In what was a pretty low key final between two teams with many of their regular starters watching from the stands, it took penalties to find a winner. Alex Ferguson commented after the game that he did not want the game to go to extra time, just as his Tottenham counterpart Harry Redknapp would not have wanted the extra playing time with both having big Premier League games on Wednesday night.
As it turns out, Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster proved to be the Man of the Match, and the game winner with his performance and save off the first penalty. It was Jamie O' Hara who agonizingly saw Foster dive to his left and palm the ball away from goal on Spurs first spot kick. Anderson stepped up to score the winning penalty after David Bentley had stroked his penalty low and wide of Fosters goal. Stars such as Wayne Rooney and Dmitar Berbatov for Manchester United, and Wilson Palacios, Robbie Keane and Jonathan Woodgate had to watch the cup from the sideline, spectators! The game never opened up with little opportunities for either side, Ronaldo's shot that hit the post the closest either team came to winning.
One issue I had with this game, and games that go into extra time in particular, is the substitution rule. Like in any game, 90 minutes should have 3 substitutes for each team. Once these three subs are made, each team should have the option to make one more substitution in extra time. Dawson went down early in extra time for Spurs. He played on but at what cost? Like any player that does not want to let his team down, Dawson played on with the injury. Why not allow each manager the opportunity to make one extra time substitution? Especially since every team going into extra time have tired legs. Its a simple move that could help energize a game late on, and save players from getting unnecessary injuries. Just my opinion, but listen up Sepp Blatter!
No comments:
Post a Comment