Wednesday, October 18, 2006

United 3-0 Copenhagen


Manchester United made it three out of three as they swept to a 3-0 Champions League victory over FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford.The Red Devils are firmly in control of Group F after taking nine points from three games - but keeper Jesper Christiansen had performed heroics to keep them at bay until the 39th minute.

The visiting stopper pulled off stunning first-half saves to twice deny Louis Saha following glorious set-up play by Wayne Rooney, who himself sidefooted wide with the goal at his mercy, and keep out Michael Carrick's 20-yard piledriver on 35 minutes.

His heroics meant the Danes were a threat on the break, and Edwin van der Sar had to be on his toes to block Marcus Allback's excellent snap-shot and Michael Silberbauer's rising 25-yard drive. But he was finally beaten in style six minutes before the break, when Patrice Evra and Saha combined to set up Scholes, who drilled a 20-yard strike into the back of the net.

Christiansen clawed away Cristiano Ronaldo's header on 45 to keep the score at 1-0 - but after Rooney was denied a tap-in on the goalline by a headed clearance, United's lead was doubled a minute after the interval when John O'Shea clipped the Portuguese winger's corner into the net.

The second goal allowed the hosts to slip into cruise control - but Scholes was denied a penalty before Sir Alex Ferguson sent on Alan Smith and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for Saha and Carrick. The subs combined well on 76 minutes to create a clear chance, but Smith sidefooted Solskjaer's cross wide of the target from six yards.

Kieran Richardson also came off the bench - and he put the icing on the cake for United when his fierce left-footed 20-yard shot was fumbled by the previously impressive Christiansen to make it 3-0.

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