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| Chicharito Clips The Ball In To Save United |
Their second dramatic win in quick succession sees United avoid another premature departure from the FA Cup and they have advanced to the Fifth Round of the competition.
As anticipated, Sir Alex Ferguson made wholesale changes to his team that over came adversity to dramatically defeat Blackpool on Tuesday with only Chris Smalling, Paul Scholes and Darron Gibson, who scored in the Reds last match against Southampton, keeping their places from that match.
The most intriguing inclusion was the debut for Anders Lindegaard, who signed from Aeslund in December, and with a very inexperience back-four of John O'Shea, Smalling, Evans and Fabio in front of, the 6'4" goalkeeper's performance will have to show command and desire keeping them organized.
After doing every so well against Blackpool Javier Hernandez has started up front with Michael Owen, which should really test the League One side's defense.
Recap
On the stroke of the seventh minute, Southampton had the ball in the United net after Richard Chaplow's mishit shot fell into path of Dan Harding, but linesman had his flag raised for offside.
Three minutes later Michael Owen showed just how deadly he can be from anywhere as he sent his shot just inches wide of Bartosz Bialkowski's left-hand post from just inside the Southampton penalty area.
Guilherme Do Prado stroked a cross into the United box, which deflected out to Richard Lambert, but Lindegaard was able to get down to his right and claim his left-footed curling shot.
O'Shead played a good slide-rule pass to Owen down the right-flank, and the little forward badly misplaced his centering cross, which had everyone baffled including the Saints goalkeeper who was scrambling saw the ball bounced off the far post and back into play.
Jonny Evans was guilty of being too physical with Lambert just over 25-yards from goal, and the Southampton No. 7 send his swerving free-kick just over the junction over the crossbar and post.
Darron Gibson earned himself a half-a-yard of space 20 yards from goal, but he was a little to hesitant putting his foot through the ball and he pulled it wide.
Southampton had another chance to jump into the lead after the Saints' captain, Jose Miguel da Rocha Fonte, out-muscled Smalling from a corner, but thankfully, the ball was directly at Lindegaard.
After clearing their lines from that good chance, United worked the ball up the field, and Gibson's pass deflected into the path of Anderson who struck the ball first time, but Bialkowski easily collected the shot.
Another careless foul by United gave Southampton another chance to strike a long distance free-kick, but Lambert's shot again went over Lindegaard's bar.
United's passing was very sloppy in first half hour of the match, and it was putting them on the back foot, and Southampton could very easily be up a goal or two, which had Sir Alex up on the touchline with a look of concern on his face.
Fabio was upended by Chaplow down the left, and the ensuing free-kick was sent in towards Obertan, who had two bites of the cherry to create something, but his wild right-footed shot went well wide of the near post.
United again had a chance to break at the Saints defense with pace, but Obertan did not try to get to the baseline, and instead squared a pass to Gibson, who had his shot take a massive deflection that Bialkowski jumped up to collect.
With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain wide open on the left, Harding opted to have a shot from 35-yards out, which bounced into the arms of the awaiting United 'keeper.
Southampton blew a wonderful chance to get in the lead when Smalling was caught ball watching, but to spare their blushes Do Prado headed over from inside of the six-yard box.
On the stroke of halftime, United's defense ignored the warning signs, and they were finally punished when Chaplow latched on to Evans' poor header and thumped into the back of the net.
Like against Blackpool, changes were needed to attempt to turn this FA Cup tie around and avoid a dreaded replay at Old Trafford, and it was Wes Brown coming on for Fabio, which meant that O'Shea would move over to left-back.
The change will prevent Sir Alex from introducing one of the big attacking options he has at his disposal on the United bench.
Within the first two minutes of the restart, United had a very good chance to pull level, but Evans' could not get on the end of the cross and Daniel Seaborne intervene to head out of the danger area.
Like they were doing in the first half, Southampton started to put United's shaky defense under pressure, but the Reds were able to weather the storm.
Gibson gave two passes away and failed to show any effort to win the ball back, which allowed Harding a half-chance at goal, which Lindegaard did well to save.
United's lack of impotence that was needed, which saw Sir Alex make his final two changes with Nani and Ryan Giggs coming on for Anderson and Gibson, respectively.
The changes were needed to give some options down the left-hand side, because there was absolutely nobody on the left, which limited hindered the United attack.
With a half hour left on the clock, United were not showing the desire that was needed to make Southampton work.
Chaplow chopped down Nani on the left wing, and Giggs swung in the free-kick, but Owen's header was easily held
United should have been level after Nani continued to attack the right-hand of the Saints' defense, but his low cross was diverted over the bar from close range by Owen.
However, if you give a striker of Owen's quality three chances he will make you pay, and in the 65th minute United were level.
Obertan drilled a cross into the area, which took a massive deflection off a Southampton defender's arm into the center of the box, which Owen headed home with what can only be labeled as a typical predator's goal.
A dangerous cross by Chaplow fizzed through the United area, which eventually ended up a corner off Wes Brown.
Southampton worked that set piece wonderfully well, and Harding's left-footed drive, which took the slightest of touches off the bottom of
Nigel Adkins made his first change with Ryan Dickson coming on for Lee Banard to add more in the Southampton midfield.
A high cross from Obertan floated over everyone waiting inside the Saints' box, but Nani was waiting unmarked, but his measured shot was well held by Bialkowski.
At the other end, Chamberlain blitz through the United midfield, but the youngster pulled his shot wide of Lindegaard's right-hand post.
After winning the ball deep in Southampton's half Giggs slid an inch-perfect pass to Hernandez, who let the ball allow him to get passed his marker, and the little Mexican slipped the ball in off the inside of the post.
Adkins made his second change bringing on Dany N'Guessan for Do Prado in a like-for-like swap to add fresher legs to the Saints' attack.
Lindegaard showed his nerves when he did not hold onto ball with Saints attackers all around him, but thankfully Brown cleared the ball away.
With some space in front of him, Chaplow was encouraged to have a go from distance, but his shot lacked the accuracy it had in the first-half.
It also marked Chaplow's final contribution of the match as well, as Adkins made his final substitution with Oscar Gobern replacing the youngster.
The away supporters starting showing their appreciation for Ronaldo, by singing a five minute rendition of "Viva Ronaldo."
Midway through stoppage-time, Danny Butterfield picked up the first yellow card of the match after he unfairly fouled Nani.
Manchester United did well to keep the ball in the closing minutes and clung on for another odd-goal win.
Matchball
With United defenders at six and sevens, they needed a spark, which was again provided by Giggs.
Ratings
A. Lindegaard - 6; J. O’Shea - 6, C. Smalling - 5, J. Evans - 5, Fabio - 4 (W. Brown - 7); Anderson - 5 (Nani - 7), P. Scholes - 7, D. Gibson - 4 (R. Giggs - 7); G. Obertan - 5, M. Owen - 6, J. Hernandez - 7
Goals
M. Owen (65'), J. Hernandez (76')
Statistics
Possession: 51%
Corners: 3
Shots (On Target): 11 (6)
Fouls Conceded (Suffered): 6 (11)
Bookings: None
Attendance: 28,792
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