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Tevez penalty books last-eight spot

United edge out QPR
By Chris,
November 13 2008
Manchester United’s League Cup tie against QPR failed to match any pre-match expectations. It was a largely dull affair which United, to their credit, dominated but continually proved hapless in front of goal. Carlos Tevez secured our safe passage into the quarter-finals with a penalty-kick fourteen minutes from time.

This was a truly awful game.

United dominated for long periods but lacked any sort of cutting edge in attack. With Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Dimitar Berbatov given the evening off, the hosts struggled to find the target with Tevez, Anderson and Nani in particular guilty of missing a host of opportunities.

QPR were on the back-foot throughout and seemed content to play for penalties from the very first whistle. They defended bravely but United had ample chances to make this a rout - but wayward, lacklustre and sometimes comical finishing kept parity intact for some 76 minutes.

Sir Alex Ferguson made nine changes from the side that lost at Arsenal on Saturday. Gary Neville and Anderson were the only survivors from that team. Ferguson gave a handful of youngsters a chance to impress - with Darron Gibson, Johnny Evans and Rafael Da Silva, quickly establishing a name for himself, all included.

It was also good to see Rodrigo Possebon back in action. The Brazilian midfielder was victim to a horrible challenge in the third against from Middlesbrough's Emanuel Pogatetz but came through a decent 72 minutes unscathed before being replaced by Danny Welbeck.

The goal finally came with fourteen minutes left. Nani stormed into the box and found Welbeck with a pass - who was dragged down by Peter Ramage. Phil Dowd showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot, Tevez sent Radek Cerny the wrong way and a sense of relief descended on Old Trafford.

A goal down, QPR finally showed some ambition and pushed forward in search of the equaliser. Samuel Di Carmine had the ball in the net but saw his strike ruled out for offside, whilst Dexter Blackstock had an effort saved and Emmanuel Ledesma fired wide. United, however, held on to secure safe passage into the last eight of the Carling-sponsored competition.

Credit to QPR's 6,000 travelling fans who made plenty of noise and completely drowned us out. It was not an evening that will live long in the memory of any United fan - and there were 54,000 of us there - but Tevez's spot-kick did the job, and we're deservedly in the hat for Saturday's draw alongside Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Burnley, Watford, Derby County, Spurs and Stoke City.

Full Time - Manchester United 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
Attendance - 62,539

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Tevez penalty books last-eight spot
Posted by: manutdweb.com (IP Logged)
Date: 13/11/2008 12:13

Tevez penalty books last-eight spot

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