EPL [ 2 ] : Portsmouth 1 - 1 Manchester United

Barclays Premier League
Fratton Park, Wed 15 August

PORTSMOUTH 1
Benjani (53)

MANCHESTER UNITED 1
Scholes (15)



A second frustrating draw in four days; this 1-1 result against Portsmouth followed a similar script to Sunday’s 0-0 stalemate with Reading, as United dominated possession and created a glut of chances but couldn't make them count.

It’s by no means panic stations, but two draws and four points dropped is not the way United would have liked to begin the title defence. Worst of all, both teams ended the match with ten men, and Cristiano Ronaldo's late red card means he will miss the next three matches against Manchester City, Tottenham and Sunderland.

If recent Premier League campaigns have proved anything it is that a good start is imperative to winning the title. And after Sunday’s draw with Steve Coppell’s men, victory at Fratton Park would hold even greater importance.

However, while United have had few problems picking up victories in each of the last four matches against Pompey at Old Trafford, the team’s record on the south coast made for uncomfortable pre-match reading. On home turf, Portsmouth have beaten United three times in the last four years – a tally Sir Alex Ferguson’s side could ill-afford to add to.

The loss of Wayne Rooney to a fractured metatarsal at the weekend blunted United’s attacking threat, but there was a real sense of anticipation among Reds fans at Fratton Park when, as expected, Carlos Tevez was named in the starting line-up.

And, in the first ten minutes, the Argentine forward buzzed with enthusiasm and energy, eager to impress, although he was largely isolated on his own up front in the opening stages. But, after 15 minutes it was his excellent close control and acute awareness that brought about the opening goal.

Nani, making his first Premier League start, did well on the left flank and his cross found Tevez just inside the penalty area. The 23-year-old front man brought the ball down, turned and had the vision to pick out Scholes on the edge of the box, and he lashed his shot past David James. The strike takes Scholes to 96 league goals and past Ruud van Nistelrooy to become United’s highest-scoring player in the Premier League.

The Reds continued to press forward, and had Nani been more selfish after 20 minutes he might have had a clear shot on goal after an intricate passing move created space on the edge of the area. But he attempted to play in Tevez instead, and it was intercepted by Sylvain Distin.

On 34 minutes Ronaldo made his first impression on the match with a swerving left-foot shot from the edge of the area that James couldn’t keep hold of. Tevez attempted to round the keeper from the rebound, but James got his foot to the ball and the danger was cleared.

After the break, the Reds picked up pretty much where they’d left off. And Nani was the first to engineer an opening. A quick turn of pace took him away from Noe Pamarot, but James did well to save the Portuguese winger’s low left-footed shot.

Scholes then orchestrated United’s next two chances. First, his ball over the top gave Tevez something to chase, but James again was quick to react and came off his line to clear the danger. Then a flicked Scholes pass found Tevez inside the box. It took excellent close control to set up a shot in limited space, but his volley went narrowly over.

United were edging closer, and with chances in abundance and the major share of possession, a second Reds goal looked a matter of when rather than if. Portsmouth appeared out of ideas and out of the contest. But, on 53 minutes, the home side struck a hammer blow against the run of play. Matthew Taylor crossed on a Pompey break and Benjani powered his header past Edwin van der Sar, who had barely had a save to make all evening.

It put a spring in Portsmouth's step. And Benjani, in particular, was posing the Reds' defence problems. He ran at Wes Brown down the left flank and, cutting inside, sent a low shot that van der Sar could only parry. It fell to David Nugent, who, with the goal at his mercy, fired high over the bar.

Tense times, but United didn't give in. Despite persistent fouling, Ronaldo came into the match a bit more. His curling cross on 67 minutes found Giggs eight yards out, but the Welshman’s volley was saved by James. Then, following the resulting corner, Giggs’ low centre required the slightest of touches from Nemanja Vidic or Scholes to put the Reds in front, but neither could make the crucial contact. Moments later, Tevez put another shot wide after more good work from Ronaldo.

The longer the game went on and the more chances that went begging, the more it seemed this wasn’t going to be United’s night. Sir Alex’s men were given hope with seven minutes remaining when Sulley Muntari was sent off for a second bookable offence for a foul on Michael Carrick, but that was almost immediately negated when Ronaldo was shown a straight red card for his involvement in a scuffle in the box before a United corner.

It was a dramatic end to the match, but not the finale United hoped for. With the Manchester derby next up, it isn’t just local pride at stake at the City of Manchester stadium on Sunday.

Team Line-ups

Portsmouth: James; Pamarot (Hughes, 64), Cranie (Traore, 46), Distin, Hreidarrson; Utaka, Davis, Mendes (Taylor, 46), Muntari (sent off, 83); Nugent, Benjani.
Subs not used: Ashdown, Kanu.

United: Van der Sar; Brown (Eagles, 88), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Nani; Giggs (O’Shea, 82), Tevez.
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Fletcher, Pique.