Fulham 2 v 3 Manchester United
Craven Cottage, London
1st Cotober 2005
Fulham's cold London ground was all set for an upset this afternoon, with Manchester United coming down in bad form and with the fans on their backs. Even Fergie was getting shouted at!
And two minutes in, with another piece of shaky defending from Rio Ferdinand, Collins John had put Fulham 1 up. John simply pushed the ball past Ferdinand, who seemed uninterested in trying to get back to stop him running through and finishing. Luckily for Man Utd, they had their attackers on.
United attacked remorselessly, and were finally given their big chance when Park was chopped down in the box. having beaten 3 Fulham players, Park had ghosted into the box and was about to strike for goal when he was bundled over for a definite penalty.
Van Nistelrooy slotted home coolly, and was mobbed by the United players and fans alike.
Just one minute later, and United were winning! Rooney this time received the ball in a deep position, he passed to giggs, who passed to van Nistelrooy, to Park, who played the ball into the onrunning Rooney, who took the ball in his stride at the edge of the box, and comfortably prodded the ball home.
Just when you thought you could relax, Fulham sneaked an equaliser. Another free-kick cross-cum-shot was left unchallenged, with Ferdinand shaking his foot at it, which Edwin van der Sar thought would clear the danger, and the ball bounced in at the far post (again!).
United didn't let that get to them however, and their incisive attacking play allowed them a host more shots, oneof which eventually fell to Ruud, with him and Park set free from the defenders by a quality offside-beating ball by Rooney. Park took it as far as he could, until a one-on-one situation with the keeper, before passing unselfishly across to van Nistelrooy, who made the most of the open net and kicked the ball bobbling towards the goal.
The second half had a lot more caution than the first, and Ronaldo was brought on to add a little sparkle to the final minutes. His ability to hold up the ball and create chances enabled the United fans watching a little breathing space without the goal and title being under constant threat.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Richardson (Bardsley 57), Fletcher, Smith, Giggs (Ronaldo 77), Rooney, van Nistelrooy (Scholes 84), Park.
Subs Not Used: Howard, Pique.
Booked: Fletcher.
Goals: Van Nistelrooy 17 pen, Rooney 18, van Nistelrooy 45.
