-zuco-
03-04-2008, 03:23 PM
The day Manchester United flew to Rome this week, Luciano Spalletti
was busy in the Italian press ridiculing the Red Devils away record in
Europe.
The Roma boss said United have failed to put in a good performance
away from home for a number of years and he expected that pattern
to continue on Tuesday.
"United are the best team in the world, but it's a long time since they
got a very important win abroad," said Spalletti. "They're fantastic at
Old Trafford, but they never dominate a match away.
They are very good on the counter-attack, but they aren't good at
controlling games."
By all accounts what Spalletti said about United has been correct over
the last few years, but attempting to belittle a team in such blistering
form would seem a very silly thing to do.
And so it proved on Tuesday night when it backfired in spectacular
fashion as United brushed Roma aside on their own turf.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring minutes before the half time break
with a bullet header that left goalkeeper Doni helpless. It was the end
product of a flowing move by the English champions which involved around
20 passes. O'Shea saw a gap and found Rooney, who turned highly rated
Mexez with ease and fed a simple ball through to Scholes on the right
hand side of the penalty area. Scholes stopped the ball before lofting an
inviting cross into the box to allow Ronaldo to come from nowhere and head the
ball into the left hand corner with as much power as if he had kicked it!
The Romans were clearly rattled by this and went in at half time 1-0 down.
Mr. Spalletti had a job on his hands if his team were to crack open the
meanest defence in Europe. But the Italian team never truly threatened in
the second half and it was United who controlled the pace of the game with
sharp, incisive passing and confident possession football.
Midway through the second half Roma finally found their was into the game
and were enjoying a period of dominance, but a quick counter attack consisting
of a deep cross to the far post found park Ji Sung who headed back across goal,
the ball somehow landed in front of Rooney who couldn't miss the tap in from all
of 2 yards. 2-0. Game over!
Now manchester United will head back to Old Trafford feeling like they have
already qualified for the semi finals. Sir Alex Ferguson will have to warn his
young superstars to avoid complacency in the second leg. Roma will have to go
all out attack when they visit manchester and will be extremely vulnerable on
the counter. I think the pace of Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez and Nani will be too
much for the Roman defence to handle when the sides meet again next Wednesday.
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was busy in the Italian press ridiculing the Red Devils away record in
Europe.
The Roma boss said United have failed to put in a good performance
away from home for a number of years and he expected that pattern
to continue on Tuesday.
"United are the best team in the world, but it's a long time since they
got a very important win abroad," said Spalletti. "They're fantastic at
Old Trafford, but they never dominate a match away.
They are very good on the counter-attack, but they aren't good at
controlling games."
By all accounts what Spalletti said about United has been correct over
the last few years, but attempting to belittle a team in such blistering
form would seem a very silly thing to do.
And so it proved on Tuesday night when it backfired in spectacular
fashion as United brushed Roma aside on their own turf.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring minutes before the half time break
with a bullet header that left goalkeeper Doni helpless. It was the end
product of a flowing move by the English champions which involved around
20 passes. O'Shea saw a gap and found Rooney, who turned highly rated
Mexez with ease and fed a simple ball through to Scholes on the right
hand side of the penalty area. Scholes stopped the ball before lofting an
inviting cross into the box to allow Ronaldo to come from nowhere and head the
ball into the left hand corner with as much power as if he had kicked it!
The Romans were clearly rattled by this and went in at half time 1-0 down.
Mr. Spalletti had a job on his hands if his team were to crack open the
meanest defence in Europe. But the Italian team never truly threatened in
the second half and it was United who controlled the pace of the game with
sharp, incisive passing and confident possession football.
Midway through the second half Roma finally found their was into the game
and were enjoying a period of dominance, but a quick counter attack consisting
of a deep cross to the far post found park Ji Sung who headed back across goal,
the ball somehow landed in front of Rooney who couldn't miss the tap in from all
of 2 yards. 2-0. Game over!
Now manchester United will head back to Old Trafford feeling like they have
already qualified for the semi finals. Sir Alex Ferguson will have to warn his
young superstars to avoid complacency in the second leg. Roma will have to go
all out attack when they visit manchester and will be extremely vulnerable on
the counter. I think the pace of Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez and Nani will be too
much for the Roman defence to handle when the sides meet again next Wednesday.
Click below to join manutdtalk.com forums to read and
discuss all breaking news on all things United !!! Come talk to us….
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php