United come from behind to book fifth round spot
United Win
By Chris O'Brien
January 27 2008
Manchester United booked their place in the fifth round of the F.A Cup with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Spurs. A Carlos Tevez strike and a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo were enough to send the Red Devils through against 10-man Spurs. Luckily, we showed few affects of fatigue following the unnecessary mid-week excursion to Saudi Arabia.
Tottenham came into the game brimming with confidence following their 5-1 demolition of Arsenal on Tuesday evening. Their confidence must have sky-rocketed on 24 minutes as Robbie Keane sent the travelling North Londoners into ecstasy. A quick, free-flowing break from the visitors ended with Aaron Lennon crossing for Keane and he drilled a right-footed effort home from inside the six-yard box.
However, United had been creating more opportunities and it was no surprise to see parity restored before the half-time whistle. Carlos Tevez fired a left-footed effort into the bottom-right of Radek Cerny's net after picking up a Ryan Giggs pass.
Tottenham always looked dangerous on the break and Jermaine Jenas forced Edwin Van Der Sar into a great save before the interval but the two sides went in level at the break. The midfielder should have done better and more poise in his shot would have seen the visitors ahead at half-time.
Jenas and John O'Shea both went close after the interval but the game hinged on the 68th-minute dismissal of Spurs defender Michael Dawson. The defender deliberately handled the ball in the penalty-box as he denied Wayne Rooney a scoring opportunity at goal. Referee ? showed little hesitation in pointing to the spot and giving Dawson his marching orders. Ronaldo duly-obliged from twelve yards to put United in front and we always looked heavy favourites from then on.
To their credit, Ramos' men continued to push forward and attack as they looked to get back on level terms with only 10-men. Wes Brown's attempted clearance bounced back off his own post but the game was put beyond doubt in injury-time as Ronaldo completed his brace with a low-shot that crept under Chris Gunter's challenge and the body of 'keeper Cerny.
United now go into Monday's fifth round draw. WEM-BER-LEY?
Full Time - Manchester United 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Attendance - 75,369