Manchester United vs. Tottenham - Whoohooooo!!

Almost 8 years ago, on September 29th 2001, Manchester United and Tottenham engaged in a game of football that has since become part of folklore. Spurs were up 3-0 at half-time at Old Trafford. United came out all guns blazing scoring within seconds of the restart. Andy Cole, Blanc, Nistelrooy, Veron and Beckham made up five different scorers for United that second half. It was the comeback to end all comebacks (in the league at least).

Welcome to April 2009. History does repeat itself it seems. The starting line-up for United was surprisingly strong given a massive Champions League semi-final looms on Wednesday night. It betrayed the importance of winning 3 points to Ferguson and the respect that he accorded Spurs. The seeming chink in the armour appeared to be Nani. Spurs of course played a full strength side except for Defoe who lost his half brother to an act of violence. United started off extremely well, passing the ball crisply and getting into the Spurs backline. Rooney and Ronaldo seemed possessed but for all the setting up there was no end product. For all the pressure, Spurs took a shock lead on 29 minutes. Corluka's cross was too high for Vidic and Ferdinand made the grave error of not getting in front of his target. Bent got lucky with the drop of the ball and scored. The defensive errors 3 minutes later bordered on the ridiculous. Evra didn't close Lennon down who had time to cross peacefully. Modric was standing free at the back of the box. Where was Rafael? Oh yes, that's right perfecting his dribbling rather than practicing defensive duties for another week. 2-0 and Old Trafford in the doldrums.

United didn't really press too much for the remaining 12-13 minutes and Spurs gave back as good as they got. Tevez came on for Nani at the start of the second half. To be fair, Nani put in quite a few decent crosses from the left but he was the logical choice to be substituted. Tevez set about chasing the Spurs defenders and the pressure began to tell. The 57th minute penalty given for Gomes tripping Carrick has been denounced as harsh from most quarters. Gomes got a touch on the ball but that can be determined only after watching the replay half a dozen times from different angles. Watch it in real time and it happens so fast there's no way Webb could have spotted it. Either way, Ronaldo dispatched it expertly down the middle. Scholes came on for Fletcher though I didn't think he was needed yet. Fletcher was adding a lot of hustle and may have wanted in on his prediction. On 66 minutes, Rooney got loose down the left, cut in pulled a snapshot and Gomes palmed it into his own net. 2-2 and Spurs shoulder slumped visibly. From then on it was a matter of when not if United would score again. Of course that happened just a minute later thanks to a peach of a ball from Rooney and a diving header from Ronaldo.



Spurs defenders virtually gave up post the second goal and that is really what let United in. Rooney had an outstanding game as the creative force and goalscorer twice over. His status as the No. 10 in the side is justified and his worth is proved by how much of a void is left when he is rested. Moreover, he brings out the best in Ronaldo. The two were playing backheels to each other in the opposition box at the end. When Ronaldo leaves I feel he will miss the instinctive understanding that he developed with Rooney.

Berbatov had a game to forget again. Invisible for much of the game, he almost screwed up the golden chance that Rooney provided him to score. His open header was aimed directly at Gomes. Thankfully he was able to push the rebound in. It was a goal scored very late once again against opposition that had been steam-rollered. Sharp contrast to Tevez who when he scores deals in equalizers and winners. Of course that when is too rare these days. He pressured the opposition well and set up Rooney for one. His introduction was marked as the turning point but I think the entire XI strode out with something to prove in the second half. His introduction was just a symbol of Ferguson shuffling the pack. The gamble paid off because Spurs rolled over to be tickled after 60 minutes.

Defending as they did for the two goals probably gives Wenger some ideas. I can foresee the wings being attacked. Rafael and Evra are both defending like amateurs. Rafael fouls far too many times and could be baited into a couple of yellows. Overloading the box and bombing in crosses should do the trick for Arsenal. Here's hoping that Ferguson has spotted how to plug the same gap.