| By Sam Fox,
on 24-01-2009 18:54
|
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 After going a goal down within 5 minutes it looked like United were going to have to do it the hard way although it turned out once they got the lead Spurs were happy to let United pass it around until the final whistle. The equaliser was slightly fortuitious through a deflected Scholes shot but no such complaints could be levelled at the next goal marvelous first time pass by Carrick culminated in Berbatov slotting home the winning goal against his old side.
Manchester United remain on track for an
unprecedented quadruple after a 2-1 win over Tottenham at Old Trafford
to reach the last 16 of the FA Cup.
Paul Scholes and former Spurs favourite Dimitar Berbatov struck
within a minute of each other to overturn Roman Pavlyuchenko's early
opener for the Londoners.
Berbatov will be particularly pleased with his goal given the
brilliance of what turned out to be the matchwinner, although for
Tottenham the true test of the week will come against Stoke on Tuesday
while Sir Alex Ferguson's team tackle West Brom with Fabio and Danny
Welbeck new doubts.
As Burnley had overturned a three-goal deficit to come within a
couple of minutes of reaching the Carling Cup final at Tottenham's
expense on Wednesday, it was hardly a surprise United should find acres
of space in which to exhibit their skills.
Youngsters Fabio, on his debut, and Welbeck both impressed, while
Carlos Tevez buzzed about in his usual enthusiastic style and Berbatov,
so hated by the visiting fans, seemed to have all the time in the
world, when as Tottenham know only too well, he needs very little.
Still, when Nemanja Vidic got himself in a muddle and allowed
Pavlyuchenko to give him the slip and turn home a deft header, United
must have been slightly concerned.
The trouble for Redknapp was his side still had 85 minutes to hold out.
Having survived a quarter-final pummelling to emerge victorious with
eventual tournament winners Portsmouth on the same ground last term, he
knew it could be done. But his present team are a pale shadow of the
side he left on the south coast.
As the chances piled up, it was beyond imagination that Tottenham
could survive. How cruel though that one of their old boys should wreak
the havoc.
Michal Carrick's move north from White Hart Lane created none of the
animosity Berbatov's did. In the same quiet way, Carrick has gone on to
become one of the most influential members of Ferguson's squad.
When he spotted Scholes lurking with menace on the edge of the box,
he coolly rolled a corner into the veteran's path. The shot was pretty
fierce and once it had flicked off Tom Huddlestone, Ben Alnwick did not
have a hope of keeping it out.
A minute later Carrick floated a pass over the Spurs defence.
Berbatov's first-time control was awesome. His second touch was a
precise shot into the bottom corner that again left Alnwick flailing.
In the blink of an eye, or two Carrick passes, the tie had been
transformed. Not though United's injury woes as Fabio collapsed in
agony in the early moments of the second period after he had landed
awkwardly following an aerial duel with Spurs substitute Giovani dos
Santos.
The young Brazilian hobbled off, almost certainly making it an entire team Ferguson will be missing at West Brom on Tuesday.
Fabio's replacement, Richard Eckersley, is a virtual mini-Scholes with his ginger hair. They were both born in Salford too.
United's next substitution heralded the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo,
who headed straight for the dressing room after wishing Zoran Tosic the
best of luck on his debut.
At the same time, Redknapp made the decision to replace David
Bentley, a player who at least possessed the confidence to shoot from
distance, with Jermain Defoe.
Welbeck joined United's walking wounded late on and a late penalty shout was the best Spurs could muster.
Teams:
Man Utd Foster, O'Shea, Neville, Vidic,Fabio Da Silva
(Eckersley 53), Welbeck (Fletcher 86), Carrick,Scholes, Ronaldo (Tosic
72), Berbatov, Tevez.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Giggs, Possebon, Chester.
Booked: Vidic, Tevez.
Goals: Scholes 35, Berbatov 36.
Tottenham Alnwick, Gunter, Corluka, Dawson,
Assou-Ekotto,Bentley (Defoe 72), Huddlestone, Zokora, Bale (Taarabt
67),Modric (Giovani 46), Pavlyuchenko.
Subs Not Used: Gomes, Gilberto, Rocha, Dervite.
Goals: Pavlyuchenko 5.
Att: 75,014
Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
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Last update : 24-01-2009 18:54
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