GLASGOW RANGERS 0 v MAN UTD 1 ROONEY (87)
Credit: Manchester United Ltd (http://www.manutd.com)
24 NOVEMBER 2010, IBROX ATTENDANCE: 49,764
Wayne Rooney kept his cool at Ibrox to slot home a late penalty and book United’s place in the Champions League knockout phase.
It was hardly a perfect performance from the no.10 (or United for that matter), but on his first start in almost two months the Englishman scored the only goal of a game in which the Reds had struggled to assert supremacy.
Indeed, it had appeared the game would fizzle out into another 0-0 draw, but when Steven Naismith felled Fabio inside the penalty area as the Brazilian headed goalwards, referee Massimo Busacca pointed immediately to the spot. Rooney stepped up and did the rest.
Sir Alex’s men had arrived in Glasgow without first-choice centre-backs Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, but the back four of John O’Shea, Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Fabio, a combination that had never previously taken to the pitch, repelled all Rangers could throw at them. That wasn’t much.
Playing at Ibrox, that famous cauldron of partisan ferocity, Rangers might have been expected to show more adventure. But the home team’s ambition amounted to little more than sporadic counter-attacks, meaning Sir Alex's men are now just one match away from becoming the first team to navigate the Champions League group stage without conceding a goal.
The Reds enjoyed plenty of possession in the early exchanges and Paul Scholes probed for openings from the first whistle. The 35-year-old, a veteran of more Champions League games than the entire Rangers side put together, dropped deep to collect the ball from the back four and ping long passes into enemy territory. He orchestrated the move that led to Dimitar Berbatov’s unsuccessful penalty appeal in the second minute and found Giggs on the left flank shortly afterwards.
The Welshman fed Fabio on the overlap and the Brazilian beat one man before clipping a cross towards the middle of the box. Berbatov met the ball well but couldn’t direct his header wide of Allan McGregor in the Rangers goal.
Much of the pre-match talk centred on Rooney, handed his first United start since 26 September. But it took 24 minutes for a sight of goal – a difficult volley he miscued from 12 yards – to come the Englishman’s way. He was constantly under the attentions of at least two of Rangers’ five-man defence and had little room to operate in. Even Scholes, a master of unlocking tight defences, struggled to work the ball to Rooney’s feet.
The Reds had slightly more luck with the aerial approach; Rooney clipped the crossbar with a clever header on 40 minutes after good work by Fabio down the left. But it was Rangers who finished the half brightest.
Kenny Miller, isolated up front and frustrated for long periods, found himself clean through on goal and bearing down on Edwin van der Sar, albeit from a wide angle. Ibrox held its breath... and then exhaled in frustration as the Dutchman spread himself well to deny Miller with his legs.
After the break, Rooney curled a free-kick wide of the target from 30 yards, while Berbatov should have done better when he met Giggs’ cut-back on the volley. Carrick wasted an even better chance on 55 minutes when he blasted at McGregor after advancing into the penalty area courtesy of a smart Rooney lay-off.
The visitors were piling on the pressure and McGregor was called into action once more when Berbatov spun and shot low towards the far post. The goalkeeper, linked recently with a move to Old Trafford, did well to keep the ball out and preserve the game’s stalemate status.
United’s coaching staff had a few concerns of their own. A mix-up between Evans and van der Sar almost let in Steven Naismith and the Dutchman had to save sharply to deny the midfielder. More defensive confusion, this time of Rangers’ making, gifted Nani an opportunity to run at goal but his low cross was cut-out before it could reach Rooney at the back post.
Suddenly, a game that had only flickered occasionally in the first half, burst into life. But it was mistakes as much as moments of magic that provided the sparks. Rangers were sloppy in possession in their own half, while United, sensing a chance to go in for the kill, were occasionally left short of numbers at the back.
Rooney’s fairytale comeback looked as though it would never come to fruition, as a trio of misses drew jeers from the home supporters. But when Naismith clumsily challenged Fabio inside the area, the stage was set for United’s talisman to claim the spotlight. He didn't disappoint.
Credit: Manchester United Ltd (http://www.manutd.com)
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