Goalless draw sets up tense second-leg
Ronaldo went close
By Chris,
February 24 2009
Manchester United left the San Siro with a nil-nil draw that leaves the European Cup holders in a precarious position ahead of the second-leg in two week's time. Sir Alex Ferguson will be pleased with the goalless stalemate even though the Reds were left to rue a series of missed chances, particularly before the half-time break.
Fergie was boosted by the news that Jonny Evans and John O'Shea were declared fit for the game, so the world champions took to the field with a more stable backline than many had feared.
The United boss made a few surprise calls with his starting line-up. Wayne Rooney was left on the bench with Ryan Giggs playing just behind lone frontman Dimitar Berbatov. Carlos Tevez was an unused substitute.
United looked the better side throughout the opening period and hopefully won't regret failing to turn their first-half dominance into goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo went close with a free-kick and should have done much better as, left unmarked, he headed a Ryan Giggs cross wide of the target. The Welshman then had a chance of his own - but held onto the ball too long, drifted wide and hit his shot straight at Julio Cesar.
The Inter bench were growing frustrated by the home side's lack of first-half action in attack - and reserve goalkeeper Franceso Toldo found himself booked for dissent after some harsh words were aimed towards the officials.
Jose Mourinho, who has now only once against Sir Alex from thirteen clashes, must have worked wonders in the dressing room over half-time as Inter played considerably better football after the break.
Inter, however, still struggled to carve out clear-cut opportunities with Evans and Rio Ferdinand largely composed at the back. United went closest to breaking the tense deadlock - Ronaldo's cross missing a necessary Ji-Sung Park touch by inches, before the Portugease winger saw his powerful free-kick blocked and cleared with the final touch of the game.
A goalless draw away from home is always a dangerous position to be in. Inter will know that a score draw will be enough to send them into the quarter-finals - so United will be under pressure when the two teams do battle again in an eagerly-anticipated re-match on March 11th.
Full Time - Internationzale 0-0 Manchester United
Attendance - 84,000
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What a couple of weeks we have coming up !!
If so, Im very confident we can beat Inter at home.
At least that was my understanding of it, thought they switched to that in recent years?
Either way, i dont see it being a draw so lets forget about it for now
My point exactly!
We put on a performance in the San Siro, that has to be one of our best away performances ever. We didn't score, but we created so many chances. We totally dominated the first half and if you didn't know better you would have thought that Inter were the away side. We played one of Europe's top sides at their home and restricted them to two half chances all game. If we had shown a little composure we could come away with a 3-0 win.
In less than two weeks Inter will be at OT. We will havee Vidic back and Rooney will start. Inter know they can't go gung ho as they will want to keep it tight for as long as possible and hope to snatch that all important away goal. Guys remember our defence has only conceeded 5 goals in all competitions since Mid December. Mourinho knows this, he also knows that we can play and fewer chances and score more goals. Mourinho said prior to the first leg that he thought it would go to at least extra time at OT. That should tell you about Inter's mindset for the away leg at OT. We are a much stronger side than when went out to Mourinho's Porto. We are meaner at the back and have far greater penetration up front. Roll on Wedensday 10 march, i feel we could deliver Mourinho and Inter a true masterclass in football.
Quote:emptyred
Roll on Wedensday 10 march, i feel we could deliver Mourinho and Inter a true masterclass in football.
I seriously hope you boys do give a masterclass. Any other manageer and I'd want you to go out. But I just want Mourinho to have no excuses in that press conference after. He had the excuse after Barca that in all their meetings Barca never beat Chelsea 11 vs 11. Against Liverpool he always had a reason like the goal that never was, allowing him to remain cocky.
Now that they got a good result and only need a score draw, if he gets totally spanked by you lot, this "special 1" talk can finally start to be shown for what it really is, complete BS.
A solid 3-0 with all goals coming from open play and over 60% possession should do it
. All the best on this occasion lads.