Manchester United vs Blackburn Rovers
Match pulse
MANAttacking pressure by 5 minutes
Who won: Man United 2-1
Manchester United beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 on Saturday, February 21, 2009 at Old Trafford. Goals for Man United: Wayne Rooney (23') and Cristiano Ronaldo (60'). Goals for Blackburn: Roque Santa Cruz (32').
Play by play
- 94'
Rovers were admirable opponents and will feel aggrieved no doubt at Howard Webb's failure to award them a penalty. They return home with their pride intact though.
- 94'
FULL-TIME: A tough test for United and perhaps Ferguson will be relieved in some way that their tremendous defensive record has gone in a run-of-the-mill Premier League match at home rather than losing it in a more psychologically devastating arena (the San Siro or Wembley for example).
- 93'
Pedersen plays a corner in but, with even Robinson up from the Rovers goal, he is unable to locate a Blackburn head. There follows a few nervous exchanges for the home side as Rovers fire in a couple of high balls before Kuszczak gets his hands to it and that is that...
- 90'
Rooney almost scores a wonderful goal. Showing no signs of fatigue at this late stage, he marches towards goal and lets fly. It looks to be heading goalwards but arcs just wide. Rooney is growing even more in to the game the later it goes on which should demonstrate to Sir Alex how sharp his fitness is.
- 89'
Good covering at the back from Warnock to put the ball out for a United throw. Four minutes of extra time to be played.
- 87'
Givet stands firm at the back under pressure from both Dimitar Berbatov and a high ball from Kuszczak and the Rovers man deals with both well.
- 86'
Great turn out wide from that man Rooney once again and he plays a sublime pass on to the head of Berbatov who should have buried his header from seven yards instead of knocking it over.
- 85'
Rooney again finds himself in a promising position - this time just to the left of the Blackburn goal - but hits his shot off the legs of Andre Ooijer.
- 84'
Ronaldo feeds Rooney and his shot from twenty yards is hit with firm intent but lacks accuracy as it flies over Paul Robinson's crossbar.
- 83'
United look to finish the game with Ronaldo and Rooney linking but the England man is unable to get a firm grip of the ball and Rovers breathe again. Can they yet spring a shock leveller?
- 80'
El-Hadji Diouf and Paul Scholes both exit the theatre of dreams - to quite starkly contrasting receptions. Ryan Giggs and Keith Treacey will now tread the boards in their place.
- 80'
Ryan Nelsen throws himself in a clumsily acrobatic way at a high ball played in to the United penalty area but is unable to make a connection.
- 78'
Grella is removed to make way for Benni McCarthy. Pedersen then hits a dangerous ball in from the left which Evra does well to hook to safety.
- 77'
It's all gone a bit quiet here with United somewhat aimlessly knocking it about, apparantly in no great rush. Ronaldo ups the tempo a bit though with a well-hit shot that goes behind off a Rovers defender for a corner.
- 74'
A long ball from the back by Grella finds Diouf but he is unable to bring Santa Cruz in to the play as he overhits his pass.
- 73'
David Dunn makes way for the 38-year old Tugay.
- 71'
Berbatov plays a neat pass to Scholes on the edge of the Rovers box and the United veteran almost pulls off a lovely lifted dink. Grella is on hand though to read the intent and put in a good tackle.
- 69'
Rooney spreads the play wide to Ronaldo after showing his steel to win the ball initially.
- 66'
Oooh Pedersen goes down in the United penalty area, under pressure from Rafael who did have his hands on the Blackburn winger, but Howard Webb waves away the Rovers appeals. Big Sam is not a happy chappie on the touchline.
- 64'
Diouf wins a corner for Rovers and Dunn plays it across to Nelsen who is unable to direct his header on target. He was quite far out to be fair.
- 62'
Dimitar Berbatov is booked for a high tackle.
- 59'
GOAL - Ronaldo exhibits the skills which make him adored by right-thinking people the world over when he hits a quite magnificent free-kick past the helpless figure of Paul Robinson. A majestic strike.
- 57'
Corner to Rovers now and when it breaks to Grella he troubles Kuszczak with a shot but the United man can do nothing about Ryan Nelsen's shot which flies past him but rebounds off the post. Then El-Hadji Diouf pounces and fires a shot at Kuszczak who is grateful to have the ball in his grasp this time. So close for Rovers.
- 55'
Disgraceful dive from Ronalo right on the edge of the penalty area earns the winger a deserved yellow card and the opprobrium of right-thinking people the world over.
- 54'
United knock it around, probing and looking for a way through but Rovers stand their ground and the move eventually breaks down. Rovers are providing a stiff resistance this evening.
Leaders
MANBLK 
