United sweep aside Danes
Paul Scholes back to his best for United
Also In The News
|
Shoaib Akhtar insists he has done nothing wrong despite testing positive in a routine doping test. |  |
Tuesday, 17, Oct 2006 11:15
In a consummate European performance Manchester United strolled to a 3-0 win over FC Copenhagen to pave the way to the next round of the Champions League.
Sir Alex Ferguson was forced into a rushed rearrangement of his side just before kick-off as Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand failed to make it through the pre-match warm-up through illness and a neck injury respectively.
It meant that the evening began with the unusual sight of Wayne Rooney leading out the Red Devils, but the rejig did not seem to adversely affect the team.
Inside a minute Louis Saha had wasted a golden opportunity as he fired straight at opposing goalkeeper Jesper Christiansen after being played in by his new skipper.
Christiansen was by far the busier of the two stoppers, being called into action to deny Michael Carrick, Cristiano Ronaldo and Saha again early on.
But he was finally beaten just six minutes short of half-time when Paul Scholes lashed a Saha lay-off into the bottom corner to open the floodgates.
Just as in the first period, a gilt-edged chance presented itself to the hosts in the opening seconds, only this time it was gratefully accepted.
John O'Shea bundled home a Ronaldo corner that made it through a congested penalty area to the far post to double the lead.
Scholes had a very strong penalty appeal turned down by referee Jan Wegereef on the hour mark when the otherwise-impressive Christiansen rashly lunged in as he raced into the area.
But Scholes' replacement, Kieran Richardson avenged any injustice when his long-range attempt inexplicably deceived the keeper seven minutes from time and secured United top spot.