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Europa - Süd America Cup |
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Dienstag, 30.11.1999 Manchester United 1:0 Palmeiras Olympiastadion Tokyo |
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Matchreport by Redcafe |
| By David Anderson, PA Sport, in Tokyo The Japanese fans had come to see David Beckham, but instead it was United's other wing king Ryan Giggs who produced the moment of skill that won Manchester United the Toyota Cup. On 35 minutes Giggs produced a piece of classic wing play down the left when he sent over a deep cross, which completely deceived Palmeiras goalkeeper Marcos, and Roy Keane netted from close range. Keane's strike made yet another piece of football history for Sir Alex Ferguson's trailblazers, and they have become the first British side to win the inter-continental challenge between the champions of Europe and South America. With the huge trophy comes the title of the best team in the world, and the cynics could argue that United need not now bother going to Brazil to compete in FIFA's World Club Championship. United's victory in the close contest in Tokyo's National Stadium will prove popular with the hordes of Japanese who had turned out to support them, decked in their Beckham shirts. The Japanese certainly know how to put on a show, and the fans were treated to a laser and fireworks display before the game. After such a build-up the first half was something of a disappointment. Ferguson did his bit and fielded a strong side to do the match justice. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was deployed as a lone striker, with Beckham and Giggs supporting him down the flanks and Paul Scholes from midfield. United fashioned the first chance inside the opening two minutes when Nicky Butt, who shrugged off his wrist injury to play, was fouled 25 yards out on the right and Beckham curled the free-kick just over. Palmeiras' main attacking thrusts were coming from former Newcastle striker Faustino Asprilla who has lost none of the skills which used to delight the Toon Army. From one chance he beat Mickael Silvestre in the area only for the dependable Jaap Stam to block his shot. The Palmeiras fans thought their side should have had a penalty when Alex went down under a challenge from Silvestre just inside the area, but referee Hellmut Krug waved play on. Mark Bosnich, who was arguably United's man of the match, came to his side's aid when first he made a fine stop from Alex, after the Palmeiras striker had been played in by Asprilla, before he saved a header from Junior. United brought some life to the dull proceedings when they opened the scoring on 35 minutes when Giggs and Keane combined to score. Butt went close to a second three minutes later with a 30-yard drive which was just wide of Marcos' left-hand post. Silvestre preserved United's lead when he cleared Alex's header from his own goalline with his boot. Solsjkaer had struggled up front, and it came as little surprise when he was replaced by Dwight Yorke at the interval. The second half was much more open, and Yorke and Asprilla went close in the opening couple of minutes. The game was finally living up to its billing as the world championship, and Sampaio made a great challenge on Scholes before the England midfielder flicked a backheeled effort over the bar and Butt went close with a curled effort. Arce then gifted United possession, and Yorke fed Giggs only for the Welshman to shoot wide from the great opportunity. The chances were coming thick and fast, and Bosnich smothered an effort from substitute Oseas before United screamed in vain for a penalty for a challenge on Yorke. Alex remained a threat and he fired wide following a strong run before he headed just inches wide. Palmeiras were getting closer, and Bosnich made a fantastic point-blank save from Oseas before he denied substitute Euller. Bosnich continued to thwart the Brazilians and made another fingertip save from that man Alex again. post match REACTIONS By David Anderson, PA Sport, Tokyo Mark Bosnich proved against Palmeiras that he has fully recovered from the nightmare start to his Manchester United career. Bosnich endured a torrid beginning to his second spell at Old Trafford after he arrived in the summer to replace Peter Schmeichel. It seemed that the task of succeeding United's greatest goalkeeper would be too much for the affable Australian and he had a shaky start before he injured his hamstring after three league games. While Bosnich was sidelined Sir Alex Ferguson splashed out £4.5million on Massimo Taibi and when he recovered he found himself relegated to third choice in the goalkeeping pecking order. But Bosnich reclaimed the number one spot and his performance in United's 1-0 victory over South American champions Palmeiras in the Toyota Cup showed that he is back to his best. He was in inspired form as United won to become the first British club to be crowned world champions. He made a great save from Palmeiras midfielder Alex in the first half before he made a succession of fine stops after the interval to deny substitute Oseas twice and Alex again. Ferguson was not surprised by Bosnich's display in the Inter-Continental challenge and he feels he has been looking good for the last couple of games. "I think that maybe solidifies his reputation as a goalkeeper, but I think for the last few games he has been doing well," said the United boss. "But sometimes in terms of becoming noteworthy you have to have some performance like this before everybody sits up. "Tonight he distinguished himself as a goalkeeper and this just shows the ability we all knew he had. "He had an excellent game and he made some really terrific saves, in the first half particularly. "He had his early problems with injury and that kind of thing, but I don't think there was any doubt about his ability as he has shown tonight." Ryan Giggs won the most valuable player award of a Toyota Celica when really it should have gone to Bosnich. Perhaps the Japanese journalists who voted for Giggs had been dazzled by his star quality and while it was the Welshman who crossed for Roy Keane to score the only goal on 35 minutes, it was Bosnich who was the key to United's victory. Giggs could hardly praise Bosnich enough and he hopes he can use this display as a springboard for the rest of the season. "Bossie was outstanding tonight and some of the saves he made were tremendous," said Giggs. "They were more or less goals really and some of the reflex saves he made kept us in it, especially in the first half when it was 0-0. "He managed to get a hand to a shot from, I think it was Alex, who had gone through and that was just something else. "I hope he can go on and have a great season because all the boys know that he is a great goalkeeper and he's proved that." Palmeiras coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who was also a loser with Gremio four years ago against Ajax, had no doubt that Bosnich was the difference between the two sides. He claimed that his forwards did everything right and that Bosnich was just unbeatable on the night. "I think we played as well as Manchester United in all aspects, but we just couldn't score," he said. "That was because it was Bosnich's day and not my forwards' day. He did very well in goal and my strikers just could not beat him. "I believe he played a huge part in Manchester United's victory." |
| Manchester United: Bosnich, G. Neville, Stam, Silvestre, Irwin, Beckham, Scholes, Butt, Keane, Giggs, Scholes, Solskjaer. Subs: Yorke for Solskjaer, Sheringham for Scholes Scorers: Keane (35) Palmeiras: Marcos, Arce, Junior Baiano, Roque Junior, Junior, Cesar Sampaio Alex, Galeano, Zinho, Paulo Nunes, Asprilla. Subs: Evair for Galeano, Euller for Paulo Nunez. Referee: H Krug (Ger) Attendance: |
