Copy from
Electronic Telegraph


Tuesday 5 May 1998
Issue 1075


Loss of title stings United into display of defiance
By Henry Winter


External Links

Pics?
Download United Program/Patch files



   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. 
   _________________________________________________________________


[main] [top scorers] [league results/table] [match reports] [archive]
[gallery] [united faq] [links] [sign my guestbook]

Any comments are welcomed.

© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998.

Telegraph Group Limited endeavours to ensure that the information is correct but does not accept any liability for error or omission.

Users are permitted to copy some material for their personal use, but may not republish any substantial part of the data either on another website or as part of any commercial service without the prior written permission of Telegraph Group Limited.

Note : At times, reports are taken from Reuters and FA Carling Net.

Today's edition of Electronic Telegraph...