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8 November 2006, by Sean Gillen

United crash out despite Ronaldo’s efforts

Southend United 1-0 Manchester United

Holders Manchester United were sent crashing out of the Carling Cup after a stunning free-kick from Freddy Eastwood gave Championship side Southend a famous win at Roots Hall. An outstanding performance from home goalkeeper Darryl Flavahan inspired the bottom-placed team in England’s second tier to hold out against a United side containing many first-team stars.

With United having struggled past Crewe in the competition two weeks ago, Alex Ferguson made several changes to his side from the last round, in the hope of avoiding an upset. Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were drafted into a team of nine internationals, which also included Gabriel Heinze, Wes Brown and John O’Shea, but United were often restricted to shots from long range as they struggled to open up the Southend defence.

After a ferocious start from the home side, United began to look the more dangerous side, and Ronaldo backheeled for David Jones on the edge of the area, but the midfielder’s shot was badly off target. Rooney then had a great effort saved, before beating Southend defender Spencer Prior with a great piece of skill and firing at the goalkeeper.

Having rarely threatened the visitors’ defence, Southend took the lead in sensational fashion on 27 minutes. Top goalscorer Eastwood dispatched a curling free-kick from 25 metres to give his side a dream lead. United almost equalised immediately when Alan Smith set up Jones, and the midfielder’s snapshot hit the inside of the post.

Ronaldo milestone

Portuguese winger Ronaldo, making his 150th appearance for the Red Devils, carried the fight for United for the majority of the game, showing great desire and registering several dangerous attempts on goal throughout. With half time fast approaching, the 21-year-old winger let fly with a tremendous shot from 20 metres, which Flavahan managed to stop with an impressive save.

United made a quick start to the second half, and it was the former Sporting man who was again at the heart of their most positive moves. Ronaldo controlled and shot narrowly wide four minutes into the second half as United forced Southend to defend deep. He then hit a fierce effort from just outside the area, which Flavahan pushed away.

The game had started to develop into a two-man battle between the Portuguese and the Southend keeper. United were awarded a free-kick 25 metres from goal, and Ronaldo followed up his weekend effort against Portsmouth with another powerful drive that looked to be dipping under the crossbar, until Flavahan tipped it over the bar. Wes Brown headed into the arms of the grateful goalkeeper from the resulting corner.

After John O’Shea’s sliced cross was clawed from under the crossbar by Flavahan, United had a good penalty shout turned down when Southend defender Efe Sodje clattered into the back of the England striker, but referee Uriah Rennie ignored the appeals.

Ronaldo began to drift out of the game in the final 20 minutes, and although Southend were offering very little as an attacking force, United began to struggle to get in behind their opponents to create clear-cut goalscoring opportunities.

Darren Fletcher failed to trouble Flahavan with a shot from inside the area, and Heinze’s swerving effort flew a metre past the post as time began to run out on last season’s winners.

United’s luck was summed up with two minutes of normal time left when Ronaldo crossed for Rooney, but Prior beat the young forward to the ball and deflected it over the bar, at which point the referee gave a goalkick for the hosts.

The final whistle sounded and the home fans were able to celebrate a historic night with a narrow win over their illustrious opponents. For United, a second surprise defeat in a week after the loss to Copenhagen last week.

Alex Ferguson, Manchester United manager:

“If you’re going to lose it might as well be to something special like that. It is a great reminder to everyone at the club that football can smack you in the face and a few players will be a bit embarrassed because it’s disappointing.”

“For these young players, although I thought Cristiano was the one player who really did play well tonight – he had four or five fantastic strikes on goal, but for these young players there’s no harm in defeat providing it improves you and you learn from it.”

Steve Tilson, Southend manager:

“It hasn’t sunk in. The lads have done tremendously well. It was a phenomenal result against a strong side. Tonight we were looking for a good performance and, if we’re honest, just trying to keep the score down. But we grew in confidence and could have nicked another one at the end.”

“This is massive. It does not come any bigger than this.”

Southend:
Flahavan, Hunt (Francis 14), Prior, Sodje, Hammell, Campbell-Ryce, Clarke, Maher, Gower, Eastwood, Hooper (Lawson 67)
Yellow Cards: Hammel (47), Flavahan (70)

Man Utd:
Kuszczak, O’Shea (Lee 75), Brown, Silvestre, Heinze, Ronaldo, David Jones (Shawcross 90), Fletcher, Richardson, Smith (Evra 60), Rooney
Yellow Cards: Jones (51), Rooney (56)

Goals:
[1-0] Eastwood, 27