Cup calamity as Scholes goals lead to Villa exit
By James
January 5 2004
Aston Villa deserved more than a defeat out of this game as they battled hard particularly throughout the first half, when they led 1-0. However, a Paul Scholes brace secured a 2-1 win for United as they progressed to the next round.

Villa showed courage and determination and really looked up for the game in the first period. They took a deserved lead through a fortunate Gareth Barry goal; however they didn’t really get going in the second half.

Juan Pablo Angel had a good early chance as a great volley-type cross from Darius Vassell fell right at the feet of the Colombian, who shot straight at Howard who saved with his legs.

Vassell then had a chance of his own as he was played through superbly by Gareth Barry, although the England Striker’s shot was saved low at Tim Howard’s right hand post.

With 20 minutes gone Villa were easily the better team and went one in front thanks to a lucky strike from Gareth Barry. The referee was playing the advantage after McCann had been viciously hacked to the floor and Barry took a pile-driving effort with his right foot. The shot was deflected and seemed to take ages to eventually roll past Howard and send the claret and blue faithful in to raptures in the stands.

Villa had a decent chance to extend their lead within a few minutes from a free kick which was just outside the 18 yard box. Juan Pablo Angel took it, however his recent free-kick form continued as he put it on the roof of the net.

United then threatened an equalizer as there was a nail biting goal mouth scramble in front of the Holte End. A United corner was not properly cleared and it led to pressure on the Villa back line. Mikael Silvestre fired in a shot which both JLloyd Samuel and Thomas Sorensen blocked in unison.

Peter Whittingham had a long shot which was not up to the standards of the benched Thomas Hitzlsperger as it did not force a save out of the static American stopper Howard.

The disappointing Kelberson attempted to remind Villa that United were still very much in this cup tie by attempting a long shot himself and the ball narrowly missed Sorensen’s left hand post. The effort was one of few for an unimpressive United, as Villa had shone throughout the first half and deserved to be going in to the break more than one goal to the good.

Vassell nearly added to the lead after he combined well with JLloyd Samuel; however Howard once again was there to keep his shot out. The American was proving to have a good game in goal for United and if it wasn’t for him the game could have already been dead and buried in Villa’s favour.

HALFTIME – Villa 1 Man United 0

Thomas Hitzlsperger was introduced just after the break as he came on for the injured Lee Hendrie who looked to have a head wound. Hitzlsperger wasted no time in establishing himself in the team by playing through Juan Pablo Angel who managed to get a shot away, although he was out too wide to trouble Howard.

Howard had been receiving back-passes all match and he nearly paid the price for a poor clearance after receiving one too many. The American’s clearance was so close to picking out Juan Pablo Angel, however a United defender managed to steal the ball just before the Colombian could get it under control.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Roy Keane, who both started on the bench, were thrown on for United as they looked to take control of the game. John O’Shea and Diego Forlan made way in the double substitution.

As soon as the sub was made United looked a different team and began to step up a gear, their pressure eventually told just after the hour mark as Paul Scholes leveled. Ryan Giggs had done well down the right hand side and crossed the ball in for the Englishman to slot home from close range.

The pressure continued to rain down on Villa as they struggled to get a grip of the game in the second half. The Giggs-Scholes combination worked once more shortly after they had equalized as United now went in front. Giggs did well once again down the right; he crossed to Scholes who fired, this time in to the roof of the net, to put United in the driving seat.

Angel nearly leveled for Villa as he had a header saved by Howard, however the American ‘keeper looked like he could have been over the line when he saved the ball.

A tired looking Darius Vassell was taken off to be replaced by Stefan Moore as Villa looked to fresh blood to try and get them back in to the game.

Hitzlsperger saw a trademark long range shot go wide, albeit via a deflection. The corner which was taken straight after fell to Gavin McCann who struck a wild volley and the ball went crashing over the bar.

Peter Whittingham had the last chance for Villa in the last minute as his shot from the edge of the 18 yard box was well saved by Tim Howard as it looked to be going in. All in all Villa had dominated the first half and United the second, however the claret and blue army deserved to get a replay out of the game for their battling performance.

Their season is very much not over yet though as they are sitting pretty in 10th place in the league and still have a great chance of bringing some silverware back to Villa Park as they are in the Carling Cup Semi-Final against Bolton later this month.

FULLTIME – Villa 1 Man United 2

My man of the match: Peter Whittingham The Villa youth player had a battling performance in the middle of the park and really looked up for the game. Had a few long shot efforts and was unlucky not to equalize at the death.

TEAMS

Aston Villa Sorensen, De La Cruz, Mellberg, Johnsen, Samuel, Hendrie (Hitzlsperger), G.McCann, Whittingham, Barry, Angel, Vassell (S.Moore). Subs Not Used: Crouch, Ridgewell, Postma (GK).

Man United Howard, Silvestre, G.Neville, Brown, O’Shea (Keane), Kleberson (Fletcher), Butt, Scholes, Fortune, Giggs, Forlan (Van Nistelrooy). Subs Not Used: Bellion, Carroll (GK)

Attendance: 40,371

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