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Reading 2 - 3 Manchester United
Tuesday 27th February 2006
Reading, London
Three goals in the first six minutes handed Manchester United victory
over Reading in a remarkable FA Cup fifth-round replay.
It was nothing less than a sensational start at the Madejski Stadium.
As well as the visitors did with the chances that came their way, each
goal was a gift courtesy of the generous and, frankly, awful Reading
defence.
The calamity began with just two minutes of the match played. A break
on the right saw O'Shea's pull-back arrive at the feet of full-back
Heinze. The Argentine steadied himself and fired in a low shot that
squeezed under the body of the flapping Federici - who, ironically, was
handed the Man of the Round award after his sterling efforts at Old
Trafford.
Almost straight after the restart United were 2-0 up when the lively
Saha chested down Rio Ferdinand's raking pass and struck his angled
volley past the Australian keeper.
And Solskjaer rubbed salt in the most open of Reading wounds when he
collected Kieran Richardson's pass, sprung the offside trap, and
planted an eight-yard shot with the outside of his boot past the
demoralised Federici.
Royals boss Steve Coppell did eventually realise things were not going
right for his team after 15 minutes, changing from having three at the
back to a 4-4-2 formation. It steadied the rocky ship and stemmed the
United tide.
Reading reduced the deficit midway through the half when Ivar
Ingimarsson flicked on John Oster's corner to Kitson, who nodded in
from two yards.
Sir Alex Ferguson's midfield became increasingly sloppy in the second
half and Reading took advantage.
They gave their supporters some hope six minutes from time when Lita
converted Ulises de la Cruz's cross from 12 yards.
And with just a few seconds remaining of the match, Brynjar Gunnarsson
almost took the tie into extra time when his 20-yarder beat Van der
Sar, but rattled off the crossbar.
Reading: Federici, De la Cruz, Gunnarsson, Bikey, Ingimarsson, Shorey,
Ki-Hyeon (Little 68), Sidwell, Oster, Kitson, Doyle (Lita 71).
Subs Not Used: Hahnemann, Hunt, Sodje.
Booked: De la Cruz, Bikey.
Goals: Kitson 23, Lita 84.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Silvestre, Brown, Ferdinand, Heinze, Park,
O'Shea, Fletcher, Richardson, Saha (Rooney 76), Solskjaer (Ronaldo 89).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Smith, Scholes.
Goals: Heinze 2, Saha 4, Solskjaer 6.
Att: 23,821
Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).
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