9 minute mark: They hit us on the counterattack.. long pass to Lorentzen who passes to Davis just outside the box.. he shoots a long shot.. upper right corner.. it bounces off the post.. and into the net! GOAL. Down 1-0.
43 minute mark: Howard stops a long shot by Davis.
Halftime: 1-0 lead for them. They controlled time of possession. They have over 30,000 fans here today.
61 minute mark: Cook with a spectacular 40 yard pass to get King an open shot.. he shoots a hard curving shot into the upper left hand corner of the net.. the keeper dives.. and catches it! Nice save for him.
65 minute mark: King is exhausted. I put RvN on for him. I also put Saha on for Smith who is tired.
68 minute mark: Duff passes into the box for Saha.. he shoots from 17 yards out.. lower right corner.. the keeper runs.. saves the shot.
75 minute mark: Silvestre with a nice pass over a defender to get the ball to Duff deep in enemy turf.. he immediately crosses towards the near post.. RvN outjumps Gaardsoe.. he heads it.. into the upper left corner! GOAL!!!! 1-1.
77 minute mark: Djemba steals it at midfield.. he passes to Fletcher on the right wing.. Fletcher takes a few steps.. crosses all the way across the field to Duff.. he dribbles up the pitch.. crosses towards the far post.. RvN with a diving header.. into the upper right corner! GOAL!!!! 2-1!
80 minute mark: Ferdinand heads away an offensive attack.. ignites a counter attack.. Cook with a 50 yard pass.. right to Saha who is just outside the box.. he dribbles into the box.. dribbles to his left.. fires a shot into the left side of the net! GOAL!!!! 3-1. That is his first goal of the season.
Game over. 3-1 win
(Thanks to Ruud van Nistelrooy and Saha!)
We were outshot 9-5 (but 5-4 on target in our favor.)
Duff had a 9 for form and won MoM, 23 of 26 passes, 5 of 6 tackles, 6 of 11 headers, 2 interceptions, 4 runs, 2 assists.
Craig King had a 7. Everyone else on the team had an 8 (including the subs.)