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  • Rooney (77), Ronaldo (90)
  • Date:2008-01-19
  • Kick-off:15:00
  • Venue:Madejski Stadium
  • Attendance:24135
  • Referee:Bennett, S

Live Commentary

90mins

United made slightly heavy weather of that win, missing chances in a second half they dominated

90mins

Final whistle goes

90mins

Ronaldo finally scores! Breakaway, no mistake this time

90mins

United will kick themselves if they concede - they have had numerous chances to kill Reading off. Four minutes to be added

89mins

Reading nearly equalise! Shorey finds James Harper, who cuts inside Vidic but fires just wide. Close

87mins

United have numbers in attack from that Reading corner. Ronaldo shoots at Hahnemann. Should have scored!

86mins

Nicky Shorey forces a corner off Wes Brown. Eventually breaks to Marek Matejovsky who loses out

85mins

Michael Carrick is found by Nani but he screws his shot wide. He should have made sure of the points there

84mins

Reading are trying to create some pressure but United look comfortable

83mins

Shane Long comes on for Leroy Lita

82mins

Ronaldo shoots over again. He hasn't quite found his range today

80mins

Reading's first change. Marek Matejovsky is on for Bobby Convey

78mins

United's pressure brings a goal!! Wayne Rooney expertly flicked in Tevez's pass with his back to goal

76mins

A rare spell of possession for the home side but Stephen Hunt wastes it

74mins

Corner for Reading as Lita and Kitson cause problems. Ferdinand heads clear

71mins

Ronaldo stands over a free-kick 30 yards out. Fiercely struck, straight at the wall

70mins

Attacking change for United; Nani replaces Owen Hargreaves. Giggs moves inside to partner Carrick

68mins

Bobby Convey is also in the book for an altercation with the United defender

68mins

Rio Ferdinand is booked

66mins

Ronaldo is playing in a more advanced role and shoots wide when he should have tested Hahnemann

64mins

United are well on top as Reading continue to play a high line. Kitson shoots straight at Van der Sar to remind the visitors that they are a threat

63mins

A typical fast break from United ends with Rooney shooting inside the area. Deflected behind for a corner. Cleared again

61mins

Rooney shoots again and Hahnemann fumbles, cleared by Cisse for a corner before Tevez can pounce. Headed clear

60mins

Wayne Rooney shoots off-target from 30 yards. United are stepping up the pressure

58mins

Good skill from Rio Ferdinand who finds Ronaldo 10 yards out. He shoots over and should have done better

56mins

Indecision from Hahnemann nearly costs Reading but Wes Brown's cross beats everyone

55mins

United are showing more urgency and have taken charge of possession

52mins

United go straight up the other end and call Hahnemann into action again. The keeper bravely clears as Ronaldo threatens

51mins

Harper and Convey combine to find Leroy Lita who should have done better but lets the ball run away from him

49mins

Nearly a goal for United! Kalifa Cisse clears off the line after Hahnemann punched Giggs' corner into his own player

49mins

United break and force a corner as Bobby Convey loses his bearings and clears behind

47mins

Reading are starting the second half as they finished the first. Succession of throw-ins deep in United territory, but no chances created

45mins

Reading start the second half. No home team changes

45mins

Sir Alex Ferguson has introduced Ryan Giggs at half time. Ji-Sung Park makes way

45mins

Reading gave as good as they got in that first half. More of the same will surely bring goals. Players are out

45mins

An entertaining first half comes to an end

45mins

Reading force another corner as one minute of added time is announced. Ivar Ingimarsson makes no contact with a diving header and the ball runs through the back post area

43mins

Slight hold-up as Kitson is helped off. He is fit to carry on

40mins

The pace has not let up at the Madejski as we approach half time

38mins

Michael Carrick makes a surprise appearance in the Reading box but hits Kalifa Cisse with his shot. Cisse has been the star of Reading's rearguard so far

36mins

Another corner for Reading, taken short but Nicky Shorey and Stephen Hunt can't create a shooting chance

34mins

Excellent spell for Reading who force a couple of corners after Kitson nearly finds Lita with a header across goal. The Red Devils are relieved to clear

32mins

Outrageous effort from Kitson, who lobs Van der Sar after a poor clearance by the United keeper. The ball would have reached the net but Rio Ferdinand intercepts

30mins

The hosts are certainly using attack as the best form of defence, stretching the United back line with fast breaks in the United style

27mins

United have a free kick on the edge of Reading's area, with Ronaldo used as a decoy. Owen Hargreaves takes it and brings a fine save from Hahnemann. Corner cleared by Dave Kitson

25mins

Reading are improving and raid the United area. Van der Sar struggles to clear from under his bar and Kalifa Cisse has his shot deflected for a corner. Cleared easily.

22mins

Kevin Doyle bursts into the United box but Van der Sar collects his deflected cross ahead of the lurking James Harper

20mins

Tevez releases an offside Rooney who finds the net; an earlier pass would have brought a goal

18mins

The visitors are starting to boss proceedings, enjoying two thirds of possession so far

16mins

Wayne Rooney nearly latches onto a long kick from Van der Sar but he can't control it. A massive gap in the home defence there.

14mins

Carlos Tevez forces a neat near post save from Marcus Hahnemann. Out for a corner - headed over by Nemanja Vidic. How long will this remain goalless?

12mins

Another opening for Ronaldo, who bursts through the middle but fires over

10mins

A high tempo beginning to this game. Both teams are giving it a go and United do not look as stable as usual at the back

9mins

Reading's first threat comes from a goalmouth scramble; Dave Kitson has a shot blocked and Lita can't turn it home

7mins

Ronaldo wriggles free down the right but his cross is cut out by Kalifa Cisse. The home side will need to get closer to the United star man.

5mins

Ronaldo breaks and shoots just wide - he scored three times in two games against Reading last term

3mins

Bright start by United - plenty of ball for their wide men

0mins

Referee Steve Bennett gets the game underway

0mins

Fabio Capello is back at the Madejski Stadium. He might see some goals: this clash pits the best attack against the joint worst defence

0mins

The Royals held United 0-0 on the first day of the season and also drew in the corresponding fixture last season, 1-1. They have lost their last three in the League; United have won five of their last six

0mins

United team: Van der Sar, Brown, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Carrick, Park, Rooney, Tevez

0mins

Reading team: Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Ingimarsson, Cisse, Hunt, Harper, Convey, Lita, Doyle, Kitson

0mins

Wes Brown, Ji Sung Park and Owen Hargreaves come in for John O'Shea, Ryan Giggs and Anderson

0mins

Steve Coppell has made a tactical change, playing three up front. Leroy Lita gets a start alongside Kevin Doyle and Dave Kitson

Match Preview

Reading return to Premier League action on Saturday with the visit of Manchester United to the Madejski Stadium.

Steve Coppell's side were involved in FA Cup action in midweek when they exited the competition at the third round stage following a 1-0 replay defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.

But rather than be daunted by the visit of the champions, the Royals can point to an impressive recent record against Sir Alex Ferguson's side as reason to be optimistic.

On the opening day of the season, Reading defied the odds to hold the Red Devils to a goalless draw at Old Trafford, while 1-1 league and FA Cup draws last season provide further evidence that the Berkshire club are capable of competing with the best.

However, this season - their second in the top-flight - has proved more problematic for Coppell, whose side are currently 13th in the league table.

The Royals are currently in the midst of a five-game winless run stretching back to December 22 and were soundly beaten 3-1 at Aston Villa last weekend.

Their problems haven't been helped by the absence to the Africa Cup of Nations of Andre Bikey, Emerse Fae and Ibrahima Sonko, while defensive linchpin Michael Duberry is still idelined with a knee injury.

Three clean sheets all season - with the last one coming against beleaguered Derby County in early October - also suggests defensive frailties which United will be keen to exploit.

United were 6-0 winners over a hapless Newcastle United side last weekend with free-scoring winger Cristiano Ronaldo netting his first hat-trick for the club.

The result put United back on top of the Premier League table on goal difference over Arsenal and left Sir Alex Ferguson purring with delight.

"The second-half display was marvellous, absolutely fantastic and could not be faulted," he enthused.

Following their surprise 2-1 defeat to West Ham last month, the champions have now won their last three games in all competitions and further good news has arrived with the injury situation at the club clearing.

Only Paul Scholes, Mikael Silvestre and Ben Foster remain sidelined with knee injuries, while Owen Hargreaves has shaken off the bug which forced him to miss last weekend's match.


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Match Report

Late goals from Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo saw Manchester United maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League, but they were pushed all the way by a spirited Reading side who look anything but relegation material.

Rooney flicked home Carlos Tevez's left-wing cross 13 minutes from time to break the home side's impressive resistance.

Then, three minutes into stoppage time, Reading's frantic search for an equaliser backfired as Ronaldo broke clear to slot home the crucial second.

Defeat was hard on Reading, who had adopted an attacking approach to the game having not won any of their previous six in all competitions.

Reading boss Steve Coppell solved a defensive selection headache by playing midfielder Kalifa Cisse at centre-back, rather than hand teenager Alex Pearce a league debut against the champions.

Yet Coppell did plan on attacking, with striker Kevin Doyle moved to a wide midfield role and free-scoring winger Stephen Hunt moved into a central midfield role.

Owen Hargreaves saw an early United free-kick superbly tipped away by Marcus Hahnemann, but Reading's spirited and determined approach saw them carve out plenty of chances too.

Only a superb tackle by Nemanja Vidic denied Dave Kitson a clear strike a goal after Edwin Van der Sar had blocked at Leroy Lita's feet and Kitson was desperately unlucky not to open the scoring in spectacular style after half an hour.

Van der Sar raced from his goal and fluffed his clearance and Kitson's hooked left-foot shot from 45 yards out was headed for the empty net before Rio Ferdinand got back and stretched to head clear and save his keeper's blushes.

Sir Alex Ferguson reacted to his side's stuttering performance by bringing on Ryan Giggs at half-time and the Welsh winger's corner caused panic in the opening minutes of the half as Hahnemann punched the ball against Kitson and was relieved to see Cisse acrobatically clear off the line to prevent an embarrassing own goal.

Kitson and Hahnemann nearly combined at the right end for Reading when the keeper's long clearance bounced beyond Ferdinand and saw Kiston attempt to lob Van der Sar, only for the keeper to stand his ground and save well.

But it was United who made the breakthrough on 77 minutes when skipper Graeme Murty was desperately unlucky to see his clearance bounce off Lita and straight to Tevez, whose pinpoint cross was caressed home by Rooney.

James Harper was agonisingly close to a deserved equaliser for the home side in the final minute when he raced on to Nicky Shorey's precision pass and clipped a left-foot shot inches wide of Van der Sar's post.

But Reading's endeavours for an equaliser finally came unstitched in stoppage time when Murty's fluffed shot was carried clear by Rooney, who set Ronaldo free to coolly pass the ball beyond Hahnemann and into the bottom corner.

Reading

Manchester United

Corners

86

Fouls

118

Goal attempts

921

Shots off target

312

Offsides

24

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