Sports / Soccer
Berbatov double rescues three points for Manchester United
26 Jan 2011 at 01:20hrs | Views
Blackpool 2-3 Manchester United
Manchester United managed an incredible comeback to continue their unbeaten record in the league as they won 3-2 against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road. Craig Cathcart and DJ Campbell had put the Seasiders into a well deserved lead. But Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez scored two goals in quick succession to fire the Red Devils back on level terms and then Berbatov scored again to put United five points clear at the top in an scintillating 16 minute period for the visitors.
This game was originally due to be played back in December but was postponed due to a freezing Bloomfield Road pitch. Holloway might have been relieved as United had just thrashed Blackburn Rovers 7-0. However the visitors went into Tuesday night's fixture still undefeated all season and hammered Birmingham City 5-0 at the weekend so there would be no blessing in disguise for the Tangerine boss.
Newly promoted Blackpool can be proud of what they have achieved so far in the Premier League, but a blip in form has seen Ian Holloway's men slide down the table after four defeats in their last five games.
Perhaps a ray of hope for the home side was that the Red Devils have only won two on the road all season drawing the other eight.
And Man United made four changes to the squad that played on Saturday. Rafael returned to the squad after suspension and also introduced to the fray was Chris Smalling, Paul Scholes and Darren Gibson although the two latter struggled to make much of an impact in the first half and were overshadowed by their opposite counterparts.
Influential Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam put in a transfer request earlier this week but Ian Holloway remained confident that the Scot would still put the kind of performances which have been pushing his value up to £10 million.
And the Scot definitely did not disappoint, he was everywhere in the first half and it was he who put in a fantastic corner into the area where defender Craig Cathcart attacked the ball and bulleted a header past Van der Sar after 15 minutes which was needed to spring the game into action.
Man United were complaining that Patrice Evra- who had been caught in the face- was not allowed time to adopt his defensive position after receiving some treatment off the pitch but the goal stood- arguably it would not have made a difference.
The visitors looked to raise the tempo of the match as they searched for a way back into the game. But it was nearly the Seasiders that doubled their lead on 25 minutes. Adam again delivering a teasing ball with no Blackpool strikers attacking the cross, Vidic almost put the ball past his own keeper.
A weak clearance from the United defence almost let Elliot Grondin in but he was leaning back and from twelve yards out he blazed his shot harmlessly over Van der Sar's goals.
A Nani cross on 37 minutes summed up United's first half and frustration as he had players waiting in the box to pounce on the opportunity if it presented itself but he overshot his cross much to the delight of the Blackpool fans.
David Vaughan was next to test Van der Sar his drilled a low shot from 20 yards which the Dutchman had to push out for a corner. But the home side incredibly went 2-0 up from the resulting corner on 44 minutes. Charlie Adam delivered another dangerous cross in, the ball was flicked on at the front post and there was DJ Campbell to knock the ball into net at the back post.
Paul Scholes went into the book just before the half time whistle for a needless trip on the illustrious Vaughan demonstrating the sort of game United were having. Blackpool led 2-0 at the interval and it was fully deserved.
United have been known for their comebacks in the second half but it was Blackpool that nearly made it three inside 20 seconds of the restart. Gary Taylor-Fletcher got to the by line cut the ball back but Rafael was there to stop a certain goal.
Nani had a great opportunity for the away side moments later but he took a swipe at thin air and the opportunity was gone.
Blackpool fans were shouting for a penalty a few minutes later as Luke Varney took on Rafael after a delightful pass from Adam, the Brazilian bundled him over in the box although the referee adjudged that the Tangerine striker went down a little too easy.
The hour mark came and the score remained the same with United really struggling to make any sort of impact in the match. Adam received a caution for a tackle from behind on Nani but that was not to tarnish the midfielder's performance.
Scholes hit a stinging drive on 64 minutes which Kingson had to be aware of and force it out for a corner but it was better play by the away side.
Javier Hernandez replaced an ineffective Wayne Rooney to try and rectify the Red Devils position in the match on 67 minutes and he turned the game on its head.
Scholes was doing all he could to try and get his side back in the match. His half volley looked to be heading towards goal but hit Jean Baptiste and went out for a corner.
Hernandez should have scored on 71 minutes he ran in behind the Blackpool defence something which the away side had been missing – he expertly controlled the ball before trying to slide it under Kingson but there was not enough pace on the ball to reach the goal.
But the pressure was mounting and it was only a matter of time before the home side conceded. Nani thread a lovely pass into the path of Darren Fletcher who slid ball into the path of Dimitar Berbatov who had been quiet all game but could not miss the easy opportunity.
The comeback was completed on 74 minutes and it was that men Hernandez he beat the offside trap as he latched onto a pass from Giggs and tucked it past Kingson in goal.
But United were not finished yet an amazing victory was completed when Berbatov got his second and the visitors third in a unbelievable 16 minute period for the Red Devils.
He took the ball past a very weary Blackpool defence and drove the ball past Kingson silencing the Bloomfield crowd.
It was a valiant effort by Blackpool after a majestic first half performance but they eventually ran out of steam as United held on for victory.
Manchester United managed an incredible comeback to continue their unbeaten record in the league as they won 3-2 against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road. Craig Cathcart and DJ Campbell had put the Seasiders into a well deserved lead. But Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez scored two goals in quick succession to fire the Red Devils back on level terms and then Berbatov scored again to put United five points clear at the top in an scintillating 16 minute period for the visitors.
This game was originally due to be played back in December but was postponed due to a freezing Bloomfield Road pitch. Holloway might have been relieved as United had just thrashed Blackburn Rovers 7-0. However the visitors went into Tuesday night's fixture still undefeated all season and hammered Birmingham City 5-0 at the weekend so there would be no blessing in disguise for the Tangerine boss.
Newly promoted Blackpool can be proud of what they have achieved so far in the Premier League, but a blip in form has seen Ian Holloway's men slide down the table after four defeats in their last five games.
Perhaps a ray of hope for the home side was that the Red Devils have only won two on the road all season drawing the other eight.
And Man United made four changes to the squad that played on Saturday. Rafael returned to the squad after suspension and also introduced to the fray was Chris Smalling, Paul Scholes and Darren Gibson although the two latter struggled to make much of an impact in the first half and were overshadowed by their opposite counterparts.
Influential Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam put in a transfer request earlier this week but Ian Holloway remained confident that the Scot would still put the kind of performances which have been pushing his value up to £10 million.
And the Scot definitely did not disappoint, he was everywhere in the first half and it was he who put in a fantastic corner into the area where defender Craig Cathcart attacked the ball and bulleted a header past Van der Sar after 15 minutes which was needed to spring the game into action.
Man United were complaining that Patrice Evra- who had been caught in the face- was not allowed time to adopt his defensive position after receiving some treatment off the pitch but the goal stood- arguably it would not have made a difference.
The visitors looked to raise the tempo of the match as they searched for a way back into the game. But it was nearly the Seasiders that doubled their lead on 25 minutes. Adam again delivering a teasing ball with no Blackpool strikers attacking the cross, Vidic almost put the ball past his own keeper.
A weak clearance from the United defence almost let Elliot Grondin in but he was leaning back and from twelve yards out he blazed his shot harmlessly over Van der Sar's goals.
A Nani cross on 37 minutes summed up United's first half and frustration as he had players waiting in the box to pounce on the opportunity if it presented itself but he overshot his cross much to the delight of the Blackpool fans.
David Vaughan was next to test Van der Sar his drilled a low shot from 20 yards which the Dutchman had to push out for a corner. But the home side incredibly went 2-0 up from the resulting corner on 44 minutes. Charlie Adam delivered another dangerous cross in, the ball was flicked on at the front post and there was DJ Campbell to knock the ball into net at the back post.
United have been known for their comebacks in the second half but it was Blackpool that nearly made it three inside 20 seconds of the restart. Gary Taylor-Fletcher got to the by line cut the ball back but Rafael was there to stop a certain goal.
Nani had a great opportunity for the away side moments later but he took a swipe at thin air and the opportunity was gone.
Blackpool fans were shouting for a penalty a few minutes later as Luke Varney took on Rafael after a delightful pass from Adam, the Brazilian bundled him over in the box although the referee adjudged that the Tangerine striker went down a little too easy.
The hour mark came and the score remained the same with United really struggling to make any sort of impact in the match. Adam received a caution for a tackle from behind on Nani but that was not to tarnish the midfielder's performance.
Scholes hit a stinging drive on 64 minutes which Kingson had to be aware of and force it out for a corner but it was better play by the away side.
Javier Hernandez replaced an ineffective Wayne Rooney to try and rectify the Red Devils position in the match on 67 minutes and he turned the game on its head.
Scholes was doing all he could to try and get his side back in the match. His half volley looked to be heading towards goal but hit Jean Baptiste and went out for a corner.
Hernandez should have scored on 71 minutes he ran in behind the Blackpool defence something which the away side had been missing – he expertly controlled the ball before trying to slide it under Kingson but there was not enough pace on the ball to reach the goal.
But the pressure was mounting and it was only a matter of time before the home side conceded. Nani thread a lovely pass into the path of Darren Fletcher who slid ball into the path of Dimitar Berbatov who had been quiet all game but could not miss the easy opportunity.
The comeback was completed on 74 minutes and it was that men Hernandez he beat the offside trap as he latched onto a pass from Giggs and tucked it past Kingson in goal.
But United were not finished yet an amazing victory was completed when Berbatov got his second and the visitors third in a unbelievable 16 minute period for the Red Devils.
He took the ball past a very weary Blackpool defence and drove the ball past Kingson silencing the Bloomfield crowd.
It was a valiant effort by Blackpool after a majestic first half performance but they eventually ran out of steam as United held on for victory.
Source - Byo24NEWS
