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06.01.2000 Manchester United 1-1 Necaxa Maracana Stadium, Brazil |
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Matchreport by Redcafe |
| By David Anderson, PA Sport, Rio de Janeiro Dwight Yorke rescued Manchester United from a humiliating defeat in the World Club Championship on a night when David Beckham's World Cup red card shame returned to haunt him. United's England midfielder was dismissed two minutes before half-time in the Maracana Stadium for a reckless tackle on Necaxa's Jose Milian. Beckham caught Milian on the thigh with his studs after the ball had long gone and Argentinian referee Horacio Elizondo had no hesitation in producing the red card. Memories of Beckham's sending off against Argentina at France 98 came flooding back and no doubt he can expect yet more criticism just when it seemed he had put St Etienne behind him. United were furious with the decision and Ryan Giggs was booked for taking his protests too far. However they will have few complaints when they see the television replays of what was a crass and stupid challenge. Beckham will now at least miss the Vasco da Gama game on Saturday and he will probably also be suspended for United's third game against South Melbourne on Tuesday. Yorke ensured the night did not end in total disaster for United and he atoned for missing a 78th-minute penalty by netting the equaliser. United had started the Group B game with such high hopes after all the controversy surrounding their participation and Roy Keane had recovered from his knee problem to captain what was a full-strength side. Temperatures at pitchside were around 30C when the game began so it came as little surprise that both sides were content to let the ball do the work. As expected Necaxa's attacks were orchestrated by playmaker Alex Aguinaga and after 14 minutes he made a break which led to their goal. He expertly lifted the ball over Jaap Stam and as the Ecuadorean international raced away, the United defender was harshly adjudged to have fouled him 25 yards from goal. Then as Aguinaga shaped up to take the free-kick, Cristian Montecinos whipped it over the wall with his left foot and into the bottom right corner of Mark Bosnich's goal. Delgado was then rightly cautioned by referee Horacio Elizondo after the Necaxa striker dived in the area in an attempt to win a penalty off Bosnich. Then just before half-time things went from bad to worse for United when Beckham was dismissed for his reckless challenge on the near touchline. United's defence was all over the place when the second half started and Necaxa could easily have scored a second goal. Stam did well to close down Delgado after the Ecuadorean had been left in acres of space before Gary Neville cut out Jose Higareda's dangerous centre. Montecinos then fluffed a great chance at the back post, but his blushes were partially spared by the assistant referee, who had raised his flag to signal offside. United battled back and Neville broke into the Necaxa box on the right only for his centre to run agonisingly across the goalmouth. Despite United's possession, Necaxa still looked the likelier to score and Bosnich made a flying stop to deny Montecinos from 25 yards out. The drama continued and in the 57th minute Necaxa were awarded a dubious penalty when Elizondo ruled that Mickael Silvestre had brought down Montecinos in the box. Montecinos appeared to stumble after he had dallied too long on the ball and the decision was harsh on Silvestre. However justice was done when Bosnich saved Aguinaga's weak spot-kick and Keane was on hand to complete the clearance. United's miserable night continued when Ferguson was ordered out of his technical area for walking out of the area to complain about a decision to the fourth official. He trudged over to the halfway line with assistant Steve McClaren to join bad boy Beckham, who by now had showered and changed. Although everything was going against United they almost equalised in the 70th minute when Keane played a one-two with Yorke, only for Hugo Pineda to save well to his left. With 17 minutes remaining United went for broke when they brought on Phil Neville and supersubs Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham in an attempt to rescue the game. United thought they had made the breakthrough when they were awarded a penalty for handball in the 78th minute. Up stepped Yorke, because Irwin had been substituted, but just like he did when he last took a penalty for United against Arsenal last February, he missed. But the Trinidadian made amends four minutes later when he steered home Solskjaer's mis-hit shot to salvage a point for United. |
| Manchester United: Bosnich, G Neville, Irwin, Silvestre, Stam, Beckham, Butt, Keane, Giggs, Yorke, Cole. Subs: Solskjaer for Irwin, P Neville for Butt, Sheringham for Cole Scorers: Yorke (82) Sent Off: Beckham (42) Necaxa: Pineda, Babrera, Almaguer, Aguinaga, Peres, Delgado, Lopes, Vigna, Milian, Montecinos, Higareda. Subs: Vazquez for Matecinos, Ambriz for Vigna, Acosta for Higareda Scorers: Montecinos (15) Referee: H Elizondo (Arg) |
