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Manchester United 2-2 Sunderland: Ferdinand Saves United's Blushes
Late goal salvages point for United
04-Oct-2009 1:45:00 AM
An injury time own goal by Anton Ferdinand saved Manchester United's blushes as they were pushed to the limit by a battling Sunderland team.
Kenwyne Jones' late goal appeared to have been enough to secure Sunderland their first win at Old Trafford since 1968, but Patrice Evra's shot was deflected in by Anton Ferdinand in injury time. Earlier Dimitar Berbatov's overhead kick had drawn United level following Darren Bent's opener.
United made seven changes from Wednesday's narrow victory over Wolfsburg as Sir Alex Ferguson rested key players, with only John O'Shea, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Wayne Rooney surviving as Danny Welbeck made only his second league start for the club on the left wing.
While Steve Bruce made two changes after Sunderland's 5-2 victory over Wolves, with United old boy Phil Bardsley coming in at right back and Anton Ferdinand at centre half for Paulo Da Silva and John Mensah respectively.
It was Sunderland who started brightest, taking the game to the home team, as they penned United in their own half and pressured them with some early set pieces. And they made their early pressure count as they stunned the Old Trafford crowd after seven minutes.
Kenwyne Jones took down a long pass, and laid the ball off to Cattermole who under little pressure rolled the ball to Darren Bent who spun past John O'Shea on the edge of the area and fired in a low shot past Foster into the bottom right-hand corner.
United appeared rattled, and were unable to keep possession for a prolonged period. Sunderland meanwhile were content to sit deep and hit on the counter-attack, seemingly at ease.
Sunderland's commitment was typified by Bardsley's thundering challenge on Welbeck, which earned him a ticking off from referee Alan Wiley.
But United began to slowly grow into the match, with Paul Scholes slowly beginning to exert his influence, though in attack they lacked cohesion-with neither Nani, Berbatov or Rooney able to fashion an opening against a stubborn Sunderland backline, and they had only a half chance for Welbeck and a cross from Vidic which flashed across goal all they had to show for their efforts.
Frustrations among the Old Trafford crowd continued to grow, as Sunderland continued to frustrate their team, and United time-and-time again surrendered possession. When a cross from Nani appeared to hit Andy Reid's arm in the box the angry response from the crowd and Sir Alex Ferguson hinted at a deep dissatisfaction not only with the decision not to award a penalty, but with their team's efforts.
As the half wore on United continued to make minimal impact, with Rooney, Berbatov and Nani all on the periphery as Sunderland's defensive doggedness, typified by Anton Ferdinand and Michael Turner at the heart of their defence, held firm.
As the half-time whistle blew, the boos rang out as Sir Alex Ferguson prepared to read the riot act to his team.
He quickly freshened things up, introducing Anderson for Scholes, and after two minutes his team were almost back into it. Anton Ferdinand attempted to shield the ball back to Gordon, only for Nani to nip in. The ball rebounded off the advancing Gordon straight to Rooney, who with the goal gaping fired in a shot, only for Turner to deflect it wide.
But three minutes later United were not to be denied, and it was worth the wait. Rooney should have scored when Nani broke down the right flank, and he could only fire at Gordon. But Sunderland's clearance went straight to O'Shea who measured his cross, and Berbatov-with his back to goal, scored with an audacious overhead kick.
Suddenly the wind was with United, their tempo vastly improved on the first half, as the Old Trafford crowd found their voice. Sir Alex Ferguson did too, incandescent with rage at Alan Wiley's refusal to award a penalty as Anderson was tumbled in the box.
But then, out of the blue, Sunderland regained the lead. Andy Reid advanced towards the penalty area unchallenged and his dinked cross was headed in by Kenwyne Jones rising above both Vidic and Foster to score.
Questions will undoubtedly be raised about Foster's role in the goal, as his weak attempt to claim the ball proved costly, and will not have gone unnoticed by Fabio Capello sitting in the stands.
To further rub salt in the wounds, Fletcher was booked for a rash lunge in the build up to the goal.
Old Trafford was stunned, but United continued to fashion opportunities to get back into the game. Welbeck turned neatly but then fired over from the edge of the box with Rooney better placed. Rooney fired wide from the edge of the penalty area, and a neat flick towards goal from Welbeck was blocked.
As Sunderland dropped deeper, United became encamped in their half, but clear-cut chances for them were at a minimum, while Sunderland nearly broke away and grabbed a third when Kenwyne Jones miskicked with the goal gaping.
Then on 84 minutes United were thrown a lifeline. Old-boy Kieran Richardson, booked after a foul on Welbeck in the first half, received a second yellow for needlessly kicking the ball away, leaving his team-mates to battle to preserve their lead with ten men.
Eventually their resistance caved. Sunderland, for once, were unable to clear their lines, and the ball broke to Evra whose shot was flying wide only for Anton Ferdinand to thrust a leg and divert it into his own net.
Once more an injury time goal had saved United, and despite some late flurries, Sunderland held firm to secure a hard-fought point, while United could reflect on their stroke of fortune.
Alex Stamp, Goal.com
Alex Stamp, Goal.com
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