I just watched a Premiership game between runaway league-leaders Manchester United playing away to Chelsea's west-london rivals Fulham. I didn't have high hopes for this game...i expected an MU crushing win...but not exactly that happened...which is a good thing...but there was no fairy tale ending...let's put it that way..and leave it that way....A win would be something i wouldn't be happy of....A draw would be reluctantly accepted....and a lost for MU would be most welcomed...indeed. Let me break it down for you...what would the after -effects be...
A Manchester United win
- Chelsea will end up 9 points behind the them leading up to the Carling Cup final against Arsenal tomrrow. And things could get worst for Chelsea if MU pulled off a victory against Liverpool at their fortress at Anfield in mid-week. That would lead to a massive 12 points lead...a big task to overhaul even for the "special one"..himself.
A Draw
- A draw would have been the most welcomed in many opinions. MU did ride their luck and the players would be exausted...so maybe a draw would be decent for them. Fulham would be pleased to take a point off the Red-Devils considering they are the pace-setters and everybody vying to beat them.
A Fulham win
- A win for the Cottagers would be ideal for any Chelsea fan. Though the Cottagers are derby rivals to the Blue boys...any Chelsea fan would be rooting for Fulham to dispatch and put the Red-Devils off their stride. It would be 6 points and Chelsea with a game in hand if it turned out to be the fairy tale ending..like lots of people wished for.
Match Report....Fulham back by their home fans at Craven Cottage would be sensing a chance to take advantage of the Red-Devils messed up Champions League outing in France. With a reportedly bust-up between Sir Alex Ferguson and club captain Gary Neville, the skipper was there for left on the bench as Wes Brown deputised his captain at Right-back. Other than that, it was a pretty much expected line-up from both sides. Ex-Fulham boys Van Der Sar and Saha were involved...the Dutchman started while his French Counterpart started on the bench.
Fulham started the brighter of the two sides..to the surprise of many probably including manager Chris Coleman. Fulham created chances and seem the side more likely to get the opening goal...and their efforts were not in vain when Simon Davis latched on to a cross from the middle and with Vidic sticking close to him ...Van Der Sar rushed out of his goal...only to fail to clear the intial ball...Ferdiand headed towards goal as Vidic lost his balance...while McBride..took the ball in his stride and took a clean cut to the cross face of goal...for the opening...hitting the bar on it's way in. (Current Score Fulham 1-0 Manchester United)
It seemed that way for the 1st half-an-hour before Manchester United actually really "turned-up". They didn't looked like a team that would be running away at the top of the league. Started to make chances....and i would hate to admit it...but teams with quality produce the goods with an attempt..they don't need 2nd chances. Wayne Rooney pulling off to the left side of the Fulham box and whip in a cross to an on-coming Ryan Giggs...who brillantly sliced the ball with his outer foot or maybe it was a stroke of luck...as the commentator said it. Oh well, only Giggsy will know what happened. Fulham would have been disappointed going into the interval tied at 1-1.
(After the 15 minute interval) Back to the game, Manchester United...started to attack on the Fulham goal...pulling off great saves from the Goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka in for the injured Antti Niemi. But later the tide turned on them...and Fulham started pounding attack after attack...only for the brillance of Van Der Sar to get them from getting ahead. However , when the Dutchman seemed helpless , the cross-bar still came to United's rescue as Radzinski happen to head what look to be an empty onto the cross-bar..and guess what?? You pay big when you don't take those sorta gifts...
Nearing the end of the game, when legs tire out and players suffer from fatigue..it's invaluable to have a speedy winger of the name Ronaldo. The portugese winger, collected the ball and charged towards the goal...with a couple of stepovers on the way...before unleashing a shot which took alittle deflection which was enough to send it to the bottom corner of the Fulham net breaking the hearts of Fulham fans and also those Anti-Manchester United supporters. 4 Minutes added on time wasnt enough for Fulham to rescue anything ....though they had a strong appeal for a penalty when Van Der Sar clobbered subsitute Heldar Helguson in the penalty box...only for the Referee to waive away the appeals. Leaving Chris Coleman fuming...
So it wasn't the fairy-tale ending like i wanted it to be. Oh well, Carling Cup's tomorrow and John Terry and Arjen Robben are reportly back in the folding for featuring in tomorrow's final. Let's hope for all the best tomorrow. *Fingers Crossed* ....
Signing Off,
Kevin
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