19 February 2007, by Sean Gillen

Wasteful United forced into replay

Manchester United 1-1 Reading

Manchester United were left to rue missed chances as Reading came from behind to earn a draw at Old Trafford and set up a replay in the fifth round of the English FA Cup.

Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo missed possibly the best of the chances, as a weakened United failed to see off the plucky Premiership side, and as a result added another fixture to their packed schedule.

United boss Alex Ferguson made several changes to his starting line-up with Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Lille in mind. Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs were rested, while Paul Scholes and Henrik Larsson were on the bench. Wayne Rooney served a one-match suspension.

Reading contested the first half well, showing a positive attitude and causing United problems with several dangerous balls into the box. Meanwhile, United struggled to get into their stride on enough occasions in the first period, with an unusually poor pitch not helping their play.

The first chance of the match came when Michael Carrick’s ball from the right found Solskjaer at the back post, but his finish was met by a good save from Reading’s impressive young goalkeeper Adam Federici.

Louis Saha, who looked United’s most dangerous player in the first half, powered his way past two defenders but lashed his left-footed shot well wide of the target. Reading then went close when De La Cruz dribbled into the area but stabbed his finish wide.

Ronaldo works hard

After an early burst down the left flank, Ronaldo saw little of the ball in advanced positions in the first period, although he did provide some excellent tracking back to help his full-backs, even playing his way out of trouble with his trademark stepovers on two occasions.

Ronaldo did contribute to the goal that gave United the lead on the stroke of half time, with Reading unlucky to go behind. The Portuguese held onto possession in midfield before laying the ball off to Carrick, and the midfielder struck a brilliant 25-metre drive into the bottom corner.

The second half was more one-sided as United dominated possession and created several chances to increase their lead. Ronaldo almost scored in peculiar fashion when Fletcher found him inside the box and the winger’s half-volley took a deflection before bouncing past the post.

The best chance of the game fell to Ronaldo just after the hour mark. Park’s throughball saw the former Sporting man in on goal inside the area, but after taking his time, Ronaldo’s finish was deflected wide by the leg of Federici.

Ronaldo then flashed a 25-metre shot wide of the post before Reading shocked the home crowd with an equaliser. Gunnarsson found himself unmarked inside United’s penalty area to head home a corner with less than twenty-five minutes left on the clock.

Substitute Larsson almost found a winner, but his cushioned finish from Ronaldo’s cross was brilliantly tipped round the post by Federici. Meanwhile, a moment of confusion between Vidic and United goalkeeper Kuszczak almost allowed Kitson to snatch it for Reading.

Saha missed an excellent late opportunity to win it for United when he failed to hit the target when through on goal, but Reading held out to set up a difficult replay for United at the end of the month.

Man Utd:
Kuszczak, Brown, Vidic, Silvestre, Heinze (Evra 73), Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Park (Scholes 73), Saha, Solskjaer (Larsson 73)
Yellow Cards: Vidic (78)

Reading:
Federici, De la Cruz, Bikey, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Seol (Little 89), Oster (Sodje 86), Gunnarsson, Sidwell, Convey (Hunt 71), Kitson
Yellow Cards: Seol (61), Bikey (75)

Goals:
[1-0] Carrick, 45
[1-1] Gunnarsson, 67