United come unstuck against Toffees
22/04/2012 - 14:25:04
Man Utd 4 Everton 4
Everton scored twice in the final seven minutes to blow the Premier League title race wide open by claiming a point from an incredible encounter with Manchester United.
Twice in the second half United established a two-goal cushion after having to come from behind in the first place.
But it was not enough as Nikica Jelavic and Steven Pienaar scored to stun Old Trafford and offer Manchester City a clear route to the top of the table if they win their next two matches, including the derby on April 30.
After finding himself in plenty of room inside the United half, Pienaar picked out Leon Osman.
The midfielder’s initial shot was blocked by Rio Ferdinand but he got on the end of the rebound too, which David de Gea watched bounce wide.
Osman then played a pass beyond the United defence for Nikica Jelavic to run on to but his shot was saved by De Gea.
Everton had the momentum though and Pienaar drifted a pass to Osman on the corner of the area but his shot was off target.
It was 10 minutes before United mustered their first shot, when Antonio Valencia’s cross bounced through to Nani, but his effort curled well wide of the far post.
Nani had another go, from slightly further out, shortly afterwards, but this one was easily saved by Tim Howard.
Wayne Rooney then headed wide against his former club after leaping to reach Patrice Evra’s cross.
Paul Scholes let fly with a speculative effort as United continued to press, then Ferdinand needed to stick out a boot at the other end to prevent Jelavic’s cross leaving Marouane Fellaini with an open goal.
It was a disjointed performance from the hosts and Sylvain Distin – who made such a disastrous mistake in last weekend’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Liverpool – nodded a cross from United old boy Phil Neville wide at the far post.
Ferdinand got back to nudge Fellaini’s reverse pass to Jelavic away for a corner and Jonny Evans needed to make a fine block to prevent Osman’s thunderbolt threatening the United goal.
Nani was robbed by Neville after some quick thinking from Rooney had offered the chance to run at Everton’s defence.
Darron Gibson, who scored so many long-range goals on this ground, tried his luck from 30 yards but was off-target.
Nani was unable to keep the ball in play after Michael Carrick had picked up out with an inspired crossfield pass.
But if Sir Alex Ferguson was unhappy with the opening half-hour, worse was to come as Tony Hibbert curled over a superb cross from the far post, where Jelavic rose and nodded it back where it had come from, over De Gea and into the corner.
United had a chance to level immediately but after Scholes’ shot had taken a couple of deflections, Howard was able to gather.
Rafael went down in the box but even Valencia ignored him as he curled over a cross for Rooney than Howard gathered at the second attempt.
The home supporters were starting to get anxious. But five minutes before the break, Nani curled over a brilliant cross which Rooney guided past Howard from close range.
Distin was booked for barging Valencia over in stoppage time but Danny Welbeck could only nod wide.
Evra was booked at the start of the second half for a foul on Jelavic.
Rafael did well to get back and prevent Jelavic reaching Gibson’s chipped pass into the United box.
Evra and Osman both needed treatment after a nasty clash of heads by the touchline.
John Heitinga was in the right place to intercept an Evra cut-back aimed for Rooney inside the Everton penalty area, then Jagielka intervened to stop the United striker striding onto Valencia’s through ball.
As so often in these tense situations, United found a moment of inspiration after Nani had shown admirable desire to outjump Neville on the edge of the area.
Welbeck collected the loose ball, took advantage of Heitinga’s rash challenge to step inside the Dutchman, then curled a superb shot into the top corner.
The stadium erupted, and when Welbeck fed Nani a couple of minutes later and he coolly chipped the advancing Howard, the victory looked secure.
In between, Neville had been booked for chopping down Welbeck and now United were rampant.
Another Welbeck effort was deflected into the side-netting before James McFadden was introduced for Osman.
Valencia fired over as United threatened to run away with the contest
However, when Hibbert crossed once more, Fellaini met it with a first-time volley that flew past De Gea.
Now it was game on again and Pienaar brought a good save out of De Gea from the edge of the area.
United were on top though and when Welbeck found Rooney once more, he swept home with the minimum of fuss.
Michael Carrick could not cap another outstanding performance with a long-range goal and Evra’s header came back off the bar 10 minutes from time.
Jelavic capitalised on more indecision inside the United box by grabbing his second on their next attack.
And within a minute, Everton had scored again as Pienaar found himself completely on his own inside the area and tucked home Fellaini’s cross.
Phil Jones and Javier Hernandez were both introduced to try and prise an opening in the five minutes of stoppage time but when Tim Howard tipped over Rio Ferdinand’s goalbound effort, United had to settle for a point.
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