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Man Utd 2-1 Aston Villa | Man Utd 2-1 Aston Villa |
(about 22 hours later) | |
Substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sneaked a late winner to ensure opening goalscorer Henrik Larsson enjoyed a dream debut for Manchester United. | Substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sneaked a late winner to ensure opening goalscorer Henrik Larsson enjoyed a dream debut for Manchester United. |
Larsson capped a fine display when he volleyed in on 55 minutes to score in his first FA Cup tie. | Larsson capped a fine display when he volleyed in on 55 minutes to score in his first FA Cup tie. |
United almost doubled their lead when Ryan Giggs' free-kick hit the bar before substitute Milan Baros equalised when he slid a low shot in the corner. | United almost doubled their lead when Ryan Giggs' free-kick hit the bar before substitute Milan Baros equalised when he slid a low shot in the corner. |
Solskjaer had the final say when a tame shot embarrassed keeper Gabor Kiraly. | Solskjaer had the final say when a tame shot embarrassed keeper Gabor Kiraly. |
Interview: Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill Interview: Man Utd striker Henrik Larsson | |
It was tough on Villa, who battled bravely and soaked up intense United pressure. | It was tough on Villa, who battled bravely and soaked up intense United pressure. |
After a lethargic opening, United began to up their tempo and the movement of Larsson and Wayne Rooney started to cause Villa problems. | After a lethargic opening, United began to up their tempo and the movement of Larsson and Wayne Rooney started to cause Villa problems. |
A sublime one-two led to Larsson flicking a return volley into Rooney's path but the England forward shot tamely at the keeper. | A sublime one-two led to Larsson flicking a return volley into Rooney's path but the England forward shot tamely at the keeper. |
However, that effort proved to be one of Rooney's best in a first half where his touch often deserted him in the box and his shots from distance were slashed high and wide. | However, that effort proved to be one of Rooney's best in a first half where his touch often deserted him in the box and his shots from distance were slashed high and wide. |
Yet when Rooney did produce the kind of effort expected of him, swivelling and stabbing a shot at the near post after sparkling wing work from Cristiano Ronaldo, Kiraly made a smart save. | Yet when Rooney did produce the kind of effort expected of him, swivelling and stabbing a shot at the near post after sparkling wing work from Cristiano Ronaldo, Kiraly made a smart save. |
And there was better to come from Kiraly, who superbly diverted a low shot from Larsson after the Swede had been played through by Michael Carrick. | And there was better to come from Kiraly, who superbly diverted a low shot from Larsson after the Swede had been played through by Michael Carrick. |
Moments before, Larsson had been the provider when he unselfishly squared the ball to Rooney, who wasted the chance by hesitating and allowing Wilfred Bouma to make a challenge. | Moments before, Larsson had been the provider when he unselfishly squared the ball to Rooney, who wasted the chance by hesitating and allowing Wilfred Bouma to make a challenge. |
606 DEBATE: Give your thoughts on the match | 606 DEBATE: Give your thoughts on the match |
It typified stubborn Villa defending, although United's profligate finishing contributed to the deadlock remaining intact. | It typified stubborn Villa defending, although United's profligate finishing contributed to the deadlock remaining intact. |
While the visitors soaked up the pressure, they carried very little attacking threat of their own - a Gareth Barry free-kick that curled over the bar was their only shot of note in the opening half. | While the visitors soaked up the pressure, they carried very little attacking threat of their own - a Gareth Barry free-kick that curled over the bar was their only shot of note in the opening half. |
That clearly had not been lost on manager Martin O'Neill, who waited only seven minutes after the break before replacing striker Juan Pablo Angel with Baros. | That clearly had not been lost on manager Martin O'Neill, who waited only seven minutes after the break before replacing striker Juan Pablo Angel with Baros. |
However, two minutes later Larsson - who used to play under O'Neill at Celtic - made the breakthrough. | However, two minutes later Larsson - who used to play under O'Neill at Celtic - made the breakthrough. |
After collecting Rooney's pass on the edge of the area, Larsson flipped up the ball with one touch and with his second, lashed a volley into the top corner. | After collecting Rooney's pass on the edge of the area, Larsson flipped up the ball with one touch and with his second, lashed a volley into the top corner. |
The goal should have led to United assuming full control and had Giggs' free-kick hit the bar and gone in rather than over, the contest would have been finished. | The goal should have led to United assuming full control and had Giggs' free-kick hit the bar and gone in rather than over, the contest would have been finished. |
But somehow, Villa dragged themselves back in contention and for the first time in the match began to create chances. | But somehow, Villa dragged themselves back in contention and for the first time in the match began to create chances. |
Gary Cahill almost levelled the score when he shaved the post with a header after connecting with Gavin McCann's corner. | Gary Cahill almost levelled the score when he shaved the post with a header after connecting with Gavin McCann's corner. |
And shortly afterwards, Barry's precise pass found Isaiah Osbourne but his effort was well saved by Tomasz Kuszczak. | And shortly afterwards, Barry's precise pass found Isaiah Osbourne but his effort was well saved by Tomasz Kuszczak. |
Villa may have felt they had wasted their best chance but then Cahill's shot was trapped by Baros, who coolly slid the ball into the bottom left corner. | Villa may have felt they had wasted their best chance but then Cahill's shot was trapped by Baros, who coolly slid the ball into the bottom left corner. |
However, the drama was not over as Solskjaer prevented the replay Villa arguably deserved when he shot from the right and the ball squirmed underneath the unfortunate Kiraly. | However, the drama was not over as Solskjaer prevented the replay Villa arguably deserved when he shot from the right and the ball squirmed underneath the unfortunate Kiraly. |
Man Utd: Kuszczak, Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick (O'Shea 89), Giggs, Park (Fletcher 72), Rooney, Larsson (Solskjaer 78).Subs Not Used: Van der Sar, Heinze. | Man Utd: Kuszczak, Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick (O'Shea 89), Giggs, Park (Fletcher 72), Rooney, Larsson (Solskjaer 78).Subs Not Used: Van der Sar, Heinze. |
Goals: Larsson 55, Solskjaer 90. | Goals: Larsson 55, Solskjaer 90. |
Aston Villa: Kiraly, Hughes, Ridgewell, Cahill, Bouma, McCann, Osbourne, Petrov (Samuel 66), Barry, Angel (Baros 53), Agbonlahor.Subs Not Used: Davis, Whittingham, Olejnik. | Aston Villa: Kiraly, Hughes, Ridgewell, Cahill, Bouma, McCann, Osbourne, Petrov (Samuel 66), Barry, Angel (Baros 53), Agbonlahor.Subs Not Used: Davis, Whittingham, Olejnik. |
Booked: Cahill. | Booked: Cahill. |
Goals: Baros 74. | Goals: Baros 74. |
Att: 74,924 | Att: 74,924 |
Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire). | Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire). |
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