Fan Report: Manchester United 0-1 Besiktas

A deflected strike from Tello was enough to shoot down Manchester United’s young guns at Old Trafford.

United’s youngsters started the game brightly with Macheda and Welbeck linking up quite well. So when Tello’s deflected strike nestled into the bottom corner past a helpless Ben Foster in the 19th minute, Old Trafford was stunned into silence.

In their first attack of the game, Tello found space 30 yards from goal on the right and let fly with a speculative shot that deflected off Rafael’s shoulder and past Foster’s despairing dive.  Despite this bolt from the blue, United’s youngsters didn’t seem fazed and picked up where they had left off, dominating possession.

Much of United’s play came down the right, with Gabriel Obertan justifying his selection in the starting line-up after a string of fine cameo appearances.  He provided a moment of magic that almost led to Welbeck squaring the game in the 24th minute. His delightful through ball only just failed to find Welbeck inside the area.

United continued to surge forward in attack and had another good opportunity just a minute later. Some neat link up play between Macheda and Welbeck allowed the former to find some space in the box, but his cut back was blocked by Rustu.

Obertan should have then had a goal to cap his first European start for the club in the 30th minute. After being played in brilliantly by Danny Welbeck, Obertan found himself with acres of space in the box, only to see his low shot well saved by Rustu.

Despite all of their dominance in the first half, United were lucky not to find themselves two goals down at the break. In only their second meaningful attacking move of the half, Fink hitting the post after a well weighted lay off on the edge of the area.

The second half offered more of the same, with United dominating possession and creating chances without finding a clinical finish. Besiktas offered nothing as an attacking threat, clearing happy to just sit and protect their lead.

Obertan was again heavily involved in United’s attacking play, surging forward with a combination of pace and skill.  He almost levelled the game in the 61st minute after a brilliant run, which saw him beat several Besiktas defenders, was finished with a powerful low drive that seemed destined for the goal before Rustu stretched out an arm to tip the ball around the post.

As the half progressed, United continued to dominate, but failed to turn their possession into clear chances. For all of their skill and poise in build-up play, it seemed as if the youngsters lacked a degree of composure in the final third to level the game.

United piled on the pressure in the final stages, and they should have been rewarded with a penalty in the 85th minute. Patrice Evra broke through the Besiktas defence, only to be clearly obstructed by Ibrahim Kas. The referee, however, decided not to give the foul, much to the dismay of the Old Trafford crowd.

As the game ticked over into stoppage time, United almost had the equaliser that their play had deserved. Some good build up play from Anderson and Michael Owen set up Federico Macheda, whose powerful header was tipped over the bar.

From the resulting corner, United threw everyone forward, including Ben Foster, in an attempt to seal top spot. It wasn’t to be though, with Wes Brown’s header once again tipped around the post by the impressive Rustu.

A small amount of time-wasting and a woeful long range effort from Michael Carrick ensured a famous win for the Turkish side, and meant that United must secure a point in their last game to ensure top spot.

By Harry Veal