Manchester United Vs Tottenham 27/01/2008

Man Utd 3-1 Spurs

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to put Manchester United into the last 16 of the FA Cup after an entertaining tie.

First Half Highlights




Ronoldo's Penalty



Ronoldo's Second goal



Wayne Rooney cleared Dimitar Berbatov's header off the line before Robbie Keane converted Aaron Lennon's cross to put Tottenham ahead in a lively first half.

Ryan Giggs teed up Carlos Tevez to level but Edwin van der Sar superbly denied Jermaine Jenas before half-time.

Ronaldo netted a penalty after Michael Dawson went for deliberate handball and Radek Cerny then let his shot through.

It continued United's long unbeaten run at home against Spurs - which began in December 1989 - and was no less than the Premier League champions deserved after a dominant second-half display.

They were tested, however, during an opening 45 minutes which featured plenty to admire from two sides that have won the Cup 19 times between them.

For all their fluid movements, the home side often lacked a telling final ball and Spurs drew encouragement from the success they had in containing the lethal triumvirate of Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo.

Indeed, the visitors came desperately close to an opener in the 15th minute when Berbatov headed Lennon's corner goalwards, only to be thwarted by Rooney on the line.

The warning signs were there for the favourites and when a raking pass from Michael Dawson was collected by Lennon, the winger's cross was met by Keane, who ghosted past the centre-halves to claim claim his fourth strike in as many games.

United responded wth predictable vigour and after Radek Cerny tipped over a fierce Giggs strike from the edge of the area they were deservedly level.

John O'Shea's deep ball caused confusion for Young-Pyo Lee and Dawson, allowing Giggs to nip in and lay-off to Tevez, who fired across Cerny and into the net.

Spurs were undaunted and, with the game opening up, almost regained the lead right on half-time.

Jenas raced clear down the middle following Steed Malbranque's defence-splitting pass and he got in an effort which Van der Sar pushed past the post.

More composure soon after the break would have yielded another Tottenham goal.

A slip from left-back Patrice Evra allowed Lennon to break free but he chipped over, and a clever punt from Keane created an even better opening for Jenas, who sidefooted off-target.

Those misses proved costly as Sir Alex Ferguson's men cranked up the pressure.

Ronaldo was enjoying more freedom and he really should have made it 2-1 when a sublime pass from Tevez sent him clear into the box.

And the goal United had been threatening duly arrived when Dawson saw red for using his arm to deny Rooney a shooting opportunity and Ronaldo fired home his 10th goal in eight games from the spot.

The game looked up for Tottenham but they bravely ventured forward and Wes Brown's attempt to clear a Malbranque cross bounced back off the post.

Any hopes they were harbouring off a replay were ended, however, when a dreadful error from Cerny saw Ronaldo's shot squirm over the line.

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About the Match

Manchester United against Tottenham Hotspur is one of three ties that will see a Premier League club through and one join the nine to have already fallen by the wayside from the third round.

Since 1984-85, Manchester United have played 110 FA Cup ties, and only been knocked out by Premier League clubs on 16 occasions (that includes the two finals won by Southampton and Arsenal after penalty shoot-outs).

These clubs have won the cup 19 times between them; United, a record 11 times, Spurs eight.

Head To Head Details

All competitions

This is the 164th competitive meeting; Manchester United have won the last four and are unbeaten in 13 (won 11, drawn two - all Premier League). Spurs' last victory was 3-1 at White Hart Lane on 19 May 2001. The Londoners have not won at the Theatre of Dreams in 19 visits since a 0-1 top-flight triumph on 16 December 1989.

FA Cup

This is the ninth time these clubs have been drawn together in the competition. Tottenham lead by five wins to three, but United won the most recent 2-0, at home in the third round in 1997 when Paul Scholes and David Beckham were their scorers.