RESERVES MATCH ROMA

 

(Image taken from BBC)

Well United had already faced Roma at Old Trafford in Group F and picked up three points. Since then, well we'd kept on winning untill we'd won five group games out of five and not only qualified for the last 16 but secured the group's top spot with a game to spare. So, we left a lot of the big names at home before heading to the Stadio Olimpico. So,4-4-2, Simpson right back, Pique and Johnathon Evans central defence, O'Shea left back, Eagles right mid, Rooney and Saha up front(with Wayne as captain).

The raw United XI were in no mood to lie down though and we had the bulk of the early attacks with Roma having to settle for counters, though they did hit the net at one point - it just got given as offside. It still looked like United fire would win the day though and a string of corners eventually led to Pique heading one in in the 34th minute. Roma's defence started to get increasingly desperate and United came in at half time with perfection in our sights.

In the second half though, the Roma gaffer had clearly told his team that he didn't want the Stadio Olimpico to fall toUnited's reserves. So it wasn't long before had to deal with a Roma scorcher flying off the post! Still we held out well enough to still expect to go six from six, until Mirko Vucinic set up Alessandro Mancini for a 71st minute equaliser. United never looked really interested in retaking the lead, but we got a point out of Rome anyway!

In other groups, Liverpool faced Marseilles at the Stadio Velodrome in Group A. Steven Gerrard opened the scoring early on, Fernando Torres then made it two, Dirk Kuyt got Pool's third early on in the second half and with the Ligue 1 side absolutely crumbling, Ryan Babbel finished them off to complete one heck of a turnaround. Liverpool finish 2nd in the group, three points ahead of Marseilles though one point behind group winners Porto! That still puts all four Premiership entries into the knockout stages though!

In Group H, Arsenal faced Steuea Bucharest at the Emirates Stadium. Vassiriki Diarby opened the scoring for Arsenal with Niklas Bendtner making it two just before half time. Dorel Saharia pulled one back for Steuea but never seriously looked like getting an equaliser and Arsene Wenger can at least claim his team's group campaign ended on a high. Seville winning elsewhere though meant that the Gunners still had to settle for second spot in the group, two points behind the La Liga side.

In Group E, Rangers faced Lyon at Ibrox. Slight problem, the visitors were up for payback. Sidney Govou opened the scoring for them. The Gers had their chances but blew then and Karin Benzema hit two more goals late on to force Walter Smith's elite dream to come to a sudden, crushing halt! The Gers finish three points behind 2nd place Lyon, denying them a ticket to the knockout stages but they still finish four points ahead of bottom side Stuttgart to accept the parachute into the UEFA Cup.

Going arguably up a level from that, AC Milan faced Urawa Red Diamonds in the Club World Cup semi finals at the International Stadium. The European giants seemed to come in with the idea that they could take a win for granted but all that led to was a 0-0 score at half time. They stepped up a gear in the second half though and Clarence Seedorf went on to hit the winner. The Serie A side return to the International Stadium for the final against Boca Juniors.

 

Back to domestic affairs and the Carling Cup quarter finals have started up with West Ham facing Everton at Upton Park. Carton Cole opened the scoring for the Hammers but Leon Osman equalised for Everton before half time. The second half wasn't the classiest of all time and what chances there were tended to belong to the Hammers. However Ayegbeni Yakubu struck against the run of play for Everton to give the Blues their first League Cup semi appearance since 1988!

Finally, we have Fabio Capello England manager. I am not exactly breaking out the Peroni. After Mourinho turned down the job there were two solid English candidates that the FA could have gone for - Stuart Pearce and Roy Hodgson. Let's face it it wouldn't have been hard for the FA to hire our under 21s manager. However I am not freaking out over another foreign gaffer either. I was similarly downbeat when Sven was hired. However if he'll do as well as some are claiming we'll be well sorted. Fingers crossed.

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