Source: Daily_Mail
Manchester Utd 2 Porto 2: Weakness at the back puts Portuguese in box seat
So much for the remarkable healing powers of Federico Macheda's goal. The Italian teenager might have propelled Manchester United back to the top of the Barclays Premier League on Sunday but when it came to reviving them in time for this Champions League encounter, it proved impossible.
Little more than 48 hours after that extraordinary 3-2 victory over Aston Villa, Sir Alex Ferguson's side looked exhausted - physically as well as mentally. So much so that when the late rally came in the form of what appeared to be a Carlos Tevez winner, their lead lasted as long as it had taken Porto to score their opening goal - four measly minutes.
Honours even: Porto punish United's shaky defence as spectacular Adebayor strike fires Arsenal to a Champions League drawManchester Utd 2 Porto 2: the action as it happened at Old TraffordThat was how long it took at the start of the match before United discovered they were in serious trouble. Four minutes in, and they knew that against Porto's lighting-quick three-man attack, a back four lacking cohesion as well as energy was going to struggle.
They weren't helped by the fact that the midfielders deployed in front of them were just as ineffective. Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher were surprisingly poor. But their defensive colleagues were so terrified of Porto's pace, they sat disastrously deep and simply invited the Portuguese champions to exploit the space.
Two away goals for Jesualdo Ferreira's side leave United in a worryingly precarious position against a Porto team who have already beaten Arsenal 2-0 this season and have never lost to English opposition on home soil.
Besides, United's similarly sub-standard performances against Liverpool, Fulham and even Villa would suggest this is not a one-off.
United are, of course, capable of recovering at any moment. They have the quality and they have the experience, and in players like Wayne Rooney, in particular, they quite clearly have the desire. Not to mention the finest manager in the world. But even Ferguson must now be wondering if the season is unravelling under the burden of their own ambition, if their almost insane pursuit of five trophies is starting to prove too much.
If the title race looked like it was wrapped up on Sunday night, it is very much alive for Liverpool this morning. If Everton groaned when they were drawn against United in their FA Cup semi-final, they are probably now delighted to have avoided Chelsea and Arsenal.
The champions of England, Europe and the world have suddenly lost their way and it could take more than the rousing words of their great motivator to get them back on track. On Monday, Ferguson said Macheda's goal had galvanised the team and sent them into overdrive. Against Porto last night they simply stalled. Again.
In the absence of the injured Rio Ferdinand, they experienced the majority of their problems at the back. Nemanja Vidic, back from suspension, looked desperately unsure of himself. Jonny Evans and John O'Shea suffered a crisis of confidence, with the former only emerging from his personal nightmare when a groin injury forced him to limp off.
Prior to that, though, this proved a chastening experience for young Evans from the moment he made the mistake that enabled Cristian Rodriguez to score the opening goal. A shot from Lisandro Lopez, who with Hulk and Rodriguez formed that terrific three-pronged front-line, had already tested Edwin van der Sar.
Wreck and roll: Rooney seized on a ridiculous backpass to equalise
But when Cristiano Ronaldo lost possession to Lucho Gonzalez, Evans succeeded only in guiding the Porto winger's cross into the path of Rodriguez and then invited him to try his luck. It was a fine strike from the tricky Uruguayan winger, sliding just inside the far post, but it still amounted to desperately poor defending from the young Irishman.
United got lucky 11 minutes after that in the form of a backpass that Bruno Alves directed into the path of an unmarked Rooney, and so allowed the England striker to level the scores with a clever chip over the advancing Helton.
But United remained in a state of disarray despite the fact that Helton excelled in denying Ronaldo, Rooney and Vidic with a series of super saves. In guiding a Vidic header beyond his right-hand post, he was particularly impressive.
United were finding keeping possession every bit as difficult as they had against Liverpool, Fulham and Villa. So Ferguson eventually responded by making changes. First Ryan Giggs replaced Ji-Sung Park and then Ferguson brought on Tevez for Scholes and Gary Neville for the injured Evans.
Enlarge When Tevez struck in the 85th minute, it looked like another act of managerial genius, not least because it was from Neville's throw in, via a flick-on from Rooney, that Tevez beat Helton from closerange.
United had still conceded that early away goal but at least they would be travelling to Portugal next week with their noses in front. At least they had once again demonstrated the strength and resolve that has served them so well in the past.
Last night, however, it seemed like the distant past. United had secured one win in five Champions League contests before this quarter- final tie and their hopes of another victory disappeared four minutes after Tevez struck.
The cross from Lisandro managed to elude the entire United back four and gave substitute Mariano the chance to drive an 89th-minute equaliser past Edwin van der Sar. It was a crushing blow for United that leaves them perilously close to a premature exit from the competition Ferguson was so desperate to win for a third time.
They still could, but a trip to Sunderland this Saturday is probably the last thing they need. Judging by their performance last night, they actually look like they need a holiday.
