Source: Daily_Mail
Everton 3 Manchester United 3: Never-say-die Toffees storm back in injury time
Everton scored twice in stoppage time to snatch a dramatic 3-3 draw at home to Manchester United, who left Wayne Rooney out of their squad after a week of allegations about his private life.[LNB]Rooney did not even travel to Goodison Park as manager Sir Alex Ferguson, on the occasion of his 700th Premier League match, claimed he wanted to protect the 24-year-old from abuse from the fans with whom he used to be a favourite.[LNB]The disruption appeared to affect his team-mates early on as they fell behind to a Steven Pienaar goal but Darren Fletcher, Nemanja Vidic and Dimitar Berbatov put United well ahead before the Toffees' stunning late comeback through Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta.[LNB]Ferguson has overseen plenty of player controversies during his lengthy tenure at Old Trafford, dealing with the likes of David Beckham's celebrity lifestyle and Roy Keane's unique brand of criticism.[LNB] Boys' own stuff: Mikel Arteta lets fly deep into injury time to fire Everton level[LNB] [LNB]However, leaving out a player to protect him from opposition fans is unprecedented and surely unlikely to be repeated.[LNB]Whether it affected the overallresult is open to debate but when the England international nextappears, likely to be in Tuesday's Champions League clash againstRangers he will get nothing less than a rousing Old Trafford reception.[LNB]Rooney's absence seemed to affectUnited more than they expected as, for the first 15 minutes, they foundthemselves under constant pressure.[LNB]Arteta's sixth-minute free-kick wastipped over by Edwin van der Sar, although referee Martin Atkinson didnot spot the goalkeeper's touch.[LNB]The Spaniard had another shotdeflected behind by Jonny Evans, Pienaar saw his shot from theSpaniard's corner blocked and Leon Osman blazed over all in the samepassage of play.[LNB] Star man: Dimitar Berbatov shone in the absense of Wayne Rooney, scoring a fine third thanks to a sublime ball from Paul Scholes[LNB] [LNB]Ferguson was less than happy and was soon prowling his technical area barking orders at the players.[LNB]John O'Shea's response was ablistering drive from the left angle of the penalty area which grazedthe outside of Tim Howard's left-hand post.[LNB]Everton's pressure, albeit slightlyless intense, continued while Nani was off the field having a cut liptended with Cahill, Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines all failed totrouble the goalkeeper with half-chances.[LNB]There was always the danger theirfailure to capitalise on possession would leave the way open for Unitedto nick a goal and they almost did in the 34th minute.[LNB] Towering: Nemanja Vidic connects with Nani's cross to give United the lead[LNB][LNB]Tony Hibbert's foul on Ryan Giggs,despite winning the ball, saw Nani roll the free-kick to Paul Scholesand his powerful drive took a big deflection off Cahill but Howard,diving in the opposite direction, somehow diverted the ball over withhis foot.[LNB]Four minutes later the American goalkeeper stuck up a hand to palm away Giggs' close-range shot after United counter-attacked.[LNB]But the visitors were caught coldthemselves when Patrice Evra missed an ambitious overhead-kickclearance to put Arteta charging through on goal and although he shotstraight at Van der Sar,[LNB]Leon Osman turned the rebound to Pienaar at the far post who rolled home.[LNB]Two minutes before half-time,however, Nani's cross was diverted home by Fletcher and Berbatov'svolley almost put them ahead in added time.[LNB] Level pegging: Darren Fletcher restores parity at Goodison[LNB] [LNB]It was apparent at the start of thesecond half Everton were in for a tougher test and it took just threeminutes for that to become a reality.[LNB]Nani's corner from Berbatov'sdeflected shot was only half-cleared and when Scholes returned the ballto the Portugal international wide on the right he swung over a crossfor an unmarked Vidic to head in from five yards.[LNB]It at least provoked a reaction from Everton and Pienaar's curling 20-yard shot was held by Van der Sar at the second attempt.[LNB]But United were where they like tobe, in control and able to counter-attack, and one rapid foray forwardsaw Howard deny Nani low to his right.[LNB] Off the mark: Steven Pienaar scored Everton's second goal of the League campaign[LNB][LNB]He got nowhere near the next one in the 66th minute, which owed everything to the brilliance of Scholes and Berbatov.[LNB]The former England international'sraking pass picked out the Bulgarian wide on the right and his firsttouch brilliantly took him clear of Sylvain Distin.[LNB]With acres of space to run into thelanguid striker took five or six paces before lashing an early shotinto the bottom corner, taking Howard by surprise.[LNB]Baines curled a free-kick into theside-netting and as Osman hit a woefully-weak shot at Van der Sar asthe hosts tried to find a way back but, as has been the case in theirprevious matches, they lacked a cutting edge.[LNB]However, in a dramatic finish Cahill headed home in injury-time before Arteta's deflected strike snatched an unlikely point.[LNB] Wayne Rooney dropped by Manchester United for trip to Everton Everton v Manchester United: The action as it happenedSir Alex ready for 700th Premier League match - he's in a league of his ownEVERTON FC
