Carrick happy to score in

Michael Carrick was delighted to put the seal on a crucial victory for the Reds against Portsmouth which put Sir Alex's men three points clear of Liverpool at the league summit.

The substitute latched onto a fine through ball from Paul Scholes to drive home United's second goal which had somehow evaded them for the previous 73 minutes. The Reds had earlier gone ahead through Wayne Rooney's ninth minute strike, but United had to wait until the 82nd for final confirmation of a vital three points.

"The longer it went on at 1-0 the more they started to come into it," Carrick told MUTV. "They had a couple of oppportunities after the break and Edwin had to make a couple of good saves.

"We played some great stuff at times in the first half and some of the link-up play was brilliant. We had a number of chances to go further ahead and that would have put the game to bed. So it was a bit frustrating in that sense. We still played well and from a personal point of view it's always nice to score. It was a quite an important goal at that point so I was pleased to get it."

Despite being in the title race driving seat following Liverpool's dropping of two points against Arsenal on Tuesday night, Carrick maintains there is still hard work to be done between now and the season finale.

"Liverpool's draw was a big boost and we're in a decent position now," says the midfielder. "Hopefully we can keep the momentum going between now and the end of the season and put the league to bed as quickly as we can. There are big games coming up thick and ast and we need to be at our best in all of them."

United 2 Portsmouth 0

Another nervous evening's work at Old Trafford, but goals at either end of the 90 minutes from Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick gave United three points against Portsmouth, putting clear daylight between champions and challengers in the Premier League title race.

A procession of chances came and went in-between the two strikes, meaning much of the evening made uncomfortable viewing even though United - and in particular the front pairing of Rooney and Ryan Giggs - often had Portsmouth chasing shadows.

After Sunday's FA Cup semi-final marathon against Everton, Sir Alex Ferguson made wholesale changes for the second successive game, with a string of big-name players returning. Two of them - Giggs and Rooney - combined sumptuously to put United ahead inside nine minutes.

Darren Fletcher, back from injury and on the lung-busting form of recent weeks, won the ball and it was quickly ferried forward to Anderson, whose excellent pass allowed Giggs to spring the visitors' offside trap. Waiting in the centre was Rooney, who finished with aplomb after a perfect rolled cross from his veteran colleague.

Amid the joy and release of any early tension, attentions switched to skipper Gary Neville, who sat stricken in his own half after sustaining a foot injury. After consultation with the club's medical staff, the club captain was promptly replaced by John O'Shea.

With the prospect of a three-point lead looming, United were clearly intent on also boosting a goal difference which had been overtaken by second-placed Liverpool in recent weeks, and the chances came thick and fast.

It was O'Shea who came closest to doubling the Reds' advantage before the break, as he headed Giggs' left-wing corner past James, only for Nadir Belhadj to smuggle the ball off the line and away to safety.

Next, a mis-timed header from Sol Campbell allowed Ronaldo to break down the right and cross low across the area for Giggs. His delicate chip beat James, but also drifted just past the far post. The 35-year-old held his head in his hands, aware that a glorious chance had just gone begging.

It looked like Giggs had made amends a minute later by feeding Rooney to round James and score, but a linesman's flag belatedly - but correctly - chalked it off. Quite how half-time came and went with United only one goal ahead was a mystery.

The fact that so many chances had come and gone seemed to increasingly play on United's minds as the second half unfolded. The Reds' cause wasn't helped when O'Shea suffered an injury after a clash with Belhadj, who appeared to stand heavily on the Irishman's foot. With the injury count rising but the goals tally stuck on one, a nervous atmosphere began to brew within Old Trafford.

The tension was never higher than around the 70th minute, when Pompey mustered two particularly threatening forays forward. Peter Crouch, who ploughed a lone furrow without much joy but with plenty of effort, first volleyed wide, then saw his header well saved by Edwin van der Sar.

Rooney saw another shot well saved by James after latching onto van der Sar's long punt, but a priceless second goal did finally arrive with eight minutes left. Carrick, thrown on at the expense of Anderson, came up with the goods and Scholes, fittingly on his 600th United appearance, was the architecht.

Just as he has done umpteen times in his 15-year senior career, the midfield magician exploited a gap before the Pompey defence were able to plug it by slipping an inch-perfect pass into the run of Carrick, who finished clinically into James' bottom-right hand corner.

With the three points assured, United began to press forward with more abandon, striving to make up further goal difference. Ronaldo had a goal chalked off and also fired over while Rafael was denied by James, leaving the Reds still three behind Rafael Benitez's men on that count.

More importantly, however, the telling gap between champions and chasing pack is now three points, with a game in hand still to make up.

United 0 Everton 0 (2-4 on pens)

United are out of the FA Cup after a brave semi-final showing from a very young Reds team, losing 4-2 on penalty kicks at Wembley.

Ironically, it was Phil Jagielka, the man whose foul should have given United a second-half penalty, who scored the winning spot-kick after the two teams could not be separated in 120 minutes of entertaining football. It's Sir Alex's first FA Cup semi-final defeat and ends the chance of an unprecedented quintuple. However, Sir Alex's team selection suggests he has his sights set on the league and Europe.

It had been something of a gamble and there were raised eyebrows when United’s team-sheet was submitted an hour before kick-off, with eight changes from the side that beat FC Porto four days previously. The absentees all stayed in Manchester, though reports that a broken metatarsal would rule Wayne Rooney out for the rest of the season proved woefully wide of the mark.

The average age of the starting team was just 22, the line-up including four teenagers, and seven players aged 25 or under. Sir Alex insisted he couldn’t ask many of his players involved in a taxing battle in Portugal to go again on a heavy Wembley pitch – only Anderson, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic from the team that started at Estadio do Dragao survived. Few, however, could have predicted the boss’ team.

United’s fixture schedule is so hectic that Sir Alex had little choice than to shuffle the pack. Rafael and Fabio started for the first time together (in fact, the first time they’ve been on the pitch together in a competitive Reds match). There was also a first start for Federico Macheda – of recent Premier League match-winning fame. He started up front with Carlos Tevez. Danny Welbeck was deployed at left midfield, Ji-sung Park on the right, with impressive duo, Darron Gibson and Anderson, in the centre.

It would be difficult to argue that, individually, each of the starting eleven had not earned their Wembley opportunity through their performances this season; and it’s in keeping with the youth-first policy in the domestic cups this term. What the selection does suggest is that maximum importance is being placed on clinching the title.

The youthful Reds started very well in a very open game, with Macheda looking exceptionally lively up front. There were few signs of nerves in front of a record FA Cup semi-final crowd of 88,141, and United went closest to scoring first on 22 minutes, when Welbeck’s glancing touch from Rafael’s cross was deflected wide by Joleon Lescott. It coincided with a sustained period of pressure on Everton in the middle of the half.

Welbeck was again wide of the target five minutes before the break in one of United’s best moves of the half. After neat football down the left flank, Macheda slid a wonderful pass between Tony Hibbert and Phil Jagielka, but Welbeck’s shot was wayward. Although the critics will have been queuing up for a chance to criticise the manager’s team selection, the players did him proud in an encouraging 45 minutes, which, although lacking in goalmouth action, saw United control possession.

Everton started the second half with much greater intensity, Tim Cahill forcing a brilliant low save from a previously inactive Ben Foster shortly after the break. Everton were resurgent, and their fans urged them on. It was proving a test of character as much of talent for United’s youngsters. They responded well. With the game becoming stretched, the Reds countered and Park fired just wide of the post.

The Reds had regained control in what was becoming an engrossing game. Gibson was strike, fizzing a shot towards the top corner from 25 yards which Tim Howard tipped over. But the breakthrough should have arrived on 68 minutes when Welbeck was blatantly brought down by Jagielka in the box. Somehow Mike Riley adjudged the challenge to be fair. Sir Alex and the United players were understandably furious because that could, and should, have been the Reds’ chance to win it.

Anderson went close with a long-range effort as the game edged into the final fifteen minutes, while the increasingly involved Welbeck curled a shot just over the bar. Both teams patently wanted to end this tie inside 90 minutes. United made the best of the opportunities, but neither side could find the breakthrough as the match headed into extra time, with Dimitar Berbatov replacing Macheda.

Extra time offered few major incidents as both teams seemed settled on deciding this tie on penalties. Neither side could find the breakthrough, largely down to both team’s immovable defences. Jagielka and Lescott impressed, while Ferdinand was solid and Vidic was absolutely immense all afternoon.

It’s the fourth time United have been forced to spot-kicks in the last year (the Champions League final, Community Shield and Carling Cup final being the others), but this would be the first time the Reds tasted defeat. Cahill fluffed the first kick, blazing well over, but Berbatov also missed. Baines made it 1-0, an advantage upheld when Howard saved Ferdinand’s kick. Phil Neville converted, as did Vidic to make it 2-1. But Everton edged closer to the final when Foster could only get a finger tip to Vaughan’s kick. Anderson scored to level, but Jagielka grabbed the decisive goal to win the shoot-out 4-2.

Boss: Defence was key to victory

Sir Alex Ferguson cited the welcome return of a solid foundation as United claimed a slender but significant victory in Portugal.

Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic earned much of his praise as they played 90 minutes together for the first time since the Reds overcame Inter 2-0 in the previous round of the Champions League - also the last occasion when United kept a clean sheet.

"I think the stability at the back, the recognition of Ferdinand and Vidic together is always a great start for your team," said Sir Alex in his post-match interview.

"There was a lot of good concentration at the back, the team defended very, very well and I think that was key to it really. If we can get back to that foundation of not giving goals away, then we can do well."

United had an aggregate lead to defend from as early as the sixth minute at Estadio do Dragao, thanks to a glorious goal by Cristiano Ronaldo - arguably one of the best of his illustrious career to date.

"It was unbelievable, a magnificent hit, absolutely fantastic," enthused Sir Alex.

"The shot took them all by surprise, coming from 30 yards or whatever it was. The goalkeeper had no chance really."

Reds marvel at Ronny's goal

United players were queuing up to praise Cristiano Ronaldo's wonder-goal after the sixth-minute strike secured a place in the Champions League semi-finals.

The Portuguese winger's rising right-foot rocket from long range (UEFA measured it at 39.6 yards) put the visitors in the driving seat by stunning the Porto players and supporters.

"It was an unbelievable strike," Michael Carrick told MUTV. "Just when we needed that spark and a bit of brilliance, Ronny's done it again."

Wayne Rooney enthused: "It was a wonderful goal from Cristiano to win us the game. It was brilliant and on such a big night for him too."

John O'Shea added: "The strike was sublime. He’s well capable of that and he nearly stuck another one in the bottom corner with a couple of minutes to go."

Ronaldo's goal was also heralded in both dug-outs. Porto's assistant coach Jose Gomes said his team could take heart from losing to such a shot: "We can be proud. We lost to the best team in the world, by a goal scored by the best player in the world."

Sir Alex Ferguson commented: "I’ll need to go into my memory bank to recall a better European Cup goal than that one. That was fantastic, a great, great strike. We wanted to show our intent but to get that sort of start, well, nobody can expect that sort of goal."

Video: You can watch the goal and other match action now on your PC with MUTV Online or on your mobile phone at wap.manutd.com/vids.

More to come from Kiko

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted Federico Macheda has "something special", while the young Italian striker's team-mates have accepted he is now a genuine option up front.

Rome-born Macheda clearly has an eye for the spectacular. Having come off the bench to score a stunning winner on his debut against Aston Villa, he followed it up with an instinctive touch to provide a 2-1 victory at Sunderland.

"He has got something special about him, the boy," admitted Sir Alex. "He's just got that instinct that goalscorers have. He has good movement and he's quick.

"He isn't fazed by anything, and he got involved as soon as he came on, he had a really good 20 minutes for us."

'Kiko' may still be in his teens, but Macheda offers a real threat as back-up to United's regular forwards.

"It's great to be able to bring on a young lad like that," says Scholes. "He scored with his first or second touch, he looks like a great goalscorer and there's hopefully more to come from him."

Reds goalkeeper Ben Foster likes the confidence Macheda has shown. "It's a fantastic story," he said. "It was an unbelievable goal last week and he’s done it again.
"He’s saying it was a deft touch into the corner but I don’t think many of the lads are believing him!

"But I'm really pleased for him. He’s thoroughly deserving of his chance because he's been doing it in the Reserves all season."

From relative unknown to overnight hero, it's a lot of attention to be heaped on his young shoulders. But he is an assured and confident young man and has the right people with the right intentions surrounding him.

"I think the players will help there," adds Sir Alex. "I had a chat with his family this week, so he'll be ok I'm sure."

"He's quite a level-headed lad, actually," adds Foster. "I don’t think any of the lads will let him get carried away – Gary Neville puts his foot down with anything like that."

Wayne hails 'best fans in the world'

Match-winner Wayne Rooney hailed United’s global following as thousands of Reds watched United become world-beaters against Liga de Quito both in the Yokohama International Stadium, on television and via ManUtd.com’s coverage.

“We’ve been amazed by the amount of fans over here,” he admitted after the game. “So many have travelled from England and there are also thousands here in Japan. We’re the best team in the world and they’re the best fans in the world.”

Rooney was ecstatic at scoring the goal that confirmed United’s position as the greatest team on Earth - his third goal in less than one and a half games.

“It’s fantastic, I was really happy to get the goal for us," he said.

"It’s a great achievement for us, and it’s something we’ve worked very hard for. We’re delighted to be world champions.”

United’s no.10 gave Liga de Quito’s goalkeeper Jose Cevallos a torrid evening, especially in the first half, but Wayne admitted the game was made a lot harder in early in the second period by Nemanja Vidic’s sending off.

“It was a really tough game for us after going down to ten men," added Rooney. "They had more possession but we defended well to win it."

Rooney is hitting top form at a great time for United and after receiving what looks like a giant key as FIFA's Man of the Match - he was also Player of the Tournament - Wayne will surely unlock more defences back in England. Opposition goalkeepers should expect an unhappy new year.

Carling Cup round-up - Weds 3rd Dec

Carlos Tevez scored four times as Manchester United beat Blackburn Rovers 5-3 in a dramatic night at Old Trafford.

Tevez opened the scoring before setting up United's second with five minutes remaining in the first-half. He bundled home Ryan Giggs' far-post corner nine minutes from the break, then provided the pass that allowed Nani to grab number two shortly afterwards.

Blackburn threatened to make a comeback when Benni McCarthy scored just three minutes after the break, but the likelyhood of Paul Ince getting one over on his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson appeared to have been snuffed out by Tevez, who scored two quick-fire goals soon after.

Matt Derbyshire pulled one back for the visitors on 84 minutes, and McCarthy netted his second of the match in the second minute of injury time. Tevez scored his fourth of the match with seconds to spare to book United's place in the semi-finals.

Man City 0 Vs Man United 1

Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for the second time in a Manchester derby, but Wayne Rooney’s first-half strike was enough to hand United all three points at Eastlands.

Ronaldo’s two yellow cards – the second for a bizarre deliberate handball – meant the Reds had to play the last 22 minutes with 10 men. But City didn’t threaten until stoppage time and United held on to claim a deserved derby-day win.

Sir Alex’s men controlled the game from start to finish, proving class and ability on the pitch counts for far more than wealth and ambition off it. Certainly, when City’s new owners took over in the summer, expectations in the blue half of Manchester rose astronomically. Almost immediately, the owners outlined a wish to win the Champions League within just three years. On the evidence of the 151st Manchester derby, however, City still have a lot of work to do.

Dimitar Berbatov made a surprise return to the Reds’ starting line-up after missing United’s last two matches with a hamstring injury. His inclusion alongside Wayne Rooney meant Carlos Tevez had to be content with a place on the bench.

Elsewhere, Ji-sung Park was given the nod ahead of Ryan Giggs and Nani on the left side of midfield, while 18-year-old Brazilian Rafael started at right back in his first Manchester derby. He showed little sign of nerves, darting down the wing early on to add an extra man to the Reds’ attacks.

It was from the right that United’s first real chance came, although it was Ji-sung Park and not the young Brazilian who fizzed the ball across the Blues’ box. It reached Rooney at the penalty spot, but the England international’s shot was straight at Joe Hart.

The Reds dominated possession early on and Ronaldo rose highest on 14 minutes to head narrowly over the bar from Wayne Rooney’s corner. Berbatov then drew a finger-tip save from Hart when he nodded Rafael’s cross towards the far corner.

United’s midfield four, commanded by Darren Fletcher in the middle, were first to everything, as City struggled to win – let alone keep – the ball. Fletcher and Berbatov linked well to release Ronaldo before the ball broke to Patrice Evra, who couldn’t keep his shot down.

Despite dominating, United almost went behind after 32 minutes. Van der Sar came a long way for a City free-kick and struggled to punch clear. With the Dutchman stranded, Stephen Ireland stabbed the ball goalwards from 18 yards. Micah Richards elected not to try and steer it in himself and in the end the ball bounced, almost in slow-motion, off the outside of the post and out for a goal kick.

It would have been cruel on the Reds, but the scare underlined how important it is to take chances in front of goal. And that’s exactly what Wayne Rooney did just before the interval, when his 100th club goal – his 83rd for United – put United in front.

City struggled to clear a bouncing ball inside the penalty area and when it broke to Michael Carrick the midfielder lashed a left-footed shot across Hart towards the far corner. The City goalkeeper did well to keep out the shot, but could only palm the ball to Rooney, who side-footed home from two yards.

The only surprise was that it took so long for the Reds to break the deadlock. Completely dominant in the first 45 minutes, United wouldn’t have been flattered had the score been 3-0 at the break.
Mark Hughes made changes at half-time, bringing Elano and Pablo Zabaleta on for Darius Vassell and Dietmar Hamann. The Blues were buoyed and Vincent Kompany went close from distance before Benjani found the side-netting after a quick counter-attack.

The changes allowed City to creep back into the game and the home team enjoyed more time on the ball. At the other end, Berbatov almost squeezed his shot past his marker before the game turned in City’s favour with Ronaldo’s dismissal.

Already on a yellow card after bringing down Shaun Wright-Phillips, Ronaldo went up for a corner and batted the ball away with both hands. He appeared to claim he heard a whistle and had thought the match had been stopped, but referee Howard Webb was unconvinced and showed the no.7 a second yellow card.

It was a bizarre incident – there seemed no other reason for Ronaldo to have gone with his hands – and forced United to reshuffle for the final 22 minutes. The Blues threw on striker Daniel Sturridge to bolster their attacking options, but failed to threaten van der Sar’s goal until stoppage-time when Richard Dunne had a shot cleared off the line.

The Reds then broke and almost made it 2-0 when Rooney tried to lob the retreating Hart from 40 yards. The goalkeeper made a fine save to deny Wayne on this occasion, but his first-half effort proved enough to clinch the points and wrestle back bragging rights for the red half of Manchester.

Rooney Hits Top Gear

Wayne Rooney says he hasn’t changed his approach after scoring his third goal in three games to help United to an impressive 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers.

The 22-year-old Reds forward has been in fine form recently, scoring against Bolton Wanderers, Aalborg and now Blackburn. But Rooney defended his form at the start of the season by saying the only difference now is that he is finding the back of the net.

“Once you get your first goal of the season your confidence is sky-high. I’ve not really been doing anything differently,” he said after scoring the goal that clinched victory over Paul Ince's men.

“I’m not doing anything different to what I was doing at the start of the season. I’ve just been taking my chances – that’s the only real difference.”

Rooney’s performance – including his fantastic second-half top-corner strike – was arguably his most complete of the season so far. The same goes for United, whose fluid movement in attack was a joy to watch, particularly after the break.

“It’s a great result for us because it’s been a difficult place to come to in the last few years,” Rooney told Setanta Sports. “The conditions weren’t the best, it was raining heavily, but I thought we played well and deserved the win.

“We moved the ball well at times. We were confident in possession and getting the goal in the first half allowed us to pass the ball more freely in the second half. We knew we’d get the chances to finish the game off and we did.”