Aston Villa v Manchester United: full time report
Aston Villa 2 Manchester United 2
Two dramatic late goals from Federico Macheda and Nemanja Vidic ensured Manchester United escaped Villa Park with a point after going 2-0 down against Aston Villa.
A second-half penalty from Ashley Young gave the hosts the lead, before Marc Albrighton quickly doubled their advantage. But a tremendous strike from substitute Macheda and a late header from Vidic sealed the Red Devils a precious draw.
Villa came into this lunchtime kick-off with just one win in their last six league matches and without a victory over United at Villa Park since August 1995.
Nevertheless, Gerard Houllier's side were combative and up for the battle. Some stern defending from both sides kept chances at a premium during the opening 45 minutes, although Dimitar Berbatov really should have broken the deadlock midway through the first-half after fine work from strike-partner Javier Hernandez.
The Bulgarian, who hasn't scored for United since his hat-trick against Liverpool in September, was teed-up neatly by the Mexico international, but skewed his shot wide of Brad Friedel's near post with his unfavoured left foot.
It took Villa half an hour to hit their first shot on goal. Young was presented with the opportunity after Gabriel Agbonlahor flicked the ball on ahead of Rio Ferdinand. However, the 40-year-old Edwin van der Sar was equal to the England winger's low drive.
Houllier's side ended the first-half on top and went close through Stewart Downing, who must have thought he'd given his side the lead after watching his shot deflect off Rio Ferdinand, but the ball whistled agonisingly past Van der Sar's left post.
The hosts continued the second-half from where they left off and went close to scoring five minutes after the interval through Albrighton. A mix-up between the United defence allowed the ball to roll through to the England Under-21 international, but his shot was lashed wide of goal.
Moments later, United were fortunate not to have a man sent off when Nani caught Stephen Warnock in the head with a stray arm. Replays suggested it was a deliberate act, but the in-form winger escaped with a yellow card.
Perturbed by referee Mike Dean's decision to only book Nani, Villa continued to press in search of the opening goal. Albrighton should have scored after a wonderful cross from Downing, but the 20-year-old couldn't direct his free header on target despite finding himself in space at the back post.
With 25 minutes remaining, United were rocking and found themselves firmly pinned against the ropes.
First, James Colllins crashed a header against the United crossbar after meeting another delightful cross from Downing, before Agbonlahor fired a shot against the post moments later.
It was a major let-off for Sir Alex Ferguson's side, who looked distinctly second best, but Villa were soon rewarded for their dogged persistence.
Agbonlahor used his raw pace against Vidic to beat the Serbian to the ball, and his cross found the onrushing Young in the United penalty area ahead of Wes Brown, who bundled the winger over leaving the referee with no other option but to award a penalty.
Young confidently despatched the spot-kick past Van der Sar, leaving United with a mountain to climb to rescue something from the tie.
Ferguson threw on Macheda and Gabriel Obertan for Berbatov and Hernandez as the visitors pushed forward in search of the equaliser, but they conceded the second soon after following a brilliant counter-attack from Houllier's side.
Good work from Young down the left flank saw him slip in the lively Downing, and the winger fed another teasing cross into the United penalty area which Albrighton poked in at the far post.
It was no less than the Villains deserved, but like a wounded animal, their opponents were h**l-bent on fighting back.
Darren Fletcher remained calm on the edge of the Villa box and rolled a ball back to Macheda, who announced himself to the Premier League with a dramatic winner against Aston Villa in 2009, and the youngster slammed a stunning strike into the roof of the net to reduce the deficit to one goal.
Downing then nearly put the game beyond reach with a superb right-footed drive which appeared destined for the back of the net. The winger's powerful effort, though, sailed inches over the crossbar to keep United firmly in the match.
In the end, it was a missed opportunity they'd live to regret, because the masters of the late goal were soon back on level terms as Vidic headed in to score the priceless equaliser.
The United captain met Nani's sublime cross at the back post and dramatically nodded the ball across the face of goal for the visitor's second of the afternoon.
The result means that United are now three points behind league leaders Chelsea having only won once away from home all season. But with 10 minutes of the match remaining, Ferguson would have gladly settled for a 2-2 draw.
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