Source: Manchester_EveningNews
United 0 Bayern 0 (Bayern win 7-6 on pens)
IT took an ex-City player to hand United their first defeat of pre-season ? and Sir Alex Ferguson will hope it doesn?t serve as an omen for the campaign ahead.[LNB] The United manager has been vocal about the goings on at Eastlands this summer and will be fully aware of football?s ability to come back and kick you in the teeth.[LNB] Daniel van Buyten?s sudden-death penalty could hardly be considered first blood to the blue half of Manchester, though the irony of the giant Belgian defender putting one over United will not have been lost on City supporters.[LNB] They are convinced that Mark Hughes has assembled a squad capable of challenging their arch rivals. [LNB] And while Ferguson has questioned City?s top-four credentials, he will be more concerned about his own side?s fortunes for the coming season.[LNB] This 7-6 penalty defeat to Bayern Munich in the final of the Audi Cup after the sides battled out a 0-0 draw in Munich will not give him sleepless nights ahead of the new campaign.[LNB] But he will have been disappointed by United?s inability to find the back of the net in 90 minutes against the Germans, despite good second-half chances for Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney.[LNB] Ferguson had seen the Premier League champions score 18 goals in five games before tonight's goalless draw. But Bayern will have told him much more than the likes of FC Seoul or Hangzhou Greentown.[LNB] Stubborn Owen, Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov filled their boots on the tour of the Far East ? but none managed to find the back of the net against the considerably more stubborn opposition of Boca Juniors and Bayern.[LNB] And it is against the likes of Bayern that you-know-who will be most missed.[LNB] United have shown repeatedly that they can bully the majority of the Premier League. But it is against the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and possibly City that something extra is needed.[LNB] That inspiration that only the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo can bring.[LNB] It was the Portuguese winger?s brilliance that fired United to back-to-back Champions League finals ? and it is that spark of genius that Ferguson will be looking for elsewhere in his squad.[LNB] It didn?t come tonight ? but he won?t read too much into a match that they might easily have won.[LNB] Berbatov provided United?s only moment of magic in the first half ? hitting the post with an audacious effort, while Owen and, particularly Rooney, might have done better when in front of goal after the break.[LNB] In the end, with the score 6-6 after seven penalties each, Johnny Evans? tame spot kick was saved by Michael Rensing, allowing Van Buyten to become the hero.[LNB] In truth, both sides had the chance to ensure the game didn?t go to penalty kicks.[LNB] Helpless [LNB] Bayern could have been ahead early on when Mario Gomez controlled the ball in the area ? only to see his effort come back off the crossbar with the United goalkeeper helpless.[LNB] And the Germans continued to dominate the chances with Thomas Muller presented with the clearest opening of the first half on 28 minutes.[LNB] The teenage striker, who terrorised AC Milan with two goals in the semi-final, looked certain to open the scoring with just Van der Sar to beat from 15 yards.[LNB] But he could only side-foot tamely at the Dutchman when he had the whole goal to aim at.[LNB] Van der Sar was in action again shortly after, fielding Bastian Shweinsteiger?s long-range effort before United finally threatened at the other end.[LNB] Coming six minutes before the break, a brilliant piece of ingenuity from Berbatov saw the Bulgarian completely catch the Bayern defence out with an overhead kick that came back off the upright.[LNB] Where as United tired in the second half against Boca, they were notably the fresher of the two sides as the game wore on against Bayern.[LNB] Berbatov should have done better with a header shortly after the break ? failing to even test Rensing ? and the striker combined well with Paul Scholes just after the hour mark to provide Owen with United?s best chance of the match to that point.[LNB] Picking up Berbatov?s pass on the edge of the area, Scholes instantly shifted it right to Owen, who had evaded his marker, but could only fire against the body of Rensing, who was off his line in a flash.[LNB] Action Ferguson sent for Antonio Valencia again to see if the Ecuadorian could build on his dream debut 24 hours earlier.[LNB] Owen saw another half chance go begging later in the half ? heading over Nani?s cross from the left before being withdrawn from the action in the last 15 minutes.[LNB] Rooney ? coming on for Owen ? could have won it for United with five minutes on the clock whe latching onto Ryan Giggs? through ball, but he blasted over with only the keeper to beat.[LNB] ?It was a competitive game and the kind of game we needed. In the first half they were better, we didn?t get at them enough," said Fergie. ?When we got more aggressive it became an open match and we had some really good chances. It was the type of game that will bring us on a good deal. [LNB] ?Penalties can always go either way. We were unlucky.? United: Van der Sar, Evra, Ferdinand (Cathcart 69), Evans, Scholes, Fletcher, Gibson (Valencia 63), Giggs, Nani, Owen (Rooney77), Berbatov (Anderson 77) What did you think of United's display? Tell us your comments [LNB]
