Match Report


Port ValePort Vale     Manchester UnitedManchester United
Dale SadlerDale Sadler Stuart Longworth Stuart Longworth
Rafael PulidoR. Pulido72
G
1captain
G
85Igor NettoI. Netto
Warren WetherallW. Wetherall62
D
2
D
73Gareth FoxG. Fox
Dean OliverD. Oliver73
D
3
D
86Paul WhiteP. White
Nicky MilburnN. Milburn68
D
4
D
83Alistair FinneyA. Finney
Eduardo CarrilloE. Carrillo66
D
5
D
86Kemal HendrieK. Hendrie
Pasquale VecchiolaP. Vecchiola66
M
6
M
88Des LockleyD. Lockley
Ray SbrizzoR. Sbrizzo65
M
7
M
90Roberto MerinoR. Merino
Goran PetrovicG. Petrovic69
M
8
A
86Juan RuizJ. Ruiz
Ian LaverI. Laver71
A
9
A
89Andy HitchcockA. Hitchcock
Tony HuckerbyT. Huckerby69
A
10
A
81Clive BanksC. Banks
Brian Le SauxB. Le Saux56
A
captain11
A
76Julian WinterburnJ. Winterburn
 
Graham GreenG. Green60
D
12
D
86Francesco G. CirilloF. Cirillo
Scott McgrealS. Mcgreal62
M
13
M
81Guilherme QuaresmaG. Quaresma
Dave PearceD. Pearce63
A
14
A
80Frank GrimandiF. Grimandi

Red Cross
today's match is sponsored by Red Cross
Match Report
It's a clear sunny day here at Vale Park where Port Vale play host to Manchester United. A crowd of 19,143 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Port Vale are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Manchester United appear to be shaped for 4-2-4.
Today's match is refereed by James Fenton.


0.00
Manchester United get the match underway!
2.26
Pasquale Vecchiola threads a neat ball through to Tony Huckerby. Tony Huckerby controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal but Igor Netto is on top of his game. Superb keeping!
3.41
Alistair Finney threads the ball through to Roberto Merino. Roberto Merino knocks the ball forward to Andy Hitchcock but the linesmans flag is up. Offside!
4.27
Roberto Merino passes the ball forward to Andy Hitchcock. Andy Hitchcock sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal. The ball swerves viciously but the keeper is on top of it. Excellent save!
10.51
Pasquale Vecchiola flicks the ball to his team mate, Brian Le Saux. Brian Le Saux whips in a cross ball towards Tony Huckerby. Tony Huckerby is unmarked! He powers a header at goal but it is tipped over by Igor Netto.
15.22
Des Lockley chips the ball to his team mate, Julian Winterburn. Julian Winterburn knocks in a cross ball towards Des Lockley. Des Lockley directs the ball goalwards with his head. Eduardo Carrillo steps in front, blocking the shot. He clears the ball quickly up field.
21.30
Roberto Merino flicks the ball to his team mate, Juan Ruiz. Juan Ruiz plays a scrappy one-two with Roberto Merino and advances towards the goal... Some world-class footwork from Juan Ruiz provides some space. He scuffs the ball at goal. The keeper is more than a match for it. Superb keeping!
24.11
Roberto Merino flicks a high pass forward. Des Lockley holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Des Lockley sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal but it rises well off target!
26.25
Nicky Milburn threads a neat ball through to Ian Laver. Ian Laver knocks in a cross ball towards Brian Le Saux. Brian Le Saux makes a convincing header but couldn't keep it down. It goes high into the crowd!
30.56
With a delightful solo run, Roberto Merino stretches the opposition's defence. Roberto Merino knocks in a cross ball towards Andy Hitchcock. Andy Hitchcock flicks the ball with his head. The ball skims just under the bar, beyond the keeper's outstretched hand. Goal!!
33.36
Paul White flicks the ball to his team mate, Roberto Merino. Roberto Merino flicks a high pass forward to Andy Hitchcock who brings the ball under control. Andy Hitchcock makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Julian Winterburn but he's offside!
40.01
Paul White knocks the ball to his team mate, Des Lockley. Des Lockley plays the ball forward to Julian Winterburn. Julian Winterburn shoots from outside the area but connects badly, narrowly missing the linesman!
45.00
The referee whistles the end of the first half!

Both teams emerge for the second half. Port Vale appear unchanged since the first half. Manchester United also appear unchanged since the first half. The Manchester United players look more relaxed than they were earlier in the game.

45.00
Port Vale start the second half!
47.20
Paul White flicks a high pass forward. Roberto Merino controls it well on his chest. Roberto Merino controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Andy Hitchcock. Andy Hitchcock makes a probing pass to Julian Winterburn but he's offside!
51.35
Julian Winterburn makes a simple pass to Clive Banks. Clive Banks whips in a cross ball towards Andy Hitchcock. Andy Hitchcock gets a glancing touch on the cross ball. Rafael Pulido manages to gather it effortlessly.
53.05
Ray Sbrizzo hits a low pass to Brian Le Saux. Brian Le Saux cuts inside the box! Some silky footwork from Brian Le Saux provides him some room. He curls a shot at goal. It slams into the side netting. So close!!
54.46
Goran Petrovic surges forward with the ball. Goran Petrovic knocks in a cross ball towards Brian Le Saux. Brian Le Saux gets a glancing touch on the cross ball but it slams into the crowd!
55.28
Roberto Merino makes an attacking run forward. Roberto Merino knocks in a cross ball towards Juan Ruiz. Juan Ruiz is unmarked! He powers a header at goal. The ball edges just beyond the reach of the keeper, thudding into the back of the net. Goal!!
60.57
Port Vale have made 3 substitutions with Graham Green replacing Dean Oliver, Scott Mcgreal replacing Ray Sbrizzo and Dave Pearce replacing Tony Huckerby .
61.63
Alistair Finney threads a neat ball through to Des Lockley. With some swift thinking, Des Lockley plays the ball forward to Roberto Merino. Roberto Merino deftly passes the ball to Andy Hitchcock, releasing him through on goal. Andy Hitchcock side-steps and rifles a shot at goal. The ball swerves in the air but the keeper is more than a match for it. He makes it look easy!
65.40
Alistair Finney kicks a strong pass forward to Roberto Merino. Roberto Merino flicks a high pass forward. Andy Hitchcock controls it well on his chest. Andy Hitchcock plays a one-two with Julian Winterburn and rushes in on goal... Andy Hitchcock side-steps and rifles a shot at goal but it whistles just wide of the post!
71.48
Alistair Finney catches Ian Laver on the ankles. Alistair Finney is warned by the referee! Ian Laver hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
71.48
Free kick to Port Vale just outside the area...
74.39
Ian Laver takes a stuttering run up and lifts the ball over the wall. The ball clips the left post and goes in. Goal!
83.31
Nicky Milburn controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Goran Petrovic. Goran Petrovic knocks the ball to his team mate, Ian Laver. Ian Laver tries a spectacular long range effort. Magnificent save by Igor Netto!
84.11
Graham Green makes a probing pass to Nicky Milburn. Nicky Milburn flicks a high pass forward. Ian Laver easily holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Ian Laver knocks in a cross ball towards Dave Pearce. Dave Pearce makes a looping header on goal but it slams into the crowd!
85.59
Scott Mcgreal threads a neat ball through to Pasquale Vecchiola. Pasquale Vecchiola finds some space and shoots from distance but somehow Igor Netto manages to keep it out.
87.38
Juan Ruiz barges into Graham Green. The referee brings Juan Ruiz to one side and gives him a warning! Graham Green runs off the knock.
89.01
Scott Mcgreal makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Brian Le Saux. Brian Le Saux shoots from 25 yards but it's a woeful effort!
90.00
The whistle blows full-time!

Match Statistics
 

Port Vale

Manchester United
Goals
1
2
Shots on Target
5
7
Shots off Target
5
3
Offsides
0
3
Fouls
0
2
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
41.7%
58.3%
Play Area
31.9%
43.1%
25%

Scorers
Ian Laver 72
Andy Hitchcock 31
Juan Ruiz 55

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Roberto Merino of Manchester United

Match Ratings
1.Rafael Pulido (GK)
7
2.Warren Wetherall (DEF)
6
3.Dean Oliver (DEF)
6
4.Nicky Milburn (DEF)
6
5.Eduardo Carrillo (DEF)
6
6.Pasquale Vecchiola (MID)
6
7.Ray Sbrizzo (MID)
6
8.Goran Petrovic (MID)
6
9.Ian Laver (ATT)goal scored
6
10.Tony Huckerby (ATT)
6
11.Brian Le Saux (ATT)
6
 
12.Graham Green (DEF)
6
13.Scott Mcgreal (MID)
6
14.Dave Pearce (ATT)
6

1.Igor Netto (GK)
7
2.Gareth Fox (DEF)
6
3.Paul White (DEF)
6
4.Alistair Finney (DEF)
6
5.Kemal Hendrie (DEF)
6
6.Des Lockley (MID)
6
7.Roberto Merino (MID)
9
8.Juan Ruiz (ATT)goal scored
7
9.Andy Hitchcock (ATT)goal scored
8
10.Clive Banks (ATT)
6
11.Julian Winterburn (ATT)
6
 
12.Francesco G. Cirillo (DEF)
0
13.Guilherme Quaresma (MID)
0
14.Frank Grimandi (ATT)
0