Manchester United is barely hanging on to its quest for the quintuple—five trophies in one season. With an extra-time goal last Sunday to snatch all three points in the Premier League’s marquee match-up with Aston Villa and a 2–2 home draw with Porto in the Champions League, it’s going to be nail biting all the way to the end.
The trophy haul began last December when the Red Devils took home FIFA’s Club World Cup in Japan by defeating Liga de Quito 1–0 on Wayne Rooney’s second half goal despite having Nemanja Vidic sent off.
On March 1, United beat Tottenham Hotspur 4–1 on penalties to win the Carling Cup.
With just under two months remaining in the soccer season and two pieces of silverware in the bag, United is chasing the two most important trophies—Champions League and Premier League titles.
There is also the small matter of the FA Cup. Manchester United will contest the semifinals against Everton on April 19.
While they are favored to retain their Premier League title—they lead Liverpool by one point with a game in hand—their Champions League crown took a minor blow on Tuesday, as the anticipated revenge against FC Porto didn’t go so well.
Porto knocked out the Red Devils five years ago in the round of 16 and went on to win the Champions League under Jose Mourinho’s guidance.
Soccer pundits feel that United was given a very generous Champions League draw by drawing Porto in the quarterfinal stage, but more importantly, avoiding Barcelona, Chelsea, and Liverpool until the final.
In a strange scheduling of games, United faced Porto only two days after coming through an emotionally draining victory over Aston Villa.
Perhaps this was the cause of their unusually poor start. Porto jumped on United’s makeshift defense early as Cristian Rodriguez fired a low shot past Edwin van der Sar in the fourth minute.
Sky Sports asked Wayne Rooney about Porto taking it to United early in the game. “We just didn’t deal with it. Maybe you could say [it was down to a lack of concentration]. We created a lot of problems for ourselves tonight.”
“They’re a good team, three very good forwards. They’ve got a good away record.
“Thankfully we’re still in the tie.”
United’s defense was shaky all match long against Porto, as Rio Ferdinand sat and watched from the stands.
United was fortunate to be gifted a goal as Porto defender Bruno Alves made a no-look back pass which Rooney intercepted and calmly chipped a shot past the keeper in the 15th minute.
Manchester United was looking like a shadow of the team that had two trophies in the bag. But as the second half got underway, United took charge and took the lead in the 85th minute.
Carlos Tevez and Rooney must have a magical understanding of each other’s game. Tevez ran onto Rooney’s clever back flick and fired high into the net past Helton.
For the time being all looked better but in the 89th minute, another case of poor defending bit United. Gary Neville and John O’Shea left Mariano Gonzalez unmarked on the far side of goal.
Gonzalez managed to control the cross and avoid van der Sar with his shot. Porto had stung United once again, leaving Sir Alex Ferguson’s team with a major obstacle to climb in Porto next Wednesday.
Manchester United basically needs to beat the Portuguese team to keep alive the dream for five.
“It’s going to be difficult for us now. It will be a difficult game in Porto, that goes without saying,” Ferguson told a news conference.
“Apparently, we will have to be the first English team to win there, but we are going to have to do it. This club has always set firsts so this is a chance for us to be first again.”
In the Premier League, only eight games remain for United including a Manchester derby and a visit from Arsenal.
The trophy haul began last December when the Red Devils took home FIFA’s Club World Cup in Japan by defeating Liga de Quito 1–0 on Wayne Rooney’s second half goal despite having Nemanja Vidic sent off.
On March 1, United beat Tottenham Hotspur 4–1 on penalties to win the Carling Cup.
With just under two months remaining in the soccer season and two pieces of silverware in the bag, United is chasing the two most important trophies—Champions League and Premier League titles.
There is also the small matter of the FA Cup. Manchester United will contest the semifinals against Everton on April 19.
While they are favored to retain their Premier League title—they lead Liverpool by one point with a game in hand—their Champions League crown took a minor blow on Tuesday, as the anticipated revenge against FC Porto didn’t go so well.
Porto knocked out the Red Devils five years ago in the round of 16 and went on to win the Champions League under Jose Mourinho’s guidance.
Soccer pundits feel that United was given a very generous Champions League draw by drawing Porto in the quarterfinal stage, but more importantly, avoiding Barcelona, Chelsea, and Liverpool until the final.
Bad Day at the Office
In a strange scheduling of games, United faced Porto only two days after coming through an emotionally draining victory over Aston Villa.
Perhaps this was the cause of their unusually poor start. Porto jumped on United’s makeshift defense early as Cristian Rodriguez fired a low shot past Edwin van der Sar in the fourth minute.
Sky Sports asked Wayne Rooney about Porto taking it to United early in the game. “We just didn’t deal with it. Maybe you could say [it was down to a lack of concentration]. We created a lot of problems for ourselves tonight.”
“They’re a good team, three very good forwards. They’ve got a good away record.
“Thankfully we’re still in the tie.”
United’s defense was shaky all match long against Porto, as Rio Ferdinand sat and watched from the stands.
United was fortunate to be gifted a goal as Porto defender Bruno Alves made a no-look back pass which Rooney intercepted and calmly chipped a shot past the keeper in the 15th minute.
Manchester United was looking like a shadow of the team that had two trophies in the bag. But as the second half got underway, United took charge and took the lead in the 85th minute.
Carlos Tevez and Rooney must have a magical understanding of each other’s game. Tevez ran onto Rooney’s clever back flick and fired high into the net past Helton.
For the time being all looked better but in the 89th minute, another case of poor defending bit United. Gary Neville and John O’Shea left Mariano Gonzalez unmarked on the far side of goal.
Gonzalez managed to control the cross and avoid van der Sar with his shot. Porto had stung United once again, leaving Sir Alex Ferguson’s team with a major obstacle to climb in Porto next Wednesday.
Manchester United basically needs to beat the Portuguese team to keep alive the dream for five.
“It’s going to be difficult for us now. It will be a difficult game in Porto, that goes without saying,” Ferguson told a news conference.
“Apparently, we will have to be the first English team to win there, but we are going to have to do it. This club has always set firsts so this is a chance for us to be first again.”
In the Premier League, only eight games remain for United including a Manchester derby and a visit from Arsenal.
