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United frustrated as Owen joy turns sour
By Henry Winter | |
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Man Utd (1) 1 Liverpool (1) 1 HOURS before this high-octane contest, the great Pele had opened Old Trafford's new museum. Whether any glass cabinets will be needed for the 1997-98 season remains a moot point after Manchester United were deservedly pegged back by a hugely determined Liverpool last night. This stuttering display from Alex Ferguson's champions, in which they failed to capitalise on Michael Owen's 40th-minute dismissal for two spiteful challenges, affords second-placed Arsenal the opportunity of moving within a point by the end of the Easter programme. With two games in hand. For all the movement on the satchel-men's boards, United retain the edge, albeit a paper-thin one. Arsenal, meet Newcastle today, travel to Blackburn on Monday and have still to visit third-placed Liverpool, where they still hold a belief that the championship can be theirs. "The towel's not gone in yet," said Roy Evans, the manager of 33-1 Liverpool. "We are still in the title race with a slight chance." Ferguson agreed there had been a swing in fortunes towards Highbury. "The balance of power is with Arsenal now," said United's manager, perhaps cranking up the pressure on Arsne Wenger's men. "They can only throw the title away. But they can always lose a game that nobody expects them to lose." Ferguson also confirmed that Ronny Johnsen's season is probably over, following Owen's nasty lunge that left the United centre-half with ankle-ligament damage. Already booked for a crude follow-through on Peter Schmeichel, Owen had to depart. So the first half concluded with both goalscorers already down the tunnel, Owen in shame and Johnsen on a stretcher. Evans attempted to defend the England teenager, who was being watched by John Gorman, Glenn Hoddle's No 2. "They [United] were winding him up for part of the game," said Evans. "The guy wants to win. It was a bit of over-enthusiasm but there was more going on than meets the eye. But he's got to learn the game." Danny Murphy, who performed superbly as Liverpool's lone striker following Owen's expulsion, said: "He's a young lad but something's been said out on the pitch and he got a bit wound up. He was a bit unlucky to get sent off." Owen, to his credit, disagreed. "The ref was right to send me off although there was no bad intent in either challenge. I realise I let my team-mates down although they did really well to earn a draw." So they did in a match that contained everything, endless incident before the break and unbelievable tension after it. From the first minute, when Brad Friedel saved from Ryan Giggs and then Phil Babb cleared from Paul Scholes, the game shimmered with excitement and intensity. It was real end-to-end stuff, with no quarter asked or offered. Liverpool buzzed with positive intent. On came Evans's young team, Steve McManaman unleashing a shot saved at the second attempt by Schmeichel. United struck back, exploiting Liverpool's frailties at set-pieces after 12 minutes. The lack of height and organisation in Evans's defence was again seen as Johnsen climbed high, rising between Paul Ince and Dominic Matteo to head David Beckham's corner past Friedel. United were jubilant. How their fans crowed. Yet Liverpool showed their calibre, reorganising and passing the ball around well. McManaman was denied by Gary Neville's goal-line block. Ince, viciously booed by his old supporters, then tested Schmeichel with a low shot that the Dane did well to push away. Still they attacked, these stirred-up Merseysiders. McManaman wasted Murphy's lovely through-ball but, in the 37th minute, Liverpool levelled, following a United defensive mix-up. Gary Pallister paused as Owen chased Murphy's pass, the seasoned stopper expecting Schmeichel to come out. Pallister's indecision proved costly, the pacy Owen lifting the ball over Schmeichel. When Owen caught Johnsen from behind, the game appeared United's for the taking. Yet the departure of Giggs, feeling his hamstring, had reduced United's ability to stretch the 10 men of Liverpool. The team-mates Owen left behind performed remarkably, closing down United players, disrupting the supply-lines and blocking everything in front of Friedel. They were resilience personified. United enjoyed only a handful of real chances, to Andy Cole twice and Scholes, who shot fractionally wide, an effort that drew gasps of frustration from the home hordes. Liverpool, with Matteo now a rock in defence, were content to hit on the break. Murphy showed class in turning Phil Neville and dispatching a 25-yarder just over. Oyvind Leonhardsen, having slipped David May, brought a good save from Schmeichel. A draw, though, was deserved. The real victors yesterday were Arsenal. _________________________________________________________________ Man Utd (1) 1 Liverpool (1) 1 Johnsen 12; Owen 36. Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Johnsen (May 43), Pallister, Beckham, Butt, Cole, Giggs (Thornley 38), P. Neville (Sheringham 65), Scholes. Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Berg. Booked: Butt. Liverpool: Friedel, Jones, Matteo, Babb, Harkness, McManaman, Redknapp, Ince, Leonhardsen, Owen, Murphy (Berger 75). Subs Not Used: James, Kvarme, Thomas, Carragher. Sent Off: Owen (40). Booked: Owen, Leonhardsen. Att: 55,171 Ref: G Poll (Tring). _________________________________________________________________ April 11 1998 FOOTBALL Ten-man Liverpool frustrate United's title chasers Red mark on Owen's record BY OLIVER HOLT FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENT MANCHESTER UNITED 1 LIVERPOOL 1 AS FRAGILE as a kite in the tempests that overwhelmed the country yesterday, the advantage in the race for the championship that has veered crazily between Manchester United and Arsenal in this climax to the season took another dramatic twist at Old Trafford last night when Alex Ferguson's team were held to a galling draw by their old enemies, Liverpool. In a match that was marred by the first-half sending-off of Michael Owen, Liverpool's teenage striking prodigy, for an horrific tackle on Ronnie Johnsen, United not only failed to gain the three points that would have handed them a significant lead over their rivals from North London in the FA Carling Premiership, they also suffered a recurrence of the injury problems that had done much to derail their early-season dominance. Johnsen suffered damage to his ankle ligaments and Ryan Giggs, so often the inspiration for United, was also forced to come off before the end of the first half with a recurrence of his hamstring problem. After their stylish, gritty comeback victory over Blackburn Rovers on Monday had seemed to steady their championship nerves, United appeared to be ready to tackle the final run-in with gusto. Even though they took an early lead yesterday, they ran out of steam, allowed Liverpool a sloppy equaliser and never really looked like grabbing the winner, even against ten men. For Liverpool, lying in third place, the result almost certainly ends their own slender hopes of winning the championship. United are now seven points clear of Arsenal, but Arsène Wenger, the Carling manager of the month, and his team have four games in hand. They begin their attempt to rein in United in a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup Final against Newcastle United at Highbury this afternoon and Ferguson said last night that they must now be considered the favourites. "I think that puts Arsenal firmly in the driving seat," Ferguson said. "We will have to hope that they drop points now, but we all know what football is like and they could lose a game which nobody would expect them to lose. We will wait. We have got four games left and we will just have to do our best in them. There is still a lot of pressure on Arsenal." In the early stages, there had been some finery among the seething tackles and tempers. Infused, perhaps, by the spirit of Pelé, who watched the game from the directors' box and will open the Manchester United museum today, McManaman, Giggs, Beckham and Scholes produced some wonderful touches in the opening minutes and United looked as though they had rediscovered their old rhythm. The game had begun in a flurry of action, as matches between these sides always seem to do. Ince, returning to his old stomping ground amid a crescendo of jeers, was at the centre of most of the sound and fury, but it was United who almost took the lead after 70 seconds. Giggs charged down a clumsy attempted clearance from Matteo and advanced on Friedel, but the United States goalkeeper stood up well and blocked his shot before Babb slid across to kick Scholes's follow-up shot off the line. Ince shot high and wide with his left foot a few seconds later and Owen had the first of his several clashes with Schmeichel when he just failed to beat him to a shot from McManaman that had spilt from the goalkeeper's hands. It was breathless stuff and the pace hardly seemed to relent throughout the first half. In recent clashes with United, failure to mark properly at corners had cost Liverpool dear and so it proved again yesterday when United took the lead in the twelfth minute. Johnsen rose, unattended by either Harkness or Matteo, to head Beckham's corner high into the net at the back post. Two minutes later, Liverpool nearly equalised when McManaman lifted the ball over Schmeichel's dive, but Owen's shot was blocked at the last by Gary Neville. Cole headed just wide from a cross by Giggs in the eighteenth minute, but, four minutes later, Schmeichel had to fling himself to his right to touch Ince's low, deflected shot just round the post. If anything, the tempo of the game was increasing now and the tackles flew in. Ince and Butt were particularly unforgiving and, amid it all, Owen seemed to be losing his cool. He was booked for a wild lunge at Schmeichel in the 32nd minute, but, after McManaman had missed a gilt-edged chance in the 36th minute, Owen redeemed himself seconds later when he stole in between the hesitating Pallister and an uncertain Schmeichel to chip the ball delicately over the goalkeeper and into the empty net. Owen was sent off five minutes before half-time, though, and the second half was a pallid imitation of the first. Liverpool's ten men seemed to relish the challenge and fashioned the best chance after the break when a sublime flick from Murphy in the sixtieth minute freed Leonhardsen. The Norwegian ran on and his low shot forced a fine finger-tip save from Schmeichel. For the remainder of the match, United poured on the pressure but, with Matteo and Ince inspired, they never really looked like breaking the deadlock, save when Jones had to clear Cole's late header off the line. Now Ferguson and his team will have to sit and watch as Arsenal take the stage again. MANCHESTER UNITED (4:4:2): P Schmeichel - G Neville, R Johnsen (sub: D May, 43min), G Pallister, D Irwin - D Beckham, N Butt, P Neville (sub: E Sheringham, 66), R Giggs (sub: B Thornley, 39) - A Cole, P Scholes. LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): B Friedel - R Jones, D Matteo, P Babb, S Harkness - S McManaman, P Ince, J Redknapp, O Leonhardsen - D Murphy (sub: P Berger, 73), M Owen. Referee: G Poll. The race for the Premiership P W D L F A Pts Man Utd 34 20 7 7 64 25 67 Arsenal 30 17 9 4 49 26 60 Remaining fixtures Manchester United April 18 v Newcastle (H) April 27 v Crystal Palace (A) May 4 v Leeds (H) May 10 v Barnsley (A) Arsenal Today v Newcastle (H) April 13 v Blackburn (A) April 18 v Wimbledon (H) April 25 v Barnsley (A) April 29 v Derby (H) May 3 v Everton (H) May 6 v Liverpool (A) May 10 v Aston Villa (A) Copyright 1998 Times Newspapers Ltd. _________________________________________________________________ Soccer-United held 1-1 at home by Liverpool (Recasts with details, quotes) By Stephen Wood MANCHESTER, England, April 10 (Reuters) - Manchester United failed to overcome 10-man Liverpool on Friday, drawing 1-1 as the balance of power in the premier league tilted once more in the favour of Arsenal. Michael Owen was sent off for a second bookable offence four minutes before half-time, but his 20th goal off the season had already cancelled out Ronny Johnsen's 12th-minute strike for United and the home side couldn't force a winner. United now head the table by seven points but Arsenal have four games in hand and manager Alex Ferguson said: "We were coasting at 1-0 up and we threw it away. It was definitely two points lost and we've done Arsenal a favour. "But we were disappointing all round and it leaves Arsenal firmly in the driving seat. The only thing we can hope is for the pressure to get to them and maybe it will. "The turning point was when (Ryan) Giggs was taken off with more hamstring trouble. Giggs was already having problems when Owen equalised for Liverpool "We were thinking how to re-organise and they capitalised. But it was bad defending," Ferguson said. Giggs, who has missed several recent games, went off a minute after the goal and was replaced by Ben Thornley. Owen, 18, was booked by referee Graham Poll for a lunge on Peter Schmeichel, and then aimed a mistimed two-footed tackle on Johnsen and was given his marching orders. Johnsen was taken to hospital for x-rays. "I supposed I deserved to go. But that sort of thing is not in my nature," Owen said. "I realise I've let my teammates down and I was so glad we held on for a point." Liverpool manager Roy Evans said: "They were two dubious challenges by Michael and he probably deserved to go. There was a bit of banter going on out there and the lads feel he was wound up. "But that's part and parcel of the game. He's a lad who wants to win badly and maybe he was over enthusiastic. He's still got a lot to learn. "But I was delighted with the way we battled and we showed tremendous spirit to hold them off at the end. We also created a fair few good chances." Liverpool's inability to defend corners has cost them dear in recent meetings between the sides and it proved their downfall again after 12 minutes. David Beckham swung in a centre from United's right and Johnsen stole in between the defenders to head unchallenged past Brad Friedel from six yards. Owen dealt United what could prove to be a serious blow before his dismissal. With 36 minutes gone, Danny Murpy beat Johnsen to a flick-on and Owen outpaced the hesitant Gary Pallister before clipping the ball over Schmeichel from the edge of the area. United should have taken the lead as early as the first minute. Dominic Matteo hesitated, Ryan Giggs blocked the ball away and bore down on Friedel, but the American keeper made an excellent save at the winger's feet and Paul Scholes's follow-up was cleared off the line by Phil Babb. But, despite making the breakthrough, the home side faded and it was Liverpool who created - and wasted - the better chances. Steve McManaman was the prime suspect, first seeing a point-blank effort blocked by Gary Neville with the goal gaping, and then blasting over from 12 yards after Liverpool had sprung United's offside trap. The visitors also had a clear opportunity 14 minutes after the interval, but Oyvind Leonhardsen's burst through midfield and low shot was matched by Peter Schmeichel's desperate lunge. In the midst of United's late pressure, Scholes had two chances to win the game. With eight minutes remaining, he brought the ball down in the area, sidestepped Paul Ince and arrowed a right foot shot inches wide of the far post. Then, with two minutes left, he couldn't get in a shot from just five yards out. Ferguson confirmed: "Johnsen has got some ankle ligament damage. He was a bit lucky, to be honest, because it was a bad tackle. Owen is a terrific player and he doesn't need to do that sort of thing. "As for Liverpool saying he was wound up by our players, I can't believe that. They don't need to offer excuses like that." Arsenal could cut the lead to one point by the time United embark on their four-game run-in. The Gunners face Newcastle on Saturday and travel to Blackburn on Easter Monday. REUTERS _________________________________________________________________ Man United v Liverpool 10/04/98 5.00 Man United (1) 1 Liverpool (1) 1 FT Johnsen 12 Owen 36 Manchester United's championship challenge suffered a potentially devastating blow as 10-man Liverpool survived the first half dismissal of Michael Owen and a second half bombardment. Alex Ferguson's men, dragged back level when Owen capitalised on a Gary Pallister blunder to cancel out Ronny Johnsen's opener, looked poised for a win to put real pressure on Arsenal when Owen received his marching orders in the 40th minute. The England ace, picked out before the match by no less an expert than Pele as Glenn Hoddle's brightest talent, had demonstrated exactly that by running the legs off the United rearguard. Sheer speed had brought the 18-year-old his 20th goal of the season eight minutes before the interval, streaking between Pallister and Peter Schmeichel to score. But Owen had already been rightly cautioned by referee Graham Poll after recklessly lunging in on Schmeichel just before his goal. And three minutes later, Owen dived in late again, catching Johnsen with his studs straight onto the Norwegian's ankle, leaving the official with little alternative but to dismiss him. It was Owen's second red card of the season - his first was on England under-18 duty against Yugoslavia - but where Liverpool might have folded, they refused to buckle. Paul Ince's unwillingness to contemplate defeat on his Old Trafford return summed up the defiance of Roy Evans' side. While United had all the possession in the world, they did not make real use of it, the only real scares coming in the final two minutes. First Rob Jones denied Andy Cole with a goalline clearance after Brad Friedel made his one error of the game and then Paul Scholes dragged wide from 12 yards. But Liverpool hung on for a draw that will be as well received in North London as Merseyside. Although United increased their lead, Arsenal will reduce it to four - with three games in hand - if they beat Newcastle at Highbury tomorrow, and more importantly United's inability to beat 10 men may give the Gunners a priceless psychological edge as well. And to make things worse, Ferguson saw Ryan Giggs hobble away with what might be a recurrence of his hamstring problem and will mean an anxious wait for bulletins from the physio room. The end was an frantic as the beginning from was never going to be anything other than a torrid afternoon. Ince had stoked up the passions - if they needed to be - with his ``piece of meat'' jibes this morning, but the England midfielder, unsurprisingly jeered throughout by the home fans, might have feared his men would be sliced up inside 80 seconds. Danny Murphy played Dominic Matteo into trouble, and Giggs skipped away, bearing down on goal only for Friedel to save. The ball fell for Scholes, 15 yards out with the goal gaping, but Phil Babb somehow got back to clear. Then it was Liverpool's turn, Steve McManaman firing in an effort Schmeichel could not hold, with Owen showing the over-enthusiasm which was to prove so costly later on as he slid in and caught the keeper. Still, United, with Nicky Butt's return beefing up their middle, were the sharper, Liverpool loose and sloppy, and paying the price in the 12th minute. Failure to mark properly at United corners has been fatal for Liverpool in recent seasons, yet they have not learned, and so it proved again. Beckham, given a second invitation after his first delivery had caused all sorts of problems, floated in from the United left and Johnsen, left utterly unmarked six yards out, thumped his header past a stranded Friedel. It should have been the signal for Ferguson's side to turn it on. Instead, with Murphy - standing-in for Karlheinz Riedle as Owen's strike partner - showing his promise, Liverpool took up the gauntlet. Owen's sheer pace was the key, the youngster showing just what Pele sees in him by embarrassing Pallister and Denis Irwin after Murphy had threaded through, then squaring to McManaman eight yards out, only a poor touch and subsequent delay allowing Gary Neville to block. Giggs was clearly not happy, and while Gary Neville's snapshot after a Beckham free-kick had hit the Liverpool wall was close, the visitors were beginning to show confidence on the ball. One Ince shot from 20 yards brought a fine diving stop from Schmeichel before Owen, chasing down a short back-pass from Neville after Murphy's ball, carried on into the Dane. No complaints as Mr Poll - who had already booked Butt - showed yellow, although how Pallister escaped after bringing down McManaman was less obvious. McManaman then somehow managed to miss his second sitter of the half, ghosting in beyond the United back line from Murphy's clever ball but showing once again, for all his claims to the contrary, that he is not a natural scorer as he blasted over. Within a minute, all was forgiven as Owen demonstrated his speed off the mark. When Murphy prodded through, Pallister was the favourite, with Schmeichel the obvious option. But the defender stopped, the Dane was suddenly exposed, and Owen nipped between the pair to score. With Giggs forced off - Ben Thornley coming on - the odds seemed to be tilting towards Liverpool, yet joy turned to despair so quickly for the teenager, clearly catching Johnsen after an exchange with Schmeichel and instantly knowing his afternoon was over early. Murphy now became the lone striker, Liverpool having to defend in numbers as United - with David May on for Johnsen - poured forward either side of the break. Scholes, after a superb one-touch move around the Liverpool box, flashed one volley wide before the interval, while Cole went for glory when a simple pass to Scholes might have brought better reward. Even though they were defending, Liverpool, with pace still in McManaman and constant work by Murphy, were a threat, Schmeichel thrusting out a big right hand after Murphy's flick had released Oyvind Leonhardsen. Now though, they were being pushed further and further back, Butt and then Gary Neville drilling wide before his brother Phil was replaced by Teddy Sheringham, Ferguson aware how important three points were. Back, but not giving much away, United not taking advantage of the extra man or the tiring Liverpool limbs, Murphy making way for Patrik Berger with 15 to go, Friedel rarely tested. The American did make one brave punch off Sheringham's head, but too often for Ferguson he did not have saves to make as shots flew everywhere but the target. Right at the death Cole finally hit the target after Friedel missed Beckham's cross and then Scholes, who had shot wide after a lucky ricochet, dragged off target again in the dying seconds. Two points dropped, no question. Man United: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Johnsen (May, 43), Pallister, Beckham, Butt, Cole, Giggs (Thornley, 38), P. Neville (Sheringham, 65), Scholes. Subs not used: Van Der Gouw, Berg. Booked: Butt. Liverpool: Friedel, Jones, Matteo, Babb, Harkness, McManaman, Redknapp, Ince, Leonhardsen, Owen, Murphy (Berger, 75). Subs not used: James, Kvarme, Thomas, Carragher. Booked: Owen, Leonhardsen. Sentoff: Owen 40. Attendance: 55,171. Referee: G Poll (Tring). _____________________________________________________________________ MANCHESTER UTD v LIVERPOOL - RATINGS MANCHESTER UNITED Peter Schmeichel (7): Made a great save from Paul Ince in the first half and did not have much to do in the second. Gary Neville (7): Made a miraculous block to keep out Steve McManaman's shot. Denis Irwin (7): Steady and reliable as ever. Ronny Johnsen (7): Gave United the lead before he was forced off following Michael Owen's challenge. Gary Pallister (6): At fault for Liverpool's goal when his hesitation let in Michael Owen. David Beckham (6): The quality of his corners dipped in the second half when United needed them most. Nicky Butt (6): Did well in the first half - but faded in the second. Andy Cole (7): Troubled Liverpool once or twice with his pace. Ryan Giggs (6): Little chance to shine after picking up his injury early on. Philip Neville (6): Did a competent job in midfield before he was replaced by Sheringham. Paul Scholes (5): Wasted a couple of great chances to score for United. Substitutes: Ben Thornley (5): Lacked the pace and confidence to trouble the Liverpool defence. David May (6): Had little to do after he came on for the injured Johnsen. Teddy Sheringham (6): Made little impression on the Liverpool defence when he came on. LIVERPOOL Brad Friedel (7): Great early block on Ryan Giggs' shot and looked quite solid. Rob Jones (7): Vital goalline clearance in the dying minutes. Dominic Matteo (8): Was the pillar of Liverpool's defence in the second half. Phil Babb (7): He also rose to the challenge of keeping United at bay in the second half. Steve Harkness (7): Played his part in a terrific rearguard action by Liverpool. Steve McManaman (6): Missed a glorious chance to score for Liverpool. Jamie Redknapp (7): Ran his socks off in midfield. Paul Ince (6): Had a quiet return to Old Trafford and helped protect his defence in the second half. Oyvind Leonhardsen (6): Relatively quiet game, although he did have one chance which was saved. Michael Owen (7): Jekyll and Hyde performance from him as he scored a great goal before being stupidly sent off. Danny Murphy (7): Great performance from the midfielder before he came off. Substitutes Patrik Berger (5): Came on to give Liverpool a fresh pair of legs - but made little impact. Referee: Graham Poll (7) - Perhaps let too many bad tackles go early on, but was right to send Owen off. © PA Sporting Life |
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