Reds and Yellows Progress

December 11, 2008

With Tevez scoring in under three minutes I really thought that we were about to witness a demolition of the Danes. But it was not to be.
United were in their traditional red so Aalborg were sporting rather fetching excrement coloured brown away shirts which I highly doubt are on the Christmas list of every Danish child. Were all the good colours taken?
Many critics over the season have claimed that Aalborg are a bit… well let’s say their choice of shirt colour just about sums them up. However they deserve our praise as for one, any team that can come to Old Trafford and take the lead, let alone score twice are far from ordinary; and two, I really admired their passion, in that with their European future already as good as decided, bar a Celtic demolition of Villarreal which we will come to later, they came to Manchester to play possibly the biggest game of their collective careers and they actually had a go, now pay attention to this next bit – yes I’m talking to you Sunderland, nobody apart from the most diehard Aalborg fan could foresee anything but a mauling from the Red Devils, but what did they do? – They tried; and to everyone’s amazement they came away with a deserved point and a UEFA cup place. See Sunderland, look what you get if you try. None of that limp ‘let’s play for a 0-0’ by bricking up the goal, un-spirited style from our brothers in bacon oh no.
But now back to the game: After Tevez opened the scoring thanks to some great interplay with Giggs, United and Tevez could have doubled their tally with only five minutes on the clock, but the Argentinean was left wanting. United seemed to slow down after initially dominating and on 31 minutes Aalborg were back in it thanks to a poorly defended freekick. Kuszczak should have done better. And on the stroke of half time United were stunned by a simply brilliant looping header from Curth. Going in at half time 2-1 down United must have been worried that an embarrassing result was on the cards potentially letting Villarreal in to win the group. But simultaneously miracles were happening at Celtic Park. The Bhoys were 2-0 up against the Spaniards! United, knowing they only had to better Villarreal’s result to top the group, still had the advantage despite a disappointing half time score line.
With the second half underway and several changes for United, it took 6 minutes to draw level. Anderson plays a great ball to Rooney who finishes with yet another vital Champions League goal.
There were several chances to win it, but 2-2 is how it stayed. United played well, but the celebrations belong to the Danes. And north of the border Celtic had done their English rivals a huge favour by seeing off ten men Villarreal in a convincing victory. Untied top the group; the reds and the Spaniards progress.
Surprisingly, out of the English entrants only United and Liverpool qualify as group winners, meaning both Chelsea and Arsenal will face seeded opposition in the first knockout stage.
Thanks to great performances from Aalborg and Celtic, Group E all still have their pride in tact and the top of the table looks the way that most would have predicted.

Toby Bowen

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