-left, flicked on by Giggs
to Irwin, who controls with his knee and squares to Cole.
He can't turn, but Solskjaer is there to hit a low drive
straight into Palop's arms. Great interplay that deserved
to end in a goal.
20 Phil Neville plays a sharp one-two with David Beckham.
Neville overlaps and finds space to run into the box, but
you can almost hear the blood rushing to his head as he
overhits his cross and forwards and defenders alike crane
their necks and watch as the centre sails over verybody.
Irwin gathers on the opposite wing, but the linesman's flag
intervenes. Offside.
23 United pressure through the centre sees Giggs break from
midfield and try to lob Palop from 20 yards. The Valencia
keeper is equal to the challenge, and deflects the effort
for a corner. Beckham's set piece is melodramatically
punched out. United attack again, and another corner
results. Good, sustained pressure from the home team.
27 Valencia can really pass, and when they string a few
together the ball can travel the length of the field
without United having a chance to win possession. United do
well to clear from their own area as the Spanish side show
great skill in their control and movement.
29 Midfielder Carboni surges past Keane and Scholes, only
losing the ball with a stray pass.
31 An infringement on the United right by Djukic gives
Beckham a chance for a showpiece strike from 30 yards. He
does not disappoint, as his curling, dipping strike cannons
off the crossbar and shoots into the night sky as 55,000
people say: 'ooohh!'. Goal kick.
33 Solskjaer is found in space on the left of the area, as
Angloma misses his tackle and the left leg goes back... but
the shot is screwed across goal.
35 United back in numbers to head off the pacy Lopez. Stam
halts the Argentine's progress, and a good through ball
from Gary Neville releases Beckham down the right, but
there's just a little too much on the ball and the cross
suffers due to a hurried delivery.
38 GOAL Manchester United 1 - 0 Valencia That's why you pay
him so much. Gary Neville plays a speculative ball in from
the right. A Valencia defender rises with Solskjaer to
challenge, and his knockdown is met by a ferocious drive by
Keane five yards outside the box. Palop's dive is in vain
as the Irishman's strike is already nestling in his
right-hand corner.
42 A delightful flick over Irwin by Mendieta is met by the
boot of Angloma who has temporarily traded defence for
attack. The effort is well hit, but over Van Der Gouw's
outstretched hand and over the bar. Goal kick.
44 Palop doesn't seem to comfortable with crosses. Irwin
delivers from a free kick on the left, and the Valencia
keeper is clearly uncomfortable as Cole challenges. He
elects to parry, and is lucky that his weak palming of the
ball doesn't fall to a red shirt.
46 Apart from a couple of early scares that originated
through Mendieta, Valencia have produced little in the way
of attacking football. United deserve their lead and should
be able to extend it in the second half.
47 Half time.
45 Valencia restart the match with a lot to do if they are
going to make any impression on a game that United are
controlling.
46 Giggs is really enjoying the freedom of the left. Irwin
is also happy to overlap and push up. They switch wings to
Beckham.
47 GOAL Manchester United 2 - 0 Valencia Beckham, in as
much space as Giggs, takes his time and curls in a low,
measured centre to the near post where an unmarked
Solskjaer slots home from five yards. How many more to come?
50 Valencia seem to have left their desire on the luggage
carousel at the airport. No real drive forward as their
midfielders shuffle sullenly upfield. Only Farinos and the
tireless Mendieta are showing any creativity. They exchange
passes and Farinos tests Van Der Gouw from outside the area,
forcing a good one-handed save.
54 Valencia's best chance, as Carboni crosses from the
left, a deflection off Gary Neville presents Lopez with the
ball ten yards out from goal. Lopez's left foot lets him
down as the ball sails over the bar.
55 Another great chance, this time for Oscar Garcia, who,
like his more illustrious colleague, scoops the ball into
the crowd from fifteen yards out on the right. A little
encouragement for the visitors as they recover from the
shock of going two down.
58 Enormous effort expended by the French right-back
Angloma, who races the length of the pitch to just keep a
ball in play, then stepping up a gear to cut inside and
lash the ball across the face of the goal in a cross-shot.
61 Roy Keane, on the left, plays in an innocuous cross that
is flicked on by a Valencia defender. Andy Cole, unmarked
on the penalty spot, connects with a diving header that
Palop does well to block. Cole collects the rebound and the
keeper denies him again. Horrible marking and Valencia are
indebted to Palop for keeping them in the game.
66 Mendieta wins a free kick from Stam in a central
position, about 35 yards out. Claudio Lopez elects to hit
it and Van Der Gouw does well to deflect the Argentine's
low, curling effort round his right-hand post for a corner.
The centre is poor, and United regain possession.
68 Valencia substitution: Sanchez for Oscar.
70 GOAL Manchester United 3 - 0 Valencia David Beckham the
provider, from a free kick on the right, met at pace by a
sprinting, leaping Paul Scholes. His header spins away from
Palop into the top right corner and that should just about
break Valencia's collective heart.
72 Manchester United substitution: Yorke for Cole; Butt for
Scholes.
77 Giggs flicks on to Yorke, who had he been on for a
little longer, may have had the presence of mind to hit the
ball first time. He dithers and Valencia clear. Butt
collects and sets Solskjaer through on the right flank, but
his cross can only find Palop. United look like scoring
everytime they come forward.
81 Mendieta is still full of running, as he cuts in from
left midfield to release Angloma, but Dennis Irwin simply
stands his ground and wins possession back for United.
84 Angloma strikes from distance on the right. The power is
there, but the direction is not as an advertising hoarding
takes a pounding.
84 Valencia substitution: Vlaovic for Lopez.
87 Yorke and Beckham combine well on the right to win a
corner. The set piece is wasted, but Yorke is looking to
score in the remaining few minutes - Beckham is spotting
him breaking from midfield and is looking to play the early
ball over the Valencia defence.
90 Yorke free on the left gains 70 yards with a surging
run. A poor one-two with Giggs and the move breaks down.
91 A late chance for Valencia to score as a Farinos
back-heel lets in Sanchez for a shot, but it is hit
straight at Van Der Gouw and that pretty much sums up their
night.
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SOLSKJAER ID SIGN FOR LIFE
Norwegian Striker Tells 365 He Never Wants To LeaveManchester United
365 Exclusive by Iain Spragg
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has revealed exclusively to
Football365 onthe eve of Manchester United’s Champions League clash
with Valenciathat he would jump at the chance to finish his
playing days at OldTrafford – despite still not being guaranteed a place
in the Treblewinners' starting line-up.
The 26-year-old Norwegian scored four goals in
United’s 5-1 Premiershipdemolition of Everton at the weekend but, despite his
stunning display,he is still likely to be among the substitutes when
the Europeanchampions entertain the high-flying Spaniards
tonight.
Solskjaer has had to be content playing second fiddle
to the likes ofDwight Yorke and Andy Cole since he signed for the
Red Devils fromNorway's Molde in a £1.5m deal back in July 1996 and
an incredible 56of his 135 appearances for the club, in which he has
scored 52 times,have come as a substitute. But despite his fringe
status, he insists he ishappy to spend the rest of his career at Old
Trafford.
''I would be happy to sign for life,'' he told
Football365. ''If ManchesterUnited asked me to sign for life, I would do it. I
never want to play foranother club. I know I have an important part to play
at this club and I'vealways been happy here. I know it may seem strange
but just being partof the set-up is enough for me.
''Where else would I have so much success? Let's face
it, I'm not doingtoo bad in terms of what I have achieved in my career
so far. So manypeople want to write things saying I want to leave
but it's just not true. I'mgoing nowhere and, as long as the manager is happy,
I'm happy.''
Solskjaer will have to wait to discover if boss Sir
Alex Fergusonconsidered his performance against Everton good
enough to earn him astart against Valencia. But despite having won 15
caps for his countryand scoring the winning goal against Bayern Munich in
last season’sEuropean Cup Final, the Norwegian insists he still
has much to learn.
''I think there is more to come from me,'' he added.
''You can alwaysimprove, you never stop learning no matter what stage
you are at. Ithelps when you are around world-class players like I
am and given thecompetition here, you are always looking to give
yourself an edge. I liketo think I work hard on my game to improve it and if
I need to staybehind and train some more, I will. Your football
education is alwayson-going especially at this level.''
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Taibi back home for a teach-in
By Graham Hunter - Exclusive
Massimo Taibi has taken the drastic step of returning to Italy for some
corrective coaching from his goalkeeping mentor Lorenzo di Iorio.
Taibi is so despondent at his loss of form for Manchester United that, with
Sir Alex Ferguson's permission, he has put in three days' work in Napoli
with the man who made him famous at Venezia.
Napoli general manager Filipo Fusco confirmed to Soccernet: 'Massimo asked
us if we would help him get back his form and fight for his place in the
United team by letting him work with Lorenzo.'
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