Guest Daniel Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 MATCH REPORT MATCH REPORT By David Anderson, PA Sport David Beckham scored a free-kick special three minutes into stoppage time to rescue Manchester United at Old Trafford. The former champions were heading for defeat against Leicester when they trailed 2-0 with only 12 minutes remaining. But substitute Teddy Sheringham pulled one back with a glancing header from Beckham's shot before the controversial England star scored a glorious equaliser with a sweetly-struck 25-yard free-kick which gave Pegguy Arphexad no chance. It was a tremendous finale for the England midfielder, who has just signed a new five-year contract at Old Trafford. He was booed and cheered simultaneously every time he touched the ball, but he ensured he had the final word with that terrific strike. United's defending was shocking at times and after six minutes the visitors, who won here 1-0 in January, took the lead through Emile Heskey. Muzzy Izzet was allowed to run along the deadball line before pulling the ball back for Heskey to poke it home from close range off the underside of the bar. Leicester almost had a second when former Red Robbie Savage's curled cross came off Jaap Stam and went over the bar after Tony Cottee had missed it. United's defence was in disarray and the Foxes carved out another chance, this time down the left on 16 minutes, but Cottee carelessly shot over from Steve Guppy's cross. Then Izzet pounced on a misplaced pass, charged into the box and crossed towards Heskey only for Denis Irwin to head clear. United finally managed to fashion an opening after 27 minutes when Andy Cole nodded the ball down on the edge of the area for Paul Scholes to miskick. Beckham brought a diving save from Kasey Keller with a long-range drive. Irwin then flashed a drive wide from just outside the box before a Giggs cross was just centimetres too high for Cole's head. Keller finally had something to do and he saved one point-blank effort from Roy Keane before he held another shot straight at him from Ronny Johnsen. Stam, who had been given the run around by Cottee in the first half, was replaced by Henning Berg. Cottee should have doubled Leicester's lead when he shot straight at Schmeichel from close range and the reaction of his manager Martin O'Neill made it clear that he should have done better. Leicester were forced to reorganise at the back on the hour when Keller was injured challenging Cole and had to be replaced by Arphexad. On 75 minutes Leicester doubled their advantage when Cottee, who scored the only goal here in January, popped up unmarked in the middle of the United defence to head home Savage's right-wing cross. United tried to fight back and Arphexad pushed Cole's shot into the side netting after the striker had rounded the goalkeeper. In the 78th minute United clawed themselves back into the match when Sheringham, who had only replaced Gary Neville a minute earlier, got his head to Beckham's shot. In a frantic finale, Leicester could have had a third only for Schmeichel to deny Heskey with a point-blank save. But in the end United were not to be denied as Beckham produced another piece of magic for his scrapbook. POST MATCH REACTIONS POST MATCH REACTIONS Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was delighted to have snatched a point after Manchester United's late rally at Old Trafford. "I think it was a good result for us although whether we deserved a draw or not is debatable," he said. "I'm pleased to get a result after we were 2-0 down with 15 minutes to go. You've got to give credit to Leicester because in the first 20 minutes they put us through the mill with their aggressive start and it was not the kind of start you want to a new season to be 1-0 down after four minutes. "It took us 30 minutes to get going but they defended absolutely fantastically. They did not need a goalkeeper - I have never seen defenders get in the road of shots like they did." Ferguson praised referee Neil Barry for making the Leicester wall retreat the full 10 yards for Beckham's free-kick and he claimed that had made all the difference. "He got the requisite 10 yards which makes the difference," he said. "If you give him 10 yards he'll always get it over the top." The Foxes were on course to continue their remarkable record against United when they led 2-0 with just 12 minutes remaining, but substitute Teddy Sheringham pulled a goal back before David Beckham equalised with a free-kick deep into stoppage time. "I'm actually very disappointed," said O'Neill. "To be 2-0 up at Old Trafford on the opening day of the season and despite Manchester United having the majority of the possession in the second half, overall I thought we had the better chances in the game. But we were never comfortable, even at 2-0 and we just got a wee bit tired and sloppy. In the dressing room it's very sombre - we were close to winning but it hasn't happened although at least we are off the mark." O'Neill felt his substitute goalkeeper Pegguy Arphexad could have done better with the set piece. "To be honest I felt Pegguy could have stopped that or anticipated that it was going into that side." Arphexad had replaced Kasey Keller after the American had come off with a knee injury while Matt Elliott suffered a suspected broken nose. United did not escape unscathed and record-signing Japp Stam came off at half time with a pulled thigh muscle, which will keep him out for two weeks. Leicester, though, did have something to celebrate as Northern Ireland midfielder Neil Lennon agreed a new two-year contract. "I signed today and I'm absolutely delighted," he said. "The gaffer has really pushed the boat out for me and it's great to be wanted." Emile Heskey had given Leicester the lead after six minutes and Tony Cottee doubled their advantage in the 75th minute before United's late show. TEAMS TEAMS Manchester United: Schmeichel, G Neville, Stam, Johnsen, Irwin, Beckham, Scholes, Butt, Giggs, Scholes, Cole. Subs: Berg for Stam, Sheringham for G Neville. Scorers: Sheringham (79), Beckham (90) Leicester City: Keller, Savage, Guppy, Sinclair, Elliot, Walsh, Izzet, Lennon, Zagorakis, Cottee, Heskey. Subs: Arphexad for Keller, Wilson for Cottee, Taggart for Elliot. Scorers: Heskey (7), Cottee (76) Referee: N Barry Attendance: 55,052 Those were the days....
Guest Daniel Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 I know, Beckham ran us silly that day. He had a solid game and things went so well for us. Ive got the highlights here if anyone wants just say.
Craig Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 I was in a box that day, didnt arf get abused when they scored the second
Mark Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 I still think Pegguy should have saved that free kick in the final few minutes of the game
Guest Daniel Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 I still think Pegguy should have saved that free kick in the final few minutes of the game 48908[/snapback] Keller was in goal...
Cobbo Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 I still think Pegguy should have saved that free kick in the final few minutes of the game 48908[/snapback] Twas not one of his better free kicks, first game of the season after the France World Cup of '98, so we were giving him a load of shit. But 2-0 up... Muzzy did amazingly well for our first goal, which was the first goal scored in the Prem that season
Cobbo Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 I still think Pegguy should have saved that free kick in the final few minutes of the game 48908[/snapback] Keller was in goal... 48909[/snapback] Pegguy came on as sub Read the report? Watch the highlights?
Guest Daniel Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 Shit yeah, Pegguy came on. Sorry my bad.
Craig Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 I rewmember it like it was yesterday, i met Robbie Savage for the first time after that game :w00t:
Cobbo Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 I was on a beach listening to it. Went mad when Beckham scored, so many rocks around to get mad with too.
Jonbluefox9 Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 Those were the days.... See, not much changes. We threw a two nil lead away even then.
Craig Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 Those were the days.... See, not much changes. We threw a two nil lead away even then. 48924[/snapback] It was orgasmic when we went 2-0 up though :w00t:
Scow Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 Those were the times I had to make do with listening to Uncle Nev and Co on the Radio.... I was so gutted after that game, took me nearly a week to get over it. But then I remember us beating Everton 2-0 the following week with Cottee and Muzzy snatching the goals.
Cobbo Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 Those were the times I had to make do with listening to Uncle Nev and Co on the Radio....I was so gutted after that game, took me nearly a week to get over it. But then I remember us beating Everton 2-0 the following week with Cottee and Muzzy snatching the goals. 48941[/snapback] More like you've seen it on the season review video
Scow Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 Those were the times I had to make do with listening to Uncle Nev and Co on the Radio....I was so gutted after that game, took me nearly a week to get over it. But then I remember us beating Everton 2-0 the following week with Cottee and Muzzy snatching the goals. 48941[/snapback] More like you've seen it on the season review video 48943[/snapback] Well, yes, but I still remember it anyway.
Ricey Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 Keller, Savage, Guppy, Sinclair, Elliot, Walsh, Izzet, Lennon, Zagorakis, Cottee, Heskey. What a bloody great side that was! Where did it all go wrong? Oh yeah I remember.....Peter Taylor!
Guest freund Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 I was on a beach listening to it.Went mad when Beckham scored, so many rocks around to get mad with too. 48922[/snapback] I can remember being on holiday at the beginning of the last premiership campaign, when we were two nil up against Southampton and they came back to 2 all
Craig Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 I was on a beach listening to it.Went mad when Beckham scored, so many rocks around to get mad with too. 48922[/snapback] I can remember being on holiday at the beginning of the last premiership campaign, when we were two nil up against Southampton and they came back to 2 all 48979[/snapback] WE ARE TOP O LEAGUE SAY WE ARE TOP O LEAGUE!! Ahhh the memories...
Cobbo Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 I was on a beach listening to it.Went mad when Beckham scored, so many rocks around to get mad with too. 48922[/snapback] I can remember being on holiday at the beginning of the last premiership campaign, when we were two nil up against Southampton and they came back to 2 all 48979[/snapback] I was in the same place that I was for the 2-2 with Man Yoo. Maybe I shouldn't go there when we have a game as we also lost 6-1 to Ipswich when I was there. Hmmmm.
Muz Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 Just shows you look at our team now compared to that one. Good old days them, the midfiled was class! Theo Savage Muz and Lennon pure class
Cobbo Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 Just shows you look at our team now compared to that one. Good old days them, the midfiled was class! Theo Savage Muz and Lennon pure class 48982[/snapback] Sav would have been the right wing back, with Guppy on the left. Oh Guppy was class Another player ruined by Taylor
Scow Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 I was on a beach listening to it.Went mad when Beckham scored, so many rocks around to get mad with too. 48922[/snapback] I can remember being on holiday at the beginning of the last premiership campaign, when we were two nil up against Southampton and they came back to 2 all 48979[/snapback] I was in the same place that I was for the 2-2 with Man Yoo. Maybe I shouldn't go there when we have a game as we also lost 6-1 to Ipswich when I was there. Hmmmm. 48981[/snapback] Pah, I was in Gran Canaria when we lost 6-1 to Ipswich! Bloody nightmare that was. I remember sitting in an internet cafe keeping an eye on the score. Half time I thought great, 1-1, although was in disbelief that we equalised so soon. Second half, then it became 2-1, 3-1, 4-1 and so on...I thought there was something wrong with the computer. It wasn't great considering there was an Ipswich fan who was right next to me keeping an eye on the score as well.
Cobbo Posted 23 December 2004 Posted 23 December 2004 I was on a beach listening to it.Went mad when Beckham scored, so many rocks around to get mad with too. 48922[/snapback] I can remember being on holiday at the beginning of the last premiership campaign, when we were two nil up against Southampton and they came back to 2 all 48979[/snapback] I was in the same place that I was for the 2-2 with Man Yoo. Maybe I shouldn't go there when we have a game as we also lost 6-1 to Ipswich when I was there. Hmmmm. 48981[/snapback] Pah, I was in Gran Canaria when we lost 6-1 to Ipswich! Bloody nightmare that was. I remember sitting in an internet cafe keeping an eye on the score. Half time I thought great, 1-1, although was in disbelief that we equalised so soon. Second half, then it became 2-1, 3-1, 4-1 and so on...I thought there was something wrong with the computer. It wasn't great considering there was an Ipswich fan who was right next to me keeping an eye on the score as well. 48988[/snapback] I was in East Anglia Much nicer than Gran Canaria btw
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