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Loss of title stings United into display of defiance
By Henry Winter | |
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Man Utd (2) 3 Leeds (0) 0 ARSENAL'S gauntlet has been picked up, the challenge accepted. Last night, in a stadium reverberating with defiance, Manchester United responded to Arsenal's coronation with a powerful statement of intent. It was not just the way the deposed champions brushed aside a disappointing Leeds, nor the manner in which they confidently unpicked the visitors' massed defence, producing goals for Ryan Giggs, Denis Irwin and David Beckham. What should concern Arsenal was the desire etched in Alex Ferguson's post-match words. After paying tribute to Arsne Wenger's side - "We recognise what champions are made of" - United's manager said: "There are one or two things you can do: you can wither and die or do something about it." As ambitious as ever, Ferguson is busy turning strong words into action. As the celebrations ripple around Highbury's environs, Arsenal supporters may care to consider some of the sights and sounds from Old Trafford yesterday. Jaap Stam, £10 million worth of Dutch footballer of the year, sat in the stand and today undergoes a medical before finalising his move from PSV Eindhoven. "It's a shame that United are not the champions this season but next year they will be," Stam said. "I'm absolutely sure of that." Stam will be installed by pre-season, scheduled by Ferguson to begin on July 7. Such a date may prove awkward if England enjoy a good run at the World Cup finals. After glancing admiringly at Stam, United's supporters voiced their approval of another defender who may one day become a popular first-team regular. Wes Brown, a talented teenager, arrived in the second half to deliver a debut of real promise. Tall, quick and mobile, the under-18 international produced one dispossession of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to signal his quality. "We've got great hopes for him," Ferguson said. Yet if there was one defensive display to purr over it came from Gary Neville. Whether tackling, tracking or raiding down the flanks, Neville delivered a performance of real all-round accomplishment. Afterwards he outlined how he and his colleagues were feeling, how determined they were to reclaim the high ground. "It's a feeling of hurt," the England international said. "You set out at the start of the season to win the League and the European Cup. They were the two trophies we went for and we failed. We have got to put it right next season." Neville was swiftly involved yesterday, building moves as Leeds fans crowed their support for Arsenal. "You're not champions any more," they sang. United responded in the best manner possible. After six minutes, a break by Neville punished Ian Harte's failure to cut out Gary Pallister's drilled pass. Having just kept the ball in play, Neville crossed beautifully for Giggs to head in. United were in control, attacking in waves across Leeds' 4-1-4-1 set-up. Their second goal stemmed from another angled delivery, this time from Irwin on the left. Teddy Sheringham was flattened by Harte and, with typical calm, Irwin placed the penalty to Nigel Martyn's left. Leeds' intermittent threat stemmed from counter-attacks, the ball invariably heading towards Hasselbaink. A lively, if lonely front-runner, the Dutchman was rarely supported consistently from midfield. When Leeds managed to create an opening, as David Wetherall did for Lee Bowyer, Neville stepped in to clear. Yet Leeds should have had a penalty when Nicky Butt clearly handled an inswinging free-kick from Harte. Gary Willard, though, was having none of it, much to George Graham's irritation. "He's one of the poorer refs," the Leeds manager said, "but that's not to take away from our poor performance." Fifth-placed Leeds, all but certain to make the UEFA Cup, were enlivened by Harry Kewell after the break, the Australian twice going close. But United were always in command. Just before the hour United added a third, Beckham finishing with a glorious volley. To round off Leeds' disappointment, Gunnar Halle was dismissed for two bookable offences. Europe awaits for them; for United, this summer looks to be a time of reviving hopes. _________________________________________________________________ Man Utd (2) 3 Leeds (0) 0 Giggs 6, Irwin 31 pen, Beckham 58. Man Utd: Van Der Gouw, G. Neville, Irwin (P. Neville 45), May (Brown 60), Pallister, Beckham, Butt, Cole, Sheringham (McClair 60), Giggs, Scholes. Subs Not Used: Berg, Mulryne. Booked: P. Neville, Pallister. Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Haaland, Radebe, Wetherall, Hasselbaink, Bowyer, Halle, Kewell, Harte (Robertson 73), Hiden (Hopkin 60). Subs Not Used: Beeney, Wallace, Jackson. Sent Off: Halle (62). Booked: Halle, Radebe, Hiden, Wetherall. Att: 55,167 Ref: G Willard (West Sussex). _________________________________________________________________ Soccer-Manchester United beat Leeds to lessen title blow LONDON, May 4 (Reuters) - Manchester United eased some of their pain at relinquishing the English premier league title by comfortably beating Leeds United 3-0 at Old Trafford on Monday. Ryan Giggs, Denis Irwin and David Beckham were on target as United lifted their points tally with one game left to 74, still four adrift of champions Arsenal. A miserable day for Leeds was completed when Norwegian defender Gunnar Halle was sent off for a second bookable offence after 63 minutes. Welshman Giggs opened the scoring after just six minutes, poaching a rare headed goal following superb work down the right from Gary Neville. The England defender performed wonders to keep the ball in play before crossing straight on to the forehead of Giggs, whose downward header flew into the net for the 50th league goal of his career. It was 2-0 after 32 minutes. England striker Teddy Sheringham was fouled in the Leeds' area and Irish full-back Irwin stepped up to send the Yorkshire side's goalkeeper Nigel Martyn the wrong way from the resultant penalty. England midfielder Beckham completed United's stroll in the May sun with a third goal on the hour mark, volleying home sweetly with his right foot from the edge of the area. Lee Bowyer had Leeds' best chance seconds later, but his goal-bound shot was cleared off the line by Gary Pallister. United, certain of a place in the European Cup next season, visit relegated Barnsley for their final game of the campaign next Sunday. Leeds remained fifth and well on course for a place in next season's UEFA Cup. © 1998 SportsLine USA, Inc. _________________________________________________________________ Full house, empty victory By David Lacey Tuesday May 5, 1998 Manchester United are about as eager to wear the mantle of erstwhile champions as trend-setters asked to don hand-me-downs. As runners-up to Arsenal in the Premiership their place in the qualifying round of next season's Champions League is assured, but at Old Trafford yesterday nobody was celebrating silver medals. Instead the majority of the usual 55,000-plus crowd commiserated with Alex Ferguson's players for winning nothing this time except applause, and even that had begun to fade with the team's departure from Europe followed by Arsenal's remorseless and ultimately successful pursuit of the championship. Leeds United's fans turned up to gloat noisily at their rivals' failure. One could hardly blame them. After all, it had been a long time. Manchester United rounded off their season at home with a comfortable victory over the first side to defeat them in the league this time when Wetherall's goal at Elland Road in late September had ended an unbeaten start of eight games. That was the day Roy Keane suffered the cruciate ligament damage which put Ferguson's captain out for the rest of the season. So there was a touch of nemesis in Manchester United's mood, although at times it was clear there were people on the pitch who knew it was all over. Nevertheless Leeds, their Uefa Cup place secure, provided a stiff enough challenge for Gunnar Halle to get himself sent off in the second half for a second bookable offence and there was even some pushing and shoving a little later. Halle's dismissal brought the referee Gary Willard's number of red cards this season to eight. Six yellow cards left him 10 bookings short of his hundred. Yet only one of those he issued here seemed unnecessary and that was when a tired Gary Pallister inadvertently ran into the back an equally weary Alf-Inge Haaland in the closing minute. Understandably Manchester United's football flickered fitfully. Some of their players seemed more interested than others. Teddy Sheringham appeared to be treading water until substituted by Brian McClair. Whatever Sheringham is saving for England in the World Cup one trusts it will be worth the wait. Ryan Giggs, on the other hand, performed as if the title was still there to be won. There are ways of playing and ways of playing and Leeds employed a system which has been serving them well, particularly in away games. Again Lucas Radebe played between a back four and a middle four, with Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink trying to hold the ball up in the hope of quick support. Yet there is still a considerable difference between Derby on an off-day and Manchester United on a dog day, as Leeds quickly discovered. With David Beckham frequently tucking in alongside Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, Leeds's movements tended to run out of space in midfield, leaving Hasselbaink a lonely figure vainly claiming free-kicks as he tried to take on David May and Pallister. After five minutes Ian Harte's impulsiveness cost Leeds dear. The left-back committed himself early as Gary Neville took Pallister's long pass on the right and, after the Manchester United defender had just managed to keep the ball in play, he produced a telling centre from which Giggs outjumped the centre-backs to head past Nigel Martyn. On the half-hour Denis Irwin's cross from the left found Harte holding Sheringham down before the striker could rise to meet it and Irwin put the penalty away. Towards the interval the match started to be overtaken by end-of-season ennui but it roused itself sufficiently for the second half to produce a third goal quickly followed by the departure of Halle. Two minutes before the hour Beckham drove the ball low into the near corner of the net; two minutes past it Halle, shown the yellow card earlier for a foul on Irwin, saw red for fouling Wes Brown, one of Manchester's substitutes. Jaap Stam, Manchester United's £10 million signing from PSV Eindhoven, signed autographs in the stand and felt sure the championship would return to Old Trafford next season. Well he would, wouldn't he. But Ferguson's spending will not stop there if the club are serious about renewing their quests at home and abroad. Manchester United (4-4-2): Van Der Gouw; G Neville, May (Brown, 60min), Pallister, Irwin (P Neville, h-t); Beckham, Scholes, Butt, Giggs; Sheringham (McClair, 60), Cole. Leeds United (4-1-4-1): Martyn; Kelly, Wetherall, Hiden (Hopkin, 60), Harte (Robertson, 73); Radebe; Halle, Haaland, Bowyer, Kewell; Hasselbaink. Referee: G Willard (Worthing). Guardian _________________________________________________________________ May 5 1998 FOOTBALL Ferguson's optimism fails to disguise lack of inspiration BY DAVID MADDOCK Manchester United ...3 Leeds United ...0 CHAMPIONS no longer, but defiant to the end, Manchester United supported brave words from their manager with a typically competent victory yesterday. Yet, for all the ease with which they brushed aside Leeds United, there was something missing and it was not just the FA Carling Premiership trophy, which normally finds itself tossed around Old Trafford at this time of year. Alex Ferguson, in his programme notes, struck an optimistic tone, suggesting that his side will surely bring the title back to Manchester next season. But if the manager was looking forward, his club's supporters chose to cast a wistful glance back and, in doing so, perhaps defined that ingredient lacking here, but evident at Highbury. "Eric, Eric Cantona," they sang, apparently mocking the Leeds fans but with a pleading hint in their collective voice. United have been powerful this season, compelling at times, but rarely truly dazzling. As their supporters acknowledged, they have failed properly to replace the spontaneous genius that the Frenchman provided. Arsenal have it, in the shape of Dennis Bergkamp. United have instead turned to a team ethic that swept all before it earlier in the season, but one that was ultimately subdued by the consistent brilliance coming out of North London during the past three months. "Many of our players have not reached their prime yet, their best is yet to come, and I am determined to see them fulfil their great promise," Ferguson wrote. That may be so, but Ferguson will need to find a forward of high quality to add a sense of unpredictabilty to his disciplined side. Against Leeds, Sheringham was his usual neat self and Cole was typically industrious, but rarely struck fear into Leeds hearts. Giggs did and Beckham, too, with his powerful running and decisive crossing. United have refined their wing play to devastatingly simple effect; no frills, just stamina and determination. Against a side as uninterested as Leeds, it worked wonderfully. Giggs secured the fiftieth League goal of his career in the sixth minute and effectively killed off the game. Harte lost his position on the left, Gary Neville invaded the gaping hole and crossed with intelligence to allow Giggs a free header at the far post. A second goal followed as Leeds sat back and invited waves of Manchester United attacks. Again it was a simple manoeuvre, Irwin crossing deep from the left and Sheringham rising, only to be bundled to the ground by a masterpiece of incompetent timing from Harte. Irwin, steady as ever, rolled home the penalty. Leeds flickered briefly with Bowyer stoking the fire, but, after Gary Willard, the referee, turned down claims for an obvious penalty when Butt handled, United strolled to victory. The third goal arrived on 58 minutes. Giggs was again involved, creating a chance for Cole and, when the striker's shot was blocked, the ball spun dangerously in the air, Hiden failed to clear adequately and Beckham rifled a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. The winger's celebration contained surprising passion, directed at the Leeds fans, again raising just the faintest of doubt about his temperament. Anger was evident in the Leeds side only when Halle fouled Brown to earn a second yellow card and a dismissal. Brown had just entered the fray, a further message from Ferguson, perhaps, that the dark cloud cast by Arsenal has a silver lining. Brown is a 19-year-old defender who has earned a large reputation in the reserves. Watching from the stands was another centre half who has made a name for himself, Jaap Stam, United's latest capture at £10 million from PSV Eindhoven. The Dutchman professed his admiration for the United team and Ferguson's optimism was infectious. "We have to win it next season, we don't like this hurt," he said afterwards. Playing on the press room television at the time was Hot Stuff, which happens to be the Arsenal Cup Final song. To respond, United will have to produce a tune of their own that ignores reference to a certain Frenchman. MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): R van der Gouw - G Neville, D May (sub: W Brown, 59min), G Pallister, D Irwin (sub: P Neville, 46) - D Beckham, P Scholes, N Butt, R Giggs - E Sheringham (sub: B McClair, 59), A Cole. LEEDS UNITED (4-1-4-1): N Martyn - G Kelly, D Wetherall, M Hiden (sub: D Hopkin, 59), I Harte (sub: D Robertson, 73) - L Radebe - G Halle, A I Haaland, L Bowyer, H Kewell - J F Hasselbaink. Referee: G Willard. Copyright 1998 Times Newspapers Ltd. _________________________________________________________________ |
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