United dominate Gunners but settle for slender lead
O'Shea was the unlikely goalscorer for United at Old Trafford
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Wednesday, 29, Apr 2009 10:48
Manchester United dominated Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at Old Trafford but were forced to settle for a 1-0 victory.
John O'Shea scored the winner for the home side from Michael Carrick's cross but Alex Ferguson will be disappointed his team could not extend their advantage.
It was a frustrating night for the holders as they were denied by some desperate Arsenal defending, with the Gunners offering little threat themselves.
Manuel Almunia was called into action almost immediately as he had to back-pedal quickly to save Wayne Rooney's dipping header from going in at the far post.
United continued to force the pace and had Arsenal pinned in their own half for much of the first 20 minutes.
Carlos Tevez almost put his side in front but it was Almunia to the rescue for Arsenal as he spread himself to deny the Argentinean from six yards out following O'Shea's accurate cross.
However, from the resulting corner Carrick got to the byline and clipped the ball to the far post where the Irishman rifled home from close range.
Rooney then tried his luck from more than 40 yards out and only narrowly missed the target as United grew in confidence.
Cesc Fabregas had started the game playing off Emmanuel Adebayor but the Gunners' plan had clearly backfired and it was not until 30 minutes into the match that the Spaniard dropped back into the midfield.
That positional change seemed to help them get back into the game more and produced their first shooting opportunity, with Adebayor laying the ball off on the edge of the box for Fabregas – but his shot went tamely to Edwin van der Sar.
Cristiano Ronaldo almost made it 2-0 just before the break but was twice denied by Almunia.
First the Spaniard moved well across his goal to stop Ronaldo's header and soon after that he produced another stop to keep the deficit to one goal at half-time.
The Gunners re-grouped at the break and performed much better in the second period, restricting United to long range chances and forcing them to work harder for space in midfield.
Adebayor created a chance for himself after 50 minutes but his shot from the edge of the box went just over the bar.
Ronaldo then lit up Old Trafford with a mazy run that ended with him hitting the crossbar. The winger collected the ball 45 yards out and drifted in-field, he let fly from 30 yards and Almunia was a mere spectator as the ball crashed off the woodwork to safety.
Carrick was denied a late second goal when his shot from the edge of the box went inches wide of the upright.
Former United defender Mikael Silvestre had to be alert to clear the ball off his own goal line with substitute Dimitar Berbatov lurking at the far post waiting to tap in Ryan Giggs' cross.
United will be pleased not to have conceded an away goal but will be equally disappointed that they do not hold a bigger lead heading into the second leg at the Emirates Stadium next Tuesday.