Man Utd 2 Slavia Prague 2

By David Anderson, PA Sport

Karol Poborsky enhanced his chances of a regular first team place when
he scored after 34 seconds against his former club at Old Trafford.
Pavel Horvath levelled for Slavia from the penalty spot and United
youngster Terry Cooke thought he had scored the winner on his 21st
birthday, but Sladan Asanin equalised with a spectacular shot.

United boss Alex Ferguson believes the coming season will be crucial to
Poborsky's Old Trafford career and his goal was the perfect riposte.
Ryan Giggs broke down the left and the 25-year-old Czech slotted home
from his angled pass.

Slavia came close to an equaliser after five minutes when Raimond van
der Gouw touched Lubos Kozel's 20-yard drive away for a corner.

United, playing in their blue away strip, nearly had a second six
minutes later.  Former QPR goalkeeper Jan Stejskal parried Jordi
Cruyff's header from Giggs' corner and from the rebound Edward Lasota
cleared Gary Pallister's effort off the line. United's Chilean trialist
Dante Poli then sliced two clearances - one of which nearly went into
his own net - before he made a fine saving tackle on Karol Vacha.

And van der Gouw came to United's rescue again in the 31st minute when
he blocked Robert Wagner's shot after the striker had out-paced
Pallister. Vacha was presented with a free header from close range five
minutes from the interval but he failed to connect properly and Van der
Gouw gathered the ball.

At half-time, United brought on Ronny Johnsen, Cooke, Ben Thornley and
John Curtis for Phil Neville, Pallister, Andy Cole and Giggs and within
three minutes Johnsen had given away a penalty for handball. Horvath
duly converted to level for the Czech Cup holders.  Dutch keeper Van der
Gouw was enjoying a fine night and he continued to remind Ferguson what
he was capable of when he pushed Asanin's fiercely struck 67th-minute
volley from the edge of the area over the bar.  United lost their way in
the second half and after 70 minutes Philip Mulryne replaced David
Beckham.

Cruyff brought the 22,075 crowd to life again when he burst through six
minutes later, but his shot hit the side of the crossbar and post.
In the 80th minute, United retook the lead when Cruyff pulled the ball
back for Cooke to score.  But six minutes from time Asanin netted a
fantastic equaliser when he unleashed a 25-yard left-foot effort which
flew into the top corner to leave honours even.


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

Any comments are welcomed.

*** Acknowledgement : The report was taken from Reuters/Electronic Telegraph/FA-Carling Net ***