Meski demikian, Ryan Giggs dkk harus bekerja keras dan memaksimalkan keunggulan jumlah pemain untuk melaju ke babak keempat. Setelah unggul di babak pertama lewat gol sundulan Cristiano Ronaldo—gol pertamanya sejak menjebol gawang Wigan Athletic, 11 Mei lalu—memanfaatkan tendangan sudut Giggs di menit ke-25 babak pertama, MU dikejutkan dengan gol balasan Adam Johnson yang dihasilkan lewat tendangan kerasnya dari luar kotak penalti di menit ke-56.
Berkah bagi MU ketika di menit ke-65 palang pintu Boro, Emanuel Pogatetz diganjar kartu merah langsung terkait aksi tekelnya yang sangat keras terhadap gelandang muda MU, Rodrigo Possebon. Saking buruknya tekel Pogatetz, Possebon yang bermain sangat cemerlang harus mendapatkan perawatan tim medis selama kurang lebih delapan menit. Kaki Possebon diduga mengalami retak. Untuk meninggalkan lapangan pertandingan pun, Possebon harus ditandu plus dibantu pernafasan lewat tabung oksigen.
Unggul jumlah pemain membuat MU semakin dominan menguasai jalannya pertandingan. Di menit ke-79, Giggs memperbesar keunggulan timnya setelah memanfaatkan kesalahan Gary O’Neil. Unggul 2-1 kian melecut semangat anak-anak MU. Di injury time, winger asal Portugal, Nani mengubah skor menjadi 3-1 menyusul kesalahan fatal yang dilakukan bek tengah Boro, David Wheater. Dalam posisi yang tertekan, back-pass Wheater terlalu lemah dan dapat diserobot Nani. Tanpa kesulitan, Nani mengecoh kiper Brad Jones dan menjebol gawang Boro. Skor 3-1 bertahan sampai pertandingan usai.
Sementara itu, dalam laga yang berlangsung di Emirates Stadium, tuan rumah Arsenal yang turun dengan para pemain mudanya tanpa kesulitan berarti menghancurkan perlawanan tim divisi Championship, Sheffield United 6-0 (3-0). Dari keenam gol tersebut, tiga di antaranya diborong striker asal Meksiko, Carlos Vela. Dua lainnya dihasilkan penyerang Denmark, Nicklas Bendtner dan sisanya dicetak bintang muda Inggris, Jack Wilshere.
Tim tangguh lainnya, Liverpool juga berhasil melaju ke babak keempat setelah dengan susah payah menundukkan tim penghuni League One, Crewe Alexandra 2-1 (1-1). The Reds unggul terlebih dahulu di menit ke-15 lewat Daniel Agger yang kemudian disamakan Michael O’Connor 10 menit kemudian. Gol penentu kemenangan skuad asuhan Rafael Benitez dicetak gelandang muda asal Brasil, Lucas Leiva di menit ke-58 babak kedua.
Pertandingan dramatis terjadi di Stadium of Light ketika Sunderland menjamu Northampton Town. The Black Cats sempat tertinggal 0-2 sampai empat menit sebelum pertandingan usai. Keputusan Roy Keane memainkan Anthony Stokes di menit ke-78 membuahkan hasil. Lewat Stokes, Sunderland mencetak dua gol balasan yang memaksa pertandingan dilanjutkan dengan babak perpanjangan waktu.
Karena tak ada gol yang tercipta dalam 30 menit tambahan, partai harus ditentukan dengan adu tendangan penalti. Sunderland unggul 4-3. Ironisnya adalah Stokes yang menjadi satu-satunya algojo The Black Cats yang gagal menaklukkan kiper Frank Fielding.
Partai serupa juga terjadi di Britannia Stadium, markasnya Stoke City yang kedatangan tamu dari divisi championship, Reading. The Potters unggul 4-3 lewat adu penalti setelah bermain imbang 2-2 (1-1) dalam waktu normal plus perpanjangan waktu. Kekalahan skuad asuhan Steve Coppell ditentukan dari kegagalan eksekutor terakhir Leroy Lita.
Sementara itu, dua tim premiership lainnya, Fulham dan West Ham United sama-sama gagal melangkah ke putaran keempat ketika menelan kekalahan di kandang lawan. The Cottagers takluk 0-1 di tangan Burnley dan The Hammers ditundukkan Watford juga dengan skor sama 0-1.
Berikut hasil lengkap 10 partai di putaran ketiga Carling Cup, Rabu (23/9).
Arsenal vs Sheffield United 6-0
Burnley vs Fulham 1-0
Leeds United vs Hartlepool 3-2
Rotherham vs Southampton 3-1
Stoke City vs Reading 2-2 (Stoke unggul 4-3 lewat adu penalti)
Sunderland vs Northampton 2-2 (Sunderland unggul 4-3 lewat adu penalti)
Swansea vs Cardiff City 1-0
Watford vs West Ham United 1-0
Liverpool vs Crewe Alexandra 2-1
Manchester United vs Middlesbrough 3-1
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
MU Lolos Dari Hadangan Boro
English exam for lesser lights
'Pass and move'
The last time United went to Denmark, in the group stage of the 2006/07 competition, they lost 1-0 to FC København with Marcus Allbäck scoring the goal. On Tuesday they may be confronting less seasoned opposition in Aalborg BK, but while the Danish champions have made a disappointing start to their domestic season, they showed their class in drawing 0-0 at Celtic FC in their Group E opener. AaB manager Bruce Rioch said of his side: "The Danish culture is that they like to play football – they like to pass and move."
European firsts
Elsewhere on Tuesday, the champions of Germany and France meet in Group F, with FC Bayern München facing Olympique Lyonnais for the fifth time, having won one, drawn one and lost two of their previous encounters. Group H, meanwhile, sees FC BATE Borisov and UEFA Cup holders FC Zenit St. Petersburg host group-stage games for the first time. Juventus will be the guests in Belarus, while Real Madrid CF make a first trip to the Petrovsky Stadium.
Chelsea journey
The maiden group-stage visitors to the CFR Stadium in Cluj-napoca on Wednesday will be Group A pacesetters Chelsea, to tackle a Romanian team still giddy from their 2-1 win at AS Roma on Matchday 1. In Group B, Anorthosis Famagusta FC also stage their first game at this level – and it promises to be a thriller. Having ousted Greek champions Olympiacos CFP to reach the group stage, they welcome Athenian giants Panathinaikos FC to Nicosia.
Barcelona head east
Wednesday also sees Group C leaders FC Barcelona travel to FC Shakhtar Donetsk for a third time, eager to secure a first away victory over the Ukrainian side, while in Group D Liverpool FC will target a third successive home win against PSV Eindhoven. The Reds may still be smarting from the fact their last success against the Dutch champions at Anfield – 1-0 in the 2006/07 quarter-finals – failed to make up for a 3-0 first-leg loss.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
United feel the heat ahead of Moscow reprise
The stakes may not be as high as when they last met on a rainy May night in Moscow, but Manchester United FC's visit to Chelsea FC on Sunday is already a fixture the English and European champions can barely afford to lose.
Chelsea impressive
Seventeen weeks and four days since United's penalty shoot-out triumph over the Londoners in the UEFA Champions League final, Sir Alex Ferguson's team will step out at Stamford Bridge knowing they must put their early-season stutters behind them. Wednesday's goalless home draw with Villarreal CF left United with just one victory in six matches in all competitions, if you discount the penalty shoot-out that provided a winning coda to their 0-0 draw with Portsmouth FC in the FA Community Shield. With this in mind, Old Trafford midfielder Darren Fletcher admits his team will face a "massive task" to regain the lost ground should they lose to a Chelsea team performing impressively under new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.
'Get back on track'
Chelsea lead the Premier League with three wins and a draw and opened their UEFA Champions League programme with a 4-0 victory over FC Girondins de Bordeaux. If the Londoners defeat United they will open a nine-point gap on their rivals – a significant lead at this early stage, despite United's game in hand. Speaking after United's frustrating goalless home draw with Villarreal CF on Wednesday, Fletcher said his team had to deliver – and fast. "It's got to happen soon or else we're going to have a massive task, we're going to be too many points behind and it's going to be really hard to lose any more games. We don't want that this early in the season because the Premier League is a tough league and we can't afford to lose too much ground. We have to get back on track against Chelsea and there is no bigger game for us to do that."
Spark missing
United, who last week suffered a first league defeat against arch-rivals Liverpool FC since 2004, have yet to find their spark this term, scoring just four goals in six games. The absence of Cristiano Ronaldo – who made his comeback as a second-half substitute against Villarreal – has been one obvious factor while new striker Dimitar Berbatov has yet to find his feet after his deadline-day arrival from Tottenham Hotspur FC and was missing on Wednesday through injury.
No panicking
Fletcher, who scored in each of United's opening two Premier League games, said it was too early to panic, pointing to his side's similarly low-scoring start to 2007/08. "We've got too much ability and talent in this squad for panicking. The same thing happened at the start of last season with lots of 1-0s but eventually the goals came so hopefully that's the same this year. We know it's a really tough match against Chelsea. They have looked good and obviously they are full of confidence but we'll go there and hopefully, having not won for a couple of games, we will rectify that. It is a massive game – they don't come much bigger than away to Chelsea but we've got big-game players and I'm sure we'll be alright."
Thursday, September 11, 2008
United set sights on fourth title
Manchester United FC begin their UEFA Champions League title defence with Wednesday's visit of Villarreal CF, as the 2008/09 season kicks off with Sir Alex Ferguson's side targeting a fourth European crown.
High ambitions
United were taken to the wire before winning a thrilling final against Chelsea FC on penalties last May, and having added Dimitar Berbatov to an already imposing armoury they again look the team to beat. Villarreal, Celtic FC and Denmark's Aalborg BK provide the initial opposition in Group E, and even in the absence of seven-time champions AC Milan – who failed to qualify – there will be no shortage of pretenders to their thrown. Since losing in Moscow, Chelsea have replaced Avram Grant with Luiz Felipe Scolari, and the former Portugal and Brazil coach has been charged with going one better than last term. Scolari's first taste of Europe's élite comes at home to FC Girondins de Bordeaux on Tuesday, with AS Roma, whose Stadio Olimpico hosts the final on 27 May, and CFR 1907 Cluj also meeting in Group A.
Newcomers
The Romanian champions are one of four competition debutants along with Anorthosis Famagusta FC, the first entrants from Cyprus, FC BATE Borisov – flying the flag for Belarus for the first time – and UEFA Cup holders FC Zenit St. Petersburg. Anorthosis's first challenge comes at Werder Bremen in Group B, a section also featuring FC Internazionale Milano and Panathinaikos FC, while BATE face a baptism of fire away to nine-time winners Real Madrid CF on Wednesday in Group H. BATE will also encounter Zenit and Juventus, the latter, like FC Bayern München, a former champion returning to the fray after a leave of absence.
Bayern back
The group-stage draw has not been kind to last season's UEFA Cup semi-finalists, Bayern, who start at FC Steaua Bucureşti on Wednesday before meeting Olympique Lyonnais and ACF Fiorentina in Group F. Club Atlético de Madrid are also back in the competition after an eleven-year exile and they launch their Group D challenge on Tuesday away to PSV Eindhoven, before tackling two more former winners, Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC.
Guardiola challenge
There are 17 nations represented, with England, Italy and Spain all providing four sides. Josep Guardiola lifted the European Champion Clubs' Cup as a player with FC Barcelona in 1992, and will attempt to emulate that feat as coach of the Catalan team who kick off against Sporting Clube de Portugal in Group C on Tuesday, when FC Shakhtar Donetsk face FC Basel 1893. Christian Gross marks ten years in charge of the Swiss champions by leading them back into the mix. In Group G on Wednesday, FC Dynamo Kyiv play Arsenal FC while FC Porto entertain Fenerbahçe SK.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Berbatov ready to rise to United challenge
Striker Dimitar Berbatov has vowed to repay the faith of Manchester United FC manager Sir Alex Ferguson after his protracted €38m transfer from Tottenham Hotspur FC was completed just before Monday's deadline. "I understand that he and the fans have great expectations of me and I will do my best to prove them right," he said.
'Dream is a reality'
International commitments will put back the 27-year-old's United debut, but speaking in Sofia ahead of Bulgaria's FIFA World Cup qualifier against Montenegro on Saturday, he said he was delighted and relieved to have finally made the move. "It was a dream come true," he said. "I am very, very happy to have become a Manchester United player. Everything is over and I'm looking forward to making my debut for the club. I had a dream of playing at the highest possible level and now this dream is a reality. I would like to thank Tottenham for giving me the chance to play in the Premiership. I will always be grateful to the club."
'The manager was great'
Berbatov also confirmed that Manchester City FC had attempted to hijack the switch at the last minute and that he had received a call expressing their interest as he was being driven by Sir Alex from Manchester airport to United's training base to tie up the deal. "I respect City's interest, but I had already made up my mind and my wish was clear – I wanted to join Manchester United. I was really impressed with Sir Alex Ferguson's attitude towards me. Everyone knows what he is like as a manager. I saw him as a person as well and he was great."
Scoring record
Berbatov started his career with PFC CSKA Sofia before signing for Bayer 04 Leverkusen midway through the 2000/01 season. Tottenham brought him to England in 2006 and were rewarded with 27 goals in 70 Premier League games. Berbatov was also on target in Tottenham's League Cup victory against Chelsea FC last term, but after joining the UEFA Champions League holders his sights are set much higher. "The aims of the club are clear – we must win every possible trophy. This is the best club in the world and the current European champions. The best players in the world are at Old Traford – the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tévez and many more. I'm looking forward to playing alongside them."
World Cup goal
Before his likely United debut against Liverpool FC – and former Spurs team-mate Robbie Keane – on 13 September, Berbatov will play for Bulgaria against Group 8 rivals Montenegro this weekend. "Our aim is to reach the World Cup finals," said Berbatov, who has scored 41 goals in 64 appearances for his country. "Our group is very tough. We have to play the world champions Italy and the Republic of Ireland, but we will do our best and be one of the teams in the finals in two years' time."
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Saha adds experience to Everton
Everton FC have signed French international striker Louis Saha from Manchester United FC for an undisclosed fee.
English experienceSaha, 30, has agreed a two-year contract with the option of a further season with the Merseyside club, subject to a medical. The FC Metz product made his name in England with Fulham FC, helping them to promotion with 27 goals in 2000/01 before an €18.5m transfer to United in January 2004. Although Saha struggled with injuries at Old Trafford, he contributed to their Premier League title wins of the last two seasons and appeared five times in their victorious 2008/09 UEFA Champions League campaign. He has scored 106 goals in 278 appearances in English football.
Busy weekA 1997 UEFA European Under-18 Championship winner, Saha has also been capped 18 times by France at senior level, hitting four goals. He was in the squad that reached the 2006 FIFA World Cup final, but was suspended for the Berlin decider against Italy. Saha joins a side matched with R. Standard de Liège in today's UEFA Cup first-round draw and his arrival continues a busy week at Goodison Park. The addition of out-of-contract Denmark right-back Lars Jacobsen preceded the capture yesterday of 26-year-old Ecuador midfielder Segundo Castillo on a season's loan from FK Crvena Zvezda.
Ronaldo recognised as Europe's finest
Sensational seasonRonaldo scored United's goal at the Luzhniki Stadium – his 42nd in all competitions in a prolific club campaign – and although he subsequently missed in the penalty shoot-out, United bounced back to become champions of Europe for the third time. It completed a sensational season for Ronaldo, who finished as the UEFA Champions League's eight-goal top scorer and also claimed the ESM Golden Shoe having struck 31 Premier League goals as United retained their title. The 23-year-old succeeds AC Milan's Kaká as the Club Footballer of the Year and is the second Portuguese international to land the prize after Deco in 2004. As he reflected upon the stars who had previously received the accolade, Ronaldo said: "It's a pleasure to be part of this magnificent group of players. To win this award is great for me and I feel very proud. The Champions League is a great level and to be one of the best players in it is great."Forward accoladeRonaldo also becomes the second United player to take home the overall award after David Beckham in 1999, while Ruud van Nistelrooy was voted Best Forward while at Old Trafford in 2003. Asked what was the secret of his success, Ronaldo replied: "Work. I think Manchester had a great season and I scored many goals. I feel very proud to be the best forward as I played as a winger – it is very good for me and gives me more ambition to become better. Thanks to all my team-mates and those that voted for me."
Chelsea cheerČech, meanwhile, beat off competition from United's Edwin van der Sar, Manuel Almunia, Manuel Neuer and Pepe Reina to lift the Best Goalkeeper gong for the second successive year and for the third time in total, having also been honoured in 2005. He was presented with his trophy by Peter Schmeichel, the winner of the inaugural prize in 1998. His abiding memory of the season was perhaps his role in the UEFA Champions League final penalty shoot-out. He said: "Of course it was difficult because it was only up to me and the five players who would shoot. But I tried to remember what I had seen from the videos I'd watched and what I'd talked about with other goalkeepers. This is what was going through my mind."Terry honouredTerry, who was handed his award by Franco Baresi, had been voted Best Defender in 2005, but was no less delighted about his latest silverware. "For me personally it's an amazing achievement," he said, adding: "To be a great defender you need a lot of attributes – to be quick, strong, good in the air and you also need plenty of great team-mates around you and I'm very lucky to have that." One of those colleagues, Lampard, became the first Chelsea player – and only the second English-based footballer after Beckham nine years ago – to take the midfield plaudits, given out by Sir Bobby Charlton. He said: "It feels very good. When you see the players that you're up against, there are some world-class players there. I've been up for the award for three years now so it's nice to finally win it."
Celtic and Villarreal in United's sight
Rome targetThe 32 teams were split into eight sections of four with last season's runners-up Chelsea FC drawn alongside AS Roma, who are hoping to reach the final in their home city, FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Romanian newcomers CFR 1907 Cluj in Group A. UEFA Cup holders FC Zenit St. Petersburg face a tough first foray into the competition after being placed in Group H with Real Madrid CF, Juventus and fellow new boys FC BATE Borisov, the first Belarussian side to qualify for the group stage.
Fixture scheduleThe group stage fixtures will be played on 16/17 September, 30 September/1 October, 21/22 October, 4/5 November, 25/26 November and 9/10 December – see the full schedule by clicking here. The group winners and runners-up will progress to the first knockout round in the spring, with the final to be staged at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on 27 May 2009. Teams finishing third in each section will have the consolation of going into the UEFA Cup Round of 32.
Sir Alex upbeat about United assignment
UEFA Champions League holders Manchester United FC were drawn with Villarreal CF, Celtic FC and Aalborg BK in Group E and manager Sir Alex Ferguson was satisfied with his lot. Celtic were up against United at this stage two years ago and defender Gary Caldwell told uefa.com he hoped it was a good omen. Villarreal's Robert Pirès said United were overwhelming favourites but AaB goalkeeper Karim Zaza was thrilled by the prospect of facing the champions.
Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United managerWe've had Villarreal and Celtic before, but Aalborg is a new one. The bonus for us is there's not much travelling to do. We're satisfied with the group and we hope to get the ten points to see us qualify. It's always nice to go to my home city and being drawn against Celtic adds a bit of spice to the group.
Robert Pirès, Villarreal midfielderThe rest of us will be fighting it out to finish second behind United and it would be very dangerous to assume we're favourites to do that. If we start thinking that way then we'll be out of the tournament. We must respect every team in our group – only by doing that will we have a chance of going through. First place already has an owner and we must scrap it out for what's left. Maybe people are thinking that Villarreal are favourites but we can't think that way. We have to be careful.
Gary Caldwell, Celtic defenderIt's another challenge for us having qualified for the knockout stage for the last two seasons and, with the draw we've been given, I think we can qualify again. We played United two seasons ago and lost the first game at Old Trafford before winning famously at home and going through. We know them well and we look forward to those games. We know how difficult Villarreal will be having played Barcelona last season. Aalborg are a bit of an unknown quantity but any team that qualifies for the group stage has to be respected.Karim Zaza, AaB goalkeeperIn drawing Manchester United, we have got one of the really great clubs, a team I have always dreamt of playing against. Villarreal are a technically superb team, while Celtic must be expected to try and get through with their physical skills. It is kind of a mixed draw, but they are all strong sides, of course.
United get Berbatov at last
Manchester United FC finally brought a close to their summer-long pursuit of Dimitar Berbatov when the Bulgaria forward completed his move to Old Trafford shortly before the transfer window shut on Monday night.
Four-year contractBerbatov has signed a four-year contract with the Premier League and European champions, with United paying an undisclosed fee – thought to be around €38m – for a player who joined Tottenham in 2006 from Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Berbatov struck 27 goals in 70 league appearances for Tottenham during the last two seasons but had appeared only once for the north London club this term amid speculation about his imminent departure from White Hart Lane. As part of the deal, 20-year-old United striker Fraizer Campbell will spend the rest of the campaign with Spurs.
Happy endingOn a day of intrigue, there were strong media reports that Tottenham had accepted a bid from United's neighbours Manchester City FC for the forward but it is his desired destination, Old Trafford, that Berbatov will now call home after Sir Alex Ferguson made his first, and only, significant signing of the summer. "Joining Manchester United is a dream come true for me," the Sofia-born player said. "I look forward to playing my part in helping this club win more honours in the years to come." Leader of the lineWith Louis Saha leaving for Everton FC, Berbatov will provide a welcome addition to the striking department for Sir Alex and, as a natural leader of the line, the 27-year-old should complement perfectly the attacking qualities of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tévez and Cristiano Ronaldo. His new manager said: "This is a key signing. His style and ability will give the team a different dimension and I'm sure he will be a popular player with the fans. Dimitar is one of the best and most exciting strikers in world football."
Scoring recordBerbatov started his career with PFC CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria's top flight before switching to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, where he achieved an impressive scoring rate with 69 goals in 154 Bundesliga outings. A substitute for the losing Leverkusen team in the 2002 UEFA Champions League final, he has also found the net 41 times in 64 appearances for his country.
