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PICTURES |
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WEBMASTER'S COMMENT |
"And so the match goes to a reply, but not without controversial. Keane hit a peach of a volley into Seaman's net only to have it ruled out as Ellery thought Yorke was offside. Yorke was at the corner flag!"
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MATCH REPORT |
By Mark Bradley, PA Sport
It was the result neither side wanted but even Manchester United
were unable to loosen Arsenal's vice-like grip on the domestic
Double in their FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park.
The Gunners endured their 10th sending-off of the season when
Nelson Vivas was dismissed four minutes into extra-time, were
outplayed for long periods but still tenaciously emerged unscathed
to set up a replay on Wednesday.
While United will rue a host of missed chances, their anger at a
controversial first-half decision which ruled out a Roy Keane `goal'
was undiminished even at the final whistle.
Referee David Elleray, who had an inconsistent game throughout,
deemed that Dwight Yorke had been offside in the build-up to the
strike even though the linesman first raised then dropped then again
raised his flag.
Although Arsenal had two late opportunities to claim an unlikely
victory, their seventh consecutive clean sheet was built around the
heroic efforts of centre-backs Tony Adams and Martin Keown and the
tireless running of their midfield.
United's treble dream may still be alive but Emmanuel Petit will
be back for the replay and their players looked to be tiring in
extra-time against a side who they have failed to beat in their past
six meetings.
Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli and perhaps Juventus coach Carlo
Ancelotti will have been the only men celebrating at the final
whistle as United have another fixture in a packed season.
However, with neither of the Premiership's top two having lost a
single game this year, a replay had always seemed the most likely
outcome.
After an exemplary minute's silence by fans to mark the 10th
anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, the tie immediately burst
into life amid a series of bruising challenges. Gary Neville and
Vivas were booked in the first six minutes and David Beckham only
just escaped after apparently elbowing Nigel Winterburn in the ribs.
The game nevertheless flowed from end to end with Jaap Stam and
Adams both making important interceptions, while Keane and Vieira,
both full of running, provided a bulwark in front of them.
Chances came sporadically as Ryan Giggs blasted a shot well over
from just 12 yards out and Peter Schmeichel tipped a header from
Tony Adams over the bar before then denying Bergkamp. Just as it
seemed as if the frenetic early pace had taken its toll though,
United looked to have taken the lead on 38 minutes through Keane.
Giggs played the ball outside Lee Dixon on the left flank and,
with Yorke in an offside position inside him as he tried to hold his
run, the linesman immediately raised his flag only to put it almost
straight down again. He raised the flag once more when the former
Aston Villa striker _ by now clearly onside - then flicked on Giggs'
ensuing cross towards Keane, who blasted his shot into the roof of
the net.
But after consulting his assistant, Elleray seemed to agree that
Yorke had earlier been interfering with play - despite the linesman
having apparently changed his mind. The decision incensed the United
players, who berated both officials at length, and Denis Irwin was
booked soon afterwards before escaping another yellow card moments
later for a tackle from behind.
United had nevertheless seized the initiative and Cole then put
Yorke clear just inside the penalty area but he could not get the
ball out from his under his feet and fluffed it straight along the
ground into David Seaman's hands.
The furious protests continued as the half-time whistle blew but
United were straight back on the offensive after the interval as
they strung together a series of vibrant moves and Vivas escaped a
second yellow card for a trip on Keane.
Keown and Adams continued to stand resolute though and even when
Cole was set through by Giggs, he wastefully miscued his shot
straight at Seaman. Once again the match started to drift as the
tempo dropped, fouls went unpunished and both sides lacked width,
with Arsenal increasingly bereft of attacking ideas.
Keane headed straight at Seaman from Yorke's cross, Beckham
struck a free-kick inches wide, Giggs directed another dead-ball
effort straight at the keeper and Anelka blazed wildly at a chance
after bouncing off Stam's challenge.
However, for all United's late pressure, the match was heading
inexorably towards extra-time. With Marc Overmars already off
injured, Arsenal were further weakened four minutes into added-time
by Vivas' sending-off for his second yellow card - an off-the-ball
elbow into Beckham's face.
United, with Paul Scholes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer now both on,
still failed to make the most of their extra man or the increasingly
open spaces and their frustration showed as Neville flung the ball
away and himself only just escaped a second booking.
Both sides had half-chances with Stam blocking Bergkamp's effort
and Yorke firing wide but with three minutes left, it was substitute
Fredrik Ljungberg who raced through on goal after being put through
by Bergkamp. Schmeichel saved brilliantly with his legs and it took
a last-ditch block from Neville to deny the Dutchman himself as he
threatened to dribble his way through the entire United defence.
So it is back to Villa Park in three days for another titanic
tussle. At least there has to finally be a winner then.
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POST MATCH REACTIONS |
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson refused to be drawn on the controversial goal incident in their FA Cup semi-final clash with Arsenal
saying: "That doesn't matter now. It's going to be even tighter in the replay.
"There is not much between the sides and not a lot of difference today though
we maybe had more possession and created more chances."
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger refused to accept his team were "lucky" that a
linesman ruled out a Roy Keane at Villa Park.
A controversial offside ruling incensed Manchester United - and now both teams
face a replay on Wednesday after the match ended 0-0.
Wenger said: "We were not lucky because the linesman had his flag up for a
long, long time but the only problem was the referee didn't see him.
"It was a physically tough game, a physical battle. We struggled in the first
half and Manchester United played well but we came back into it in the second
half."
United could not take advantage of Nelson Vivas' dismissal five minutes into
extra time, with the Gunners' defence holding firm.
Wenger added: "We showed great experience. When we went down to 10 men it was
very difficult but we had a tremendous spirit.
"It was unfortunate for Nelson because I wanted to change him because he was
on a yellow card and is not used to playing in midfield."
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PLAYER RATINGS |
By David Anderson, PA Sport
MANCHESTER UNITED
Peter Schmeichel: Made a couple of great saves to deny Arsenal
including one terrific block from substitute Fredrik Ljungberg.
8
Gary Neville: Booked after just 80 seconds, but bounced back and
made a couple of great challenges on Marc Overmars and Dennis
Bergkamp. 7
Denis Irwin: Solid as ever and made one vital interception to
stop Ray Parlour bursting through. 7
Ronny Johnsen: Quietly went about the job of supporting Jaap Stam
and thwarting Arsenal's attack. 7
Jaap Stam: What a contrast from his earlier displays against
Arsenal - he was outstanding. 9
Nicky Butt: Came in for Paul Scholes and gave the United midfield
that extra bite. 7
Roy Keane: Covered every inch of the pitch as he kept United
ticking over in midfield as well as helping out in defence and
attack. 8
David Beckham: Relatively quiet game and appeared to elbow Nigel
Winterburn in the ribs in the first half. 6
Ryan Giggs: Squandered a terrific chance early and drifted in and
out of the game. 6
Andy Cole: Battled away without luck against Arsenal's twin
towers of Martin Keown and Tony Adams and shot straight at David
Seaman from one good chance. 7
Dwight Yorke: Wasted a couple of great chances in another subdued
performance. 6
Substitutes: Phil Neville (for Irwin, 84 minutes): Got stuck in
straight away and made some crunching tackles. 7
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (for Giggs, 98 minutes): Added another
dimension to United's attack playing on the left. 7
Paul Scholes (for Cole, 112 minutes): Struggled to make any
impact coming on so late. 6
ARSENAL
David Seaman: Not really tested and comfortably dealt with what
United threw at him. 7
Lee Dixon: Fared all right against Ryan Giggs without really
catching the eye. 6
Nigel Winterburn: Needed a few minutes' treatment after a
suspected elbow from Beckham and he kept the United midfielder
reasonably quiet. 7
Tony Adams: He was as commanding as ever, although in one
momentarily lapse he lost Cole and it almost cost a goal. 8
Martin Keown: Made one error when he almost let Cole in, but
apart from that he was a rock for Arsenal. 8
Ray Parlour: Unspectacular display from the gutsy Arsenal
midfielder. 6
Patrick Vieira: Made some telling contributions, although he was
overshadowed by Roy Keane in their midfield battle. 7
Nelson Vivas: Threatened United with his crosses and few were
surprised when he was sent off for his second yellow card. 6
Marc Overmars: The Dutchman only showed glimpses of his immense
talent and went off with what appeared to be a pulled hamstring at
the end of normal time. 7
Nicolas Anelka: Got very little change out of Jaap Stam on this
occasion. 7
Dennis Bergkamp: Tried to get Arsenal going up front, but this
was not a day for strikers. 7
Substitutes: Fredrik Ljungberg (for Overmars, 90 minutes):
Attempted to inject some directness into the Arsenal midfield when
he came on. 7
Kanu (for Anelka, 98 minutes): Did his bit up front as Arsenal's
10 men hung on. 7
Referee David Elleray (Harrow): Kept a grip on the game when it
threatened to boil over on a number of occasions. 7
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TEAMS |
Manchester United: Schmeichel, G Neville, Johnsen, Stam, Irwin, Beckham,
Keane, Giggs, Butt, Yorke, Cole.
Subs: P Neville for Irwin, Scholes for Cole
Arsenal: Seaman, Adams, Dixon, Winterburn, Keown, Vieira, Vivas,
Parlour, Overmars, Anelka, Bergkamp.
Subs: Ljunberg for Overmars
Referee: D Elleray
Attendance: 39,217