% Dim oCs, oRs, strSQL set oCs = server.createobject("ADODB.Connection") oCs.Open "Driver={Microsoft Excel Driver (*.xls)}; DBQ=" & Server.MapPath("/season/02-03/data") & "/premtable.xls;" strSQL = "SELECT * FROM [Summary$] ORDER BY Pos ;" Set oRs = oCs.Execute(strSQL) %>
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Match Summary Champions Manchester United fielded a full strength team on the last day of the season to give Everton a real test in their final, vital game. European football for the Blues is at stake. But would it be necessary? After all, the Premiership had selected Manchester United's favourite referee, Mike Riley, to officiate.
Would anyone notice if he reffed (haha!) both Man Utd games against Everton this season? So what?! No one will care. Some lively stuff early on with action at both ends, Rooney causing desperate problems to United early on, and Scholes missing when he should have scored. Carroll got caught, beaten by Campbell — GOAL! Super Kev nods his 50th goal over the despairing United keeper. The Champions, responded in kind, mounting a fearsome onslaught on the Everton goal. Numerous chances, the easiest for van Nistelrooy who slotted wide thanks mainly to Wright's positioning. Rooney replied in like kind, producing another great shot from an impossible position. Then it all kicked off as Gravesen was dragged down in the United area. Gravesen went nuts and got himself booked, and very nearly sent off. Wright then made a fabulous point-blank save from Scholes. Wes Brown was stretchered off before half-time, then Campbell also had to come off and was replaced by Duncan Ferguson. An atrocious piece of cheating by Mike Riley gifted a goal to United, giving a free-kick on the edge of the area after Unsworth tackled Solskjaer superbly, collecting the ball. Beckham scored superbly from the set piece. A deliberate handball by Scholes was then totally ignored by Riley. Riley finally did something right, booking Rio Ferdinand. For the second half, Lauren Blanc came on for John O'Shea, and immediately van Nistelrooy hits the woodwork with a cross. More fearsome attacks from United keep Everton on the back foot, with news that Blackburn are 3-0 up against 10-man Spurs, and in the Uefa Cup slot... Blanc was in the book after being roasted by Rooney, then a great move from Unsworth allowed Naysmith to set up Rooney but he missed from 1 yard! More key saves from Wright at the other end kept Everton in with a chance, despite total midfield domination by United. Another fearsome attack, another great shot (from Beckham); another excellent save from Richard Wright. Rooney was through again (albeit offside!), but he snatched at it and sent it wide. Gravesen then went nuts again and was very lucky to stay on. Later, he was arguing with the referee again. He was finally withdrawn to give Nick Chadwick a chance. Rooney then fired another straight at Carroll from six yards! Stubbs then caught van Nistelrooy and Riley gave the penalty, booking Stubbs in the process, and giving van Nistelrooy an easy conversion from the spot. United were playing out the game with exhibition stuff, knowing they could frustrate Everton's desires by pure ability to keep possession — such a fundamental tenet of football that Everton, no matter how much they have improved under Moyes, can still not hope to emulate. So, despite the cheat of a ref, Everton in the end disappoint through their abject failure to convert a stream of golden chances, and the dream of Europe fades away... Just before the final whistle, the mood in the ground was pretty deflated. Everton had battled hard and had a go at United; but for a couple of missed opportunities, we may even have won it but we didn't. At the final whistle,0 Man United's 12th man was booed off. The Everton players and management did their lap of honour, they
received a huge ovation from all the stands — including the United
fans. Upon reaching the Gwladys Street, up went a massive chorus of
"He's got red hair but we don't care — Davie Davie Moyes" —
and rightly so. |
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Match Facts | |||||
Everton (4-4-2;
75': 4-3-3) Blue shirts, white shirts, blue socks |
Manchester United (4-4-2) Red shirts, black shorts, red socks |
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