Premier League: Everton v Manchester United half time report
Everton 1 Manchester United 1
Everton and Manchester United are level at half time at Goodison Park.
The big news before the game was the absence of Untied striker Wayne Rooney, and for some time it looked as though United would struggle without their talisman.
Steven Pienaar gave Everton the lead on 39 minutes after a quick counter-attack as Leon Osman picked out the South African, who calmly slotted the ball past Manchester United ‘keeper Edwin van der Sar. This came on the back of Mikel Arteta breaking from inside his own half to be one on one with Van der Sar, whose effort was palmed into the path of Osman.
United levelled two minutes before half time, as Nani’s cross from the right picked out an unmarked Darren Fletcher, who scored his second goal of the season.
Everton began the game in typical fashion, hurrying Manchester United and closing them down all over the pitch.
Arteta nearly opened the scoring to put the home side in front on six minutes as his trademark free-kick brushed the top of the crossbar.
Osman fired over from the edge of the box as Everton continued to pile on the pressure on Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.
John O’Shea almost put United in front after they soaked up the pressure on 15 minutes when he hit a tremendous shot from a long way out, but his shot just whistled over Everton ‘keeper Tim Howard’s net.
Tim Cahill, playing a supporting role to Marouane Fellaini up front, hit a left-footed shot over the bar which didn’t trouble Van der Sar on 25 minutes as the game settled down after an Everton storm at the start.
Approaching the half hour mark, Leighton Baines popping up from left-back had a great chance to put Everton in front, but he miscued his shot horribly wide.
Howard made a fantastic save with his foot to deny a Paul Scholes’ deflected shot on 34 minutes. The deflection wrong-footed the former United ‘keeper, who somehow managed to stick out a foot and pull off a fine save.
Howard once again made a fine save on 38 minutes, as Ryan Giggs was denied from close-range.
Dimitar Berbatov almost put United 2-1 up after his volley went agonisingly wide of Howard’s goal. The Bulgarian showed great technique to make the chance a decent one.
Everton will feel they should be leading, but United have had their chances as well.
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