Kiraly Error Lets United off the Hook
Manchester United 2 – 1 Aston Villa – 7th January 2007
A goalkeeper error from Aston Villa stand in keeper Gabor Kiraly allowed Manchester United to breathe a huge sigh of relief after being pushed to the limit by Premiership Aston Villa.
United had gone ahead after a debut goal from Henrik Larsson but were pegged back by a late Milan Baros strike which looked set to force a Villa Park replay. Substitute Solskjaer got his side out of trouble once more as his shot squirmed past the Villa keeper in stoppage time to send United through to Round Four.
Premiership leaders Manchester United did however have to suffer through a lot of frustration in this FA Cup clash as it seemed destined at one point that the game was heading for a 0-0 stalemate.
Forwards Wayne Rooney and Larsson provided United with plenty of promise but both missed several chances in the first half to allow Villa to stay in the game. The away sides best and only effort in the first period game from a Barry free kick which missed the target by inches but it was largely about the chances that United could not finish.
Kiraly had earlier kept his side in the game after a teriffic save from Wayne Rooney at his near post. It was, in truth, the only effort which threatened to give United the lead as final ball after final ball let the reds down as the searched for the opening goal of the game. Rooney had two tame efforts saved by the keeper whilst Larsson forced the Hungarian goalie into three routine saves before the break.
It wasn’t until the second half that United’s dominance finally showed through and it was the debutant Larsson who grabbed the goal early in the second half. Excellent link up play between the two United forwards gave the Swede a chance just inside the area. Unlike his efforts in the first half, he managed to get some power behind his shot and gave Kiraly no chance to get Villa off the hook.
The goal was nothing more than United deserved as Giggs, Ronaldo, Larsson and Rooney were all receiving far too much space in the Aston Villa half of the pitch. The Villans offered very little in terms of a goal threat and it wasn’t until O’Neil made changes that the game could be considered a real contest. Taking off arguably his most creative player in Petrov, he allowed Barry to switch to a more offensive role and it was because of this that Villa started to make their way onto the front foot in the game.
United were given a warning by their opponents from a corner which Kuzsak missed but defender Gary Cahill was unable to make a proper connection with and force a header into the net. Next it was Osbourne who forced United to panic, but his shot was weak and failed to force a real save from the United stopper.
The home side however failed to heed the warnings offered and continued to neglect their defensive duties. It wasn’t until a largely anonymous Baros ghosted into the box that United began to realize the error of their ways. A charged down shot from captain Barry on the edge of the box broke to the Czech striker who controlled instantly and rolled the ball into the corner of the net with his instep to bring his side back into the game.
The introduction of Solskjaer always gave United a chance but the goal seemingly gave Villa confidence and they looked comfortable claiming a draw until the injury time error by their keeper.
The Norwegian striker who has returned from injury this season to great effect was given the ball by Rooney and hit a first time shot towards the keeper. As Kiraly tried to claim the ball on the ground it slipped under his body and made it into the net to deny his side a Villa and give United a chance to complete their first Double since 1999.
Premiership leaders Manchester United did however have to suffer through a lot of frustration in this FA Cup clash as it seemed destined at one point that the game was heading for a 0-0 stalemate.
Forwards Wayne Rooney and Larsson provided United with plenty of promise but both missed several chances in the first half to allow Villa to stay in the game. The away sides best and only effort in the first period game from a Barry free kick which missed the target by inches but it was largely about the chances that United could not finish.
Kiraly had earlier kept his side in the game after a teriffic save from Wayne Rooney at his near post. It was, in truth, the only effort which threatened to give United the lead as final ball after final ball let the reds down as the searched for the opening goal of the game. Rooney had two tame efforts saved by the keeper whilst Larsson forced the Hungarian goalie into three routine saves before the break.
It wasn’t until the second half that United’s dominance finally showed through and it was the debutant Larsson who grabbed the goal early in the second half. Excellent link up play between the two United forwards gave the Swede a chance just inside the area. Unlike his efforts in the first half, he managed to get some power behind his shot and gave Kiraly no chance to get Villa off the hook.
The goal was nothing more than United deserved as Giggs, Ronaldo, Larsson and Rooney were all receiving far too much space in the Aston Villa half of the pitch. The Villans offered very little in terms of a goal threat and it wasn’t until O’Neil made changes that the game could be considered a real contest. Taking off arguably his most creative player in Petrov, he allowed Barry to switch to a more offensive role and it was because of this that Villa started to make their way onto the front foot in the game.
United were given a warning by their opponents from a corner which Kuzsak missed but defender Gary Cahill was unable to make a proper connection with and force a header into the net. Next it was Osbourne who forced United to panic, but his shot was weak and failed to force a real save from the United stopper.
The home side however failed to heed the warnings offered and continued to neglect their defensive duties. It wasn’t until a largely anonymous Baros ghosted into the box that United began to realize the error of their ways. A charged down shot from captain Barry on the edge of the box broke to the Czech striker who controlled instantly and rolled the ball into the corner of the net with his instep to bring his side back into the game.
The introduction of Solskjaer always gave United a chance but the goal seemingly gave Villa confidence and they looked comfortable claiming a draw until the injury time error by their keeper.
The Norwegian striker who has returned from injury this season to great effect was given the ball by Rooney and hit a first time shot towards the keeper. As Kiraly tried to claim the ball on the ground it slipped under his body and made it into the net to deny his side a Villa and give United a chance to complete their first Double since 1999.