Fenerbahce 3 - 0 Manchester United

Wednesday 8 December
olimpic Stadion

Fenerbache overcame what was effectively Man United's reserve team - it was the bulk of the team from the Carling Cup that had played the week before, with the notable exception of Ronaldo.

With the Champions League plaes already taken, and similarly the UEFA Cup already in the hands of the Turkish Champions, the game was meaningless anyway, although Manchester United held in their own hands their destiny as to whether they would face a top-placed team or a second-placed team, with a win securing a match avoiding the likes of Juventus and AC Milan.

Lets be honest, the first half of the game was dull. United seemed to lack character and creativity, with Cristiano the only one able to make an impression on the Turkish defence, but even he was unable to get his shots on target, or his free-kicks.

Tim Howard ahd a reasonably easy time in nets, pulling off a few saves that he would be disappointed to miss, and that was about it.
The fans who expected the second half to be the same were shocked when, a minute in, Tuncay clipped an overhead kick into the back of the net. It was sublime, and at least for the travelling fans, SOMETHING was happening!

United had a chance to level, but Richardson typically screwed up the shot, and before the youngsters knew it they wer two down - Tuncay heading in an Alex free-kick.

Even this failed to get the Reds going, and it was a sorry looking team that left the park at 3 - 0 down at full time, Tuncay having completed his hatrick. None of these reserves put on a good enough show, obviously barring Ronaldo, to push for a first-team spot, and on this form we wouldn't want them in anyway!

Qualification leaves us facing one of Internazionale, AC Milan, Juventus, Levekusen or Monaco.

Fenerbahce: Rustu, Turaci, Luciano, Cetin, Ozat, Balci (Yozgatli 71), Sahin, Aurelio, Tuncay Sanli, Alex, Marcio Nobre, Akin (Demirel 90).

Subs Not Used: Rodriguez, Hacioglu, Akin, Erdogdu, Sergen.
Booked: Aurelio.
Goals: Tuncay 46, 62, 90.

Man Utd: Howard, Phil Neville, Brown (Pique 66), O'Shea, Fortune, Ronaldo, Djemba-Djemba, Fletcher, Richardson (Spector 68), Miller (Eagles 77), Bellion.

Subs Not Used: Ricardo, Jones, McShane, Ebanks-Blake.
Booked: Djemba-Djemba.

Att: 35,000
Ref: Arturo Dauden Ibanez (Spain).