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.

EPL [ 1]: Manchester United 0 - 0 Reading

Barclays Premier League
Old Trafford, Sun 12 August

MANCHESTER UNITED 0 READING 0



United were held to a goalless draw by Reading in a frustrating season-opener at Old Trafford, and also lost Wayne Rooney with a fractured foot.

The Royals, who survived the dismissal of substitute Dave Kitson, were indebted to a superb performance from goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, who repelled everything the Reds threw at him.

Countless chances came and went begging as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side began their defence of the Premier League title with a teeth-grinding slog against the pragmatic visitors.

Frustration at the Reds' inability to break down Steve Coppell's side was heightened by the loss of Rooney, who was replaced at half-time by new signing Nani.

Sir Alex opted not to pitch any of his new signings straight into action against the Royals, with the Portuguese winger providing the only new face in the entire 16-man squad.

That meant no Anderson, Hargreaves or Tevez for a packed Old Trafford, as a very familiar United side kicked off the defence of their title against Steve Coppell’s side.

The ongoing absence of Gary Neville saw Wes Brown continue at right-back, while Mikael Silvestre’s inclusion on the opposite flank saw compatriot Patrice Evra pushed upfield in the winger’s role he occupied frequently in pre-season.

Reading deployed left-back Nicky Shorey to man-mark Cristiano Ronaldo, and the England international stuck to the Portuguese winger like a limpet for much of the match.

United’s first half-chance came after nine minutes of posturing between the two sides. Rooney raced onto Carrick’s long pass, but was thwarted by Hahnemann in his attempts to round the goalkeeper.

Carrick then fizzed a volley over the bar a minute later, and was involved again after 15 minutes as

he cleverly released Wes Brown inside the area, only for Stephen Hunt to snuff out the danger.

The Irishman was helpless 10 minutes later as he was left completely befuddled by Ronaldo’s trickery. The winger then delivered a perfect deep cross, which Ryan Giggs slammed against Hahnemann’s near post on the volley.

Ronaldo was again involved shortly afterwards, sending another superb cross into the box – this time from the left wing – but Rooney’s header sailed narrowly over the Reading goal.

The Royals' defensive doggedness was unwavering all match. United’s attacking verve, while never at its free-flowing peak, was evident throughout the first half, but Steve Coppell’s side – in particular Michael Duberry – were superbly resolute.

Rooney did manage to escape the attentions of the former Leeds defender in the 35th minute, but could only guide Carrick’s superb cross just over the bar.

Even then, Duberry was in such close pursuit of the striker that he caught him with a desperate lunge in trying to cut out the shot. Rooney raised fears by immediately adopting a heavy limp and requiring treatment from Rob Swire, but he rejoined the fray shortly afterwards – much to the relief of the majority of those watching.

Such relief was short-lived, however, as Rooney was substituted at half-time with what transpired to be a hairline fracture in his left foot. His misfortune paved the way for Nani to make his competitive Reds debut, and the new boy was soon involved.

The Reds’ summer signing from Sporting Lisbon took a short corner from Ronaldo and returned it quickly to his international team-mate, whose powerful low shot was gratefully clutched by Hahnemann.

Scholes then had a shot deflected wide by Duberry has United looked to make the territorial

dominance count, despite having no recognised strikers on the field.

Defender turned winger Evra should have grabbed that tangible reward, but scuffed his shot horribly wide when Giggs’ corner was deflected out to him.

It was most likely United’s lack of genuine height in attack, rather than that miss specifically, which saw the Frenchman quickly shifted to left-back, while John O’Shea entered the action as a makeshift striker.

Giggs fractionally missed the upright with a beautifully curled free-kick as United continued to threaten, but it was O’Shea who came even closer as his close-range effort was beaten away by Hahnemann.

United’s pressure was incessant, with Reading’s forays into Red territory nothing more than an occasional hazard, which Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic dealt with comfortably.

Although time was ticking away, United continued to show great patience in their build-up, with one particularly long spell of possession culminating in a superb long-range effort from Nani which fizzed past the post.

Reading’s defensive attitude meant that Kevin Doyle was largely restricted to an afternoon of chasing lost causes, and the Irish international striker was replaced by Dave Kitson with 18 minutes remaining.

One minute later, the Royals were down to 10 men as Kitson thundered into a lunging challenge on Patrice Evra and was duly sent off by referee Styles.

The decision lifted the Old Trafford crowd, and they almost had more to cheer moments later as first Hahnemann saved from Carrick, then Wes Brown’s header was blocked in an almighty goalmouth scramble.

United’s marriage to attacking almost led to a catastrophic concession 10 minutes from time as Oster and Hunt found themselves two-on-two against Ferdinand and Vidic. Fortunately for United, Hunt’s speculative long-range effort went straight to van der Sar.

As the game entered its dying embers, Hahnemann was called into action three times, saving a Ronaldo free-kick, a Scholes header and a powerful Carrick shot from 20 yards.

In the final minute of added time, Ronaldo drilled a free kick over the bar as United’s final chance came and went.

Reading, to their credit, defended heroically throughout the 90 minutes and their share of the points was undoubtedly hard-earned after a worthy slog in the baking Manchester heat.

For United, the positives were restricted to a clean sheet and a thorough workout against Steve Coppell’s well-drilled side. There’s no escaping the fact, however, that Sir Alex Ferguson will look on the result as two points dropped.

Team Line-ups
Manchester United: Van der Sar; Brown (Fletcher, 78), Vidic, Ferdinand, Silvestre (O’Shea, 57); Carrick, Scholes, Evra; Ronaldo, Rooney (Nani, 46), Giggs.
Substitutes: Kuszczak, Pique.

Reading: Hahnemann; Murty, Gunnarsson, Duberry, Shorey; Hunt (Bikey, 87), Harper, Ingimarsson, De la Cruz; Seol (Oster, 57), Doyle (Kitson, 72).
Substitutes not used: Federici, Cisse.

Attendance: 75,655

Manchester United confirm squad numbers

United have announced their squad numbers for the forthcoming 2007/08 Premier League campaign.

Among the Reds' summer signings, Owen Hargreaves will wear the No.4 shirt, with Gabriel Heinze moving to 14. Anderson will wear No.8 and Nani has been given No.17.

It has also been confirmed that Carlos Tevez, who was registered as a United player by the Premier League on Friday afternoon, will wear the No.32.

United squad numbers 2007/08

1 VAN DER SAR (GK)
2 NEVILLE
3 EVRA
4 HARGREAVES
5 FERDINAND
6 BROWN
7 RONALDO
8 ANDERSON
9 SAHA
10 ROONEY
11 GIGGS
12 FOSTER (GK)
13 J.S. PARK
14 HEINZE
15 VIDIC
16 CARRICK
17 NANI
18 SCHOLES
19 PIQUÉ
20 SOLSKJAER
21 DONG
22 O’SHEA
23 J. EVANS
24 FLETCHER
27 SILVESTRE
28 GIBSON
29 KUSZCZAK (GK)
30 MARTIN
32 TEVEZ
33 EAGLES
35 LEE
36 GRAY
37 CATHCART
38 HEATON (GK)
39 CAMPBELL