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29 April 2007, by Sean Gillen

Sensational United fightback all but seals Premiership title

Everton 2-4 Manchester United

Manchester United took a major step towards the Premiership after staging a remarkable second half comeback to take all three points at Goodison Park and move five points clear of Chelsea in the title race.

Manuel Fernandes put Everton 2-0 up early in the second half with a sensational strike, but a combination of poor defending and a sterling effort from United saw the Red Devils turn the match around.

United suffered a blow in the build-up to the match when Cristiano Ronaldo picked up a knock in training, with the winger only fit enough for a place on the bench. Meanwhile, Benfica-owned man Fernandes was deployed on the left of a narrow four-man Toffees midfield.

There was little action of note in the opening stages, but Everton took the lead in rather fortuitous circumstances after twelve minutes. Alan Stubbs hit a long-range free-kick, which took a deflection off Michael Carrick and beat United goalkeeper Edwin van Der Sar.

United, while keeping their opponents on the back foot for the remainder of the half, struggled to create many goalscoring opportunities, with Alan Smith’s poor finish from a smart Ryan Giggs pass the nearest they came to equalising.

Fernandes rocket

After the interval, the visitors raised their game and began with a much sharper tempo. However, Everton doubled their lead with what was only their second shot on target just five minutes into the second period.

Fernandes made a forward run to receive a pass from Mikel Arteta, and the Portuguese shifted the ball away from Wes Brown before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the top corner from 25 metres.

Despite the setback, United kept their rhythm, but there was a major slice of luck involved in the goal that brought them back into the game. Everton goalkeeper Iain Turner should have gathered a Ryan Giggs corner, but the youngster fumbled his catch and John O’Shea lashed in the rebound from close range.

With the momentum with the away side, United boss Ferguson introduced Ronaldo, and the former Sporting man helped pressurise Everton into another mistake to level the scores. Ronaldo rose at the back post to meet a corner, and his header caused panic in the Toffees’ defence, leading to former United favourite Phil Neville turning the ball into his own net.

United sensed blood, and fittingly Wayne Rooney, subject of taunts throughout the match from the home crowd, was the man to complete the turnaround. Having already missed two excellent opportunities, Rooney showed great composure when, inside the box, he beat Hibbert with a smart dummy before coolly slotting past Turner.

The news soon filtered through from Stamford Bridge that Chelsea had been held by Bolton, so United knew that a win would move them to within touching distance of the title. With Everton committing men forward in attack, young substitute Chris Eagles exploited a counter attack to race through on goal and curl the ball wide of Turner and into the corner to put the seal on a sensational fightback.

Alex Ferguson (Manchester United manager):

“I can’t explain the game as I didn’t think we did that bad, but two goals from two great strikes - in football that can happen.”

“The first had a bit of fortune about it, it got a bit of a deflection past Edwin, but the second was an incredible hit and at that point we were toying with the idea of bringing on Ronaldo - because he is carrying an injury.”

“We decided if we get a goal we bring him on and we got the break when the young keeper dropped the ball and John O’Shea has taken it and at that point I thought we had a chance.”

“With Ronaldo coming across, their focus would be on Ronaldo - with Giggs, Scholes, Carrick and Rooney and I think it was waiting to happen.”

David Moyes (Everton manager):

“We are gutted after being two up. We gave United a great opportunity to get back into the game. Not only did it hurt us, it gave them a massive lift at a period when we were comfortable. Playing against a very good side, we did a decent job.”

“For me, the goals were poor all round. I’m disappointed we made it easy for United in the end, they got a slice of luck but it was down to that first goal. I do not think they would have got back into the game had it not been for that first goal.”

Everton:
Turner, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott, Arteta, Neville, Carsley (Van der Meyde 83), Fernandes, Osman (McFadden 72), Vaughan (Beattie 71)
Yellow Cards: Vaughan (29)

Man Utd:
Van der Sar, O'Shea, Brown, Heinze, Evra (Richardson 56), Solskjaer (Eagles 86), Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Rooney, Smith (Ronaldo 63)
Yellow Cards: Heinze (48)

Goals:
[1-0] Stubbs, 12
[2-0] Fernandes, 50
[2-1] O’Shea, 61
[2-2] Neville, 68 (o.g.)
[2-3] Rooney, 79
[2-4] Eagles, 93