West Ham 2 Man Utd 4
The first 45 minutes couldn't have gone much better for West Ham. Despite Man Utd dominating possession and forcing a number of corners West Ham went into the break two goals to the good.
The first goal came in the 11th minute, after a long ball forward played Cole in to the area. Cole tried to chip Evra and the defender handled the ball. Noble stepped up and placed the penalty into the bottom left corner, with the keeper diving the other way.
In the 24th minute Cole tried to beat Vidic on the edge of the area. Vidic brought Cole down on the edge of the penalty area and the ref gave another penalty. This time Noble smashed the ball into the top right corner of the goal.
In the 33rd minute West Ham had a great opportunity to make it 3-0 after O'Neil played a great cross to Hitzlsperger, who half volleyed the ball just wide of the left hand post. In the 41st minute Hitzlsperger came even closer from a freekick from 25 yards, when he put the ball inches wide of the right hand post.
At the other end, despite Man Utd's dominance of possession, they didn't create many clear cut chances. Green was only really called into action the once, when he made a great save from Park, shooting from just inside the area.
Man Utd brought on Hernandez for Evra at the start of the second half. The change almost paid immediate dividends, as within the first minute the Mexican put the ball over from 7 yards.
In the 64th minute Noble gave a freekick 25 yards out. From the freekick Rooney curled the ball around the wall and into the net, wide of the diving Green.
In the 73rd minute Rooney got Man Utd's equaliser from just inside the penalty area, shooting into the bottom left of the goal. Six minutes later and Upson was harshly deemed to have handled the ball in the area and Man Utd were given a penalty. Rooney stepped up and grabbed his hat-trick shooting into the bottom right.
Grant responded by bringing on Keane and Obinna. However, within minutes of the changes, a Giggs shot found Hernandez at the far post, who scored from 5 yards.
West Ham will be very disappointed to have given away four goals in the second half. The first half saw a great defensive display but in the second West Ham went missing.
posted by Keir Clarke @ 1:32 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Watching the match in Chicago: Hammers lost their way on defense in 2nd half. MUST shore up for remaining games.
I can't believe I've belittled Man Utd. that much, West Ham had got it on the first half, MAN!! that was heart-breaking
Thought overall Da Costa had a stinker & Cole was his ususal poor self! Scotty Parker looked tired!Think maybe Keane should have come on instead of Piquionne.
Grant lost the gam ein teh second half. His tactics were poor. He just stood helplessly on the touchline chnaging nothing while we self-destructed. Why were Cole and Ba camped at the halfway line,rather than helping to defend when we were run over ? Stupid tactics by both Downes and Grant. And why wait so long to make useful substitutions. The time to do it is at 2-0 or 2-1,not when we ve already gone down 2-3. tupid beyond belief
sould have gone 4,5,1 in the second half,with parker in front of the back 4 like he did for england. sometimes grant as not got a clue.
Strange how Grant was being hailed as the new misunderstood messiah last week and we had an outside chance of Europe! One result brings on short memories. Parker looked injured and so we lost midfield. Hitz doesn't seem to have an "engine". Wide players gave free range to their full backs. BUT we were playing probably one of the best teams in Europe on their day and just couldn't press their centre backs.
Post a Comment
<< Home