Premium
This is an archive article published on August 13, 2007

Keeper146;s heroics keep Red Devils at bay

Marcus Hahnemann made five key saves on Sunday to help Reading hold defending champions Manchester United to a 0-0 draw...

.

Marcus Hahnemann made five key saves on Sunday to help Reading hold defending champions Manchester United to a 0-0 draw, thereby preventing a winning start for Red Devils in the Premier League at Old Trafford .

Earlier, Arsenal scored two goals in the last seven minutes to beat Fulham 2-1 and make up for an embarrassing blunder by goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. Chelsea also conceded an early goal against Birmingham but bounced back to win 3-2 and set a record of 64 games unbeaten at home, moving ahead of the Liverpool team that went 63 unbeaten from 1978-81.

Ferguson didn8217;t start either of his four new signings 8212; Owen Hargreaves, Carlos Tevez, Nani and Anderson 8212; as United began their defense with a familiar line-up. The Red Devils lost Wayne Rooney with an injured left foot at halftime, and the team struggled to break down Reading8217;s well-organised defence.

Hahnemann made saves from John O8217;Shea and Michael Carrick and, after Reading were reduced to 10 men following the 73rd-minute sending-off of Dave Kitson for a lunge at Patrice Evra, he made three more standout blocks.

He dived to his right to stop a 25-meter yard free kick from Cristiano Ronaldo and then recovered to save Paul Scholes8217; header. In injury time, he dived to his left to block a low shot from Carrick.

 

Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement