• Date: Sat 19 January 2008
  • Venue: Madejski Stadium
  • Ref: Bennett, S
  • Attendance: 24,135
0 - 2
Manchester United

Manchester United

Rooney (77)

Ronaldo (90)

Reading vs Manchester United

Team Lineups

Reading

Marcus Hahnemann
Ivar Ingimarsson
Graeme Murty
Nicky Shorey
Stephen Hunt
Bobby Convey (Marek Matejovsky, 80)
James Harper
Kalifa Cisse
Leroy Lita (Shane Long, 83)
Kevin Doyle
Dave Kitson

Manchester United

Edwin van der Sar
Patrice Evra
Wes Brown
Rio Ferdinand
Nemanja Vidic
Michael Carrick
Cristiano Ronaldo
Owen Hargreaves (Luis Carlos Nani, 70)
Carlos Tevez (Darren Fletcher, 81)
Wayne Rooney
Ji-Sung Park (Ryan Giggs, 46)


Live Text Commentary
90

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

Full time
 

Final whistle goes

90
Goal
 

Ronaldo finally scores! Breakaway, no mistake this time

90

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

89

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

87

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

86

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

85

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

84

Reading are trying to create some pressure but United look comfortable

83
Substitution
 

Shane Long comes on for Leroy Lita

82

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

80
Substitution
 

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

78
Goal
 

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

76

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

74

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

71

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

70
Substitution
 

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

68
Yellow Card
 

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

68
Yellow Card
 

Rio Ferdinand is booked

66

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

64

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

63

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

61

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

60

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

58

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

56

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

55

United are showing more urgency and have taken charge of possession

52

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

51

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

49

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

49

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

47

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

Second half
 

Reading start the second half. No home team changes

45
Substitution
 

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

45

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

Half time
 

An entertaining first half comes to an end

45

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

43

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

40

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

38

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

36

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

34

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

32

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

30

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

27

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

25

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.

22

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

20

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

18

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

16

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.

14

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?

12

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

10

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

9

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

7

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.

5

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

3

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

Kickoff
 

Referee Steve Bennett gets the game underway

Awaiting Kickoff
 

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

Awaiting Kickoff
 

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

Awaiting Kickoff
 

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

Awaiting Kickoff
 

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

Awaiting Kickoff
 

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

Awaiting Kickoff
 

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