Football Update: EPL News- Aston Villa 2 Manchester United 2- Vidic Rescue United from the jaws of defeat
A second half goal from defender Nemanja Vidic keeps Manchester United unbeaten record intact.
The game exploded into action in second half after a lacklustre first half, in which opportunities were few and far. Manchester United were uncharacteristically woeful. Villa had United on the ropes for majority of game. The only clear cut chance of the
first half fell for Dimitar Berbatov, who beat the off-side trap to swing his right boot from 15 yards out, but James Collins dealt with it.
It was all Villa after the interval. They hit the bar twice in matter on minutes, firstly, Stewart Downing found his range in a massive way and he curled over a sumptuous cross from the left that James Collins headed against the crossbar.
Gabby Agbonlahor followed up his own pass into the box by hammering a shot against the base of Edwin van der Sar's right-hand post, before Stewart Downing's goal-bound shot on the rebound is brilliantly deflected behind by a lunging Patrice Evra.
Villa broke and broke quickly as Gabby Agbonlahor's pace caused Nemanja Vidic a real problem. He nicked the ball into the United box for Ashley Young, who was brought down by Wes Brown. It was a definite penalty, and referee duly points towards the spot.
Brown was booked and Young dusted himself down to slot past Edwin van der Sar. They deserved it, Villa.
Ferguson decided he has seen enough of sorry United. He made two changes; Gabriel Obertan and Federico Macheda came on in place of Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez.
Manchester United were still reeling over the first goal when Villa hit them again. After 75 minutes Macheda lost possession in his own half. Ashley Young went ahead with the charge down the left, he slipped in Stewart Downing and his cross to the back post was
rammed in six yards out by a gleeful Marc Albrighton. It's was a brilliant breakaway goal. By now, Villa were turning the s***w.
At last, some perseverance from United, the visitors put some concerted pressure on Aston Villa defence and Darren Fletcher tees up Federico Macheda 20 yards out to hit a rising rocket of a right-foot shot that flies into the top corner, magnificent hit!
United back in it.
No matter how badly they play, they just do not know when they are beaten, Manchester United. Nani twists this way and that and sends over a super cross from the left-hand side to the far post, where a stooping Nemanja Vidic heads into the Villa net. Unbelievable.
Simply unrealistic United were level with 5 minutes to go. They could have gone on to win. It was all United from this point forward.
You have to go way back to the opening day of the 1995/1996 season for Villa's last league win at home against Manchester United. Today, it nearly was a win for Villa who were two goals to the good with 15 minutes remaining. They left United off the hook.
Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier said after the game, “We should have won, but we could have lost. We had a lot of chances in the second half, and some of them should have been put away.”
“We hit the bar and the post and had a close-range header. We scored two good goals but it is never enough against Manchester United".
He explained disappointedly.
Final Score: Aston Villa 2 Manchester United 2
Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Albrighton, Hogg (Lichaj), Bannan, Downing, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor (Delfouneso)
Subs: Guzan, Osbourne, Herd, Lowry, Johnson.
Yellow card: Luke Young, Ashley Young
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Park(Smalling), Fletcher, Carrick, Nani, Hernandez (Obertan), Berbatov (Macheda)
Subs: Amos, Fabio Da Silva, O'Shea, Gibson.
Yellow card: Nani, Hernandez,
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
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