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  • Date:2007-08-12
  • Kick-off:16:00
  • Venue:Old Trafford
  • Attendance:75655
  • Referee:Styles, R

Live Commentary

90mins

It's finished goalless and Reading have claimed a brilliant point at Old Trafford, made even more difficult after Kitson was sent off.

90mins

Ronaldo's free-kick flies over and Reading survive again

90mins

Reading win a corner and Oster shoots just over as time is almost up

90mins

There will be four minutes of injury time to play, as Carrick forces Hahnemann into another save

89mins

Nani goes down and Ronaldo's free-kick on target is saved by Hahnemann before a Scholes header is also saved well by the Reading keeper

86mins

Carrick's poor shot is well wide and time is running out for Ferguson's side now

86mins

Reading make the last substitution of the game with Andre Bikey coming on for Hunt

84mins

Nani's corner is well caught by Hahnemann as the visitors' goal comes under siege again

83mins

Steve Coppell's side are closing in on a memorable opening-day draw here

81mins

Hunt forces Van der Sar into his first save of the afternoon but it's a weak effort as Scholes breaks down the other end but his strike is wide

80mins

Evra fouls Hunt and Nicky Shorey's free-kick is eventually cleared but it's a welcome respite for Reading

77mins

Brown goes off for United, replaced by Darren Fletcher

75mins

From another corner Hahnemann and Brown clash after a scramble in the goalmouth, the Reading keeper had done well to deny Carrick

73mins

Kitson can have few complaints as it was an ugly challenge - he only lasted 37 seconds after coming on as a sub and Reading will be up against it in the final 15 minutes

72mins

Kitson is sent off not even a minute after coming on after a late high challenge on Evra

71mins

Doyle comes off for the Royals, Kitson is on

70mins

Scholes' pass for Ronaldo is poor and Hahnemann gathers again

67mins

Ronaldo and Nani combine well again but Nani's shot is wide

67mins

Giggs shoots high and wide as Dave Kitson warms up for Reading

65mins

Reading will be starting to think they can claim an unlikely point at Old Trafford as the clock ticks on

63mins

O'Shea forces Hahnemann into a good save but still the champions are being held

61mins

O'Shea is being used as a makeshift striker for United

59mins

Giggs' free-kick is well struck but it's just over

57mins

Seol also comes off for Reading, John Oster replacing him

57mins

John O'Shea comes on for Silvestre who has been struggling with that knock

57mins

Man Utd have been better so far after the break but they still await their first goal

55mins

Duberry has to blast the ball behind for a corner from which Patrice Evra miscues but that was a decent opening

53mins

Silvestre has picked up an injury now but it appears to just be a knock as United look to turn up the heat on Reading early in the second half

52mins

Another Ronaldo break eventually finds its way to Paul Scholes but his shot is deflected wide

50mins

Michael Duberry gives away a corner which is taken quickly and Nani and Ronaldo combine well before the latter shoots but it's saved well by Hahnemann

49mins

Ronaldo is caught offside as the second half begins slowly

47mins

Van der Sar and Stephen Hunt clash for a second but it's harmless

45mins

The second period begins with United looking for their first goal of the new season

45mins

Nani comes on at half-time for his debut, replacing Rooney with concerns how serious his foot injury is

45mins

Goalless at the break as United have wasted a few good chances but Reading have restricted them well, the injury to Rooney is a worry for Ferguson at half-time

45mins

A minute of injury time will be played as Graeme Murty defends well

43mins

Half-time edges closer and United have been frustrated by the Royals so far

40mins

Rooney is back on but does not look entirely comfortable

38mins

Rooney needs treatment and hobbles off the pitch for now, he appears to have a problem with his foot

36mins

Carrick's excellent cross is turned just over by Rooney but Rooney appears to have picked up a knock in the process

35mins

Another United corner is headed up in the air and harmlessly behind by Nemanja Vidic

33mins

Rooney appears to dive but escapes a booking

33mins

Reading will be pleased with their efforts so far to restrict the champions to only a couple of chances

30mins

Hahnemann again has to be alert to clear as the home side continue to threaten without being at their fluid best

28mins

Another Ronaldo cross is headed wide by Rooney but it was a decent chance for the England star

26mins

De la Cruz does well again defensively and United win another corner but the delivery from Giggs is poor and Reading clear again

24mins

Ronaldo does well out wide and crosses for Giggs, who's effort strikes the outside of the post - the closest Sir Alex Ferguson's side have come so far

21mins

From the free-kick United work the ball to Ronaldo but his well-struck shot is saved fairly comfortably by Hahnemann

21mins

Mikael Silvestre is fouled and Ki-Hyeon Seol picks up the first booking of the game

19mins

Ulises De la Cruz concedes a corner as United attack again but it comes to nothing

18mins

Rooney does well again but his cross is just hit too hard and drifts out of play

17mins

Rio Ferdinand does well to stop Kevin Doyle as Reading continue to show signs of improvement

15mins

Reading counter-attack and, from their first corner of the game, Giggs' weak header almost hands them a chance

14mins

Wes Brown breaks through the Reading defence but takes too long and the visitors can eventually clear

11mins

United have, as expected, looked the more likely to break the deadlock but so far Reading have survived

9mins

Carrick comes very close to opening the scoring but his effort is just over

8mins

Van der Sar easily gathers at the other end and launches another United attack and Rooney bursts forward but Hahnemann comes out well to deny him

6mins

Rooney's through ball is aimed for Ryan Giggs but Hahnemann is alert to deny him before Michael Carrick's cross is overhit and it remains goalless

4mins

The home side have had most of the early possession but have yet to create a decent opening

3mins

United are keeping the ball well as Wayne Rooney's shot takes a deflection but it's easy for Marcus Hahnemann

1mins

Edwin Van der Sar claims the ball easily after an early Reading free-kick poses no problems

0mins

The champions begin their title defence against Reading in bright sunshine

0mins

Summer signing Nani only makes the bench for United while fellow new-boys Owen Hargreaves and Anderson are not in the squad. For Reading, new signing Kalifa Cisse is among the substitutes.

Match Preview

Last season, Reading's first in English football's top-flight, the Royals were something of a bogey team to United even though Sir Alex Ferguson's side eventually went on to win the Premier League crown.

At the Madejski Stadium in September, a late Cristiano Ronaldo goal rescued a point for United in a 1-1 draw and Ferguson's side needed a replay before beating Reading in the FA Cup, after the two teams had drawn at Old Trafford.

Steve Coppell's side even made United sweat in the League game at Old Trafford, before eventually losing 3-2.

The omens for this term are not so good though, particularly after Leroy Lita was ruled out of Sunday's game after suffering a bizarre injury at home. The 22-year-old managed to hurt his leg while stretching in bed, and has been ruled out of action for up to a month.

Coppell has also lost Steve Sidwell to Chelsea, while Nicky Shorey has spent much of the summer being linked with a move away from Berkshire.

Greg Halford has been sold to Sunderland, while the Royals will also be without Ibrahim Sonko (cruciate ligaments), Aaron Brown (ankle) and Glen Little (Achilles) for Sunday's encounter.

Coppell worked miracles lifting the Royals into the top half of the Premier League last term, but he could face an even tougher task this season.

United received a midweek boost with the news that Paul Scholes has made a quicker than anticipated recovery from knee surgery and could feature on Sunday, while Ronaldo is also expected to play despite missing the midweek friendly against Glentoran with an ankle problem.

Edwin van der Sar will be looking to build on his shoot-out heroics in last weekend's Community Shield success against Chelsea.

The Dutch veteran knows he is likely to be United's first-choice shot-stopper for at least the first half of the season as Ben Foster is sidelined with damaged cruciate ligaments.


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Match Report

What a difference a year makes. On the opening day of last season, Manchester United, fancied as only potential runners-up, thrashed Fulham 5-1 at Old Trafford in the Premiership.

Twelve months on, in the newly named Premier League, United, this time strongly tipped to retain their champion's crown - were held to a goalless draw at Reading.

Despite spending over £50million in the summer on four new signings, only one - Nani - figured in the game.

But his appearance at the start of the second half came at a price when he replaced the injured Wayne Rooney.

Rooney failed to appear after the break after suffering a 36th minute injury when he was tackled by Michael Duberry as he drove over a cross from Michael Carrick.

The England star was immediately sent for a scan on his injured foot but the results are not yet known.

With Rooney joining Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the injured list and new boy Carlos Tevez still short of match-fitness, United's attacking options at Portsmouth on Wednesday look limited.

Reading came to Old Trafford to stop United playing and achieved their limited ambition to take a point.

With only Kevin Doyle in attack until the 72nd minute when he went off, they managed only one real chance - a weak 25-yard shot by Stephen Hunt nine minutes from time.

They were also down to ten men 37 seconds after substitute Dave Kitson replaced Doyle when the Reading striker went right through Patrice Evra with a terrible tackle which earned a straight red card from referee Rob Styles.

United created numerous chances, but found Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann in magnificent form.

The American keeper was beaten only once when, in the 23rd minute, Cristiano Ronaldo's wizardry bamboozled Hunt before the Portuguese star provided a glorious cross to find Ryan Giggs free on the left byline.

As Hahnemann covered his post, Giggs lashed his shot from six yards against the woodwork and wide.

After that, Hahnemann was in unbelievable form with a string of saves which left United totally frustrated.

The first came in the 63rd minute when Carrick's excellent pass found substitute John O'Shea free in the Reading penalty area but Hahnemann blocked his 12-yard effort at point-blank range.

Hahnemann went on to defy United again and again, hurling himself across goal to keep out efforts from Ronaldo and Carrick.

United piled everyone forward in a dramatic finale, but a Hahnemann inspired Reading held on as Old Trafford witnessed its first goalless draw in 16 months.

Manchester United

Reading

Corners

123

Fouls

816

Goal attempts

223

Shots off target

121

Offsides

30

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