Such were the events leading up to this match that it comes as a surprise that a stunning climax made the headlines and not a tabloid villain.
In a divisive move, Ferguson omitted Wayne Rooney from Saturday’s trip to Goodison so as not to “subject him to the abuse” he would surely have endured. The Scot considered Rooney’s private affairs to be of greater cause for protection than, say, David Beckham’s after he returned home from the World Cup, shamed, in 1998. And if it wasn’t for the head of Tim Cahill, twice proving to be the undoing of United’s defence, Ferguson would have been reprieved for his gamble.
Everton went into the early kick-off looking for their first win of the season. United on the other were unbeaten, taking 7 points from their first three matches.
The home side made the early advances, dominating possession and creating shooting opportunities for Steven Pienaar. The South African, who David Moyes fought to keep at Everton during the summer, was the focal point of initial attacks, aided by Tim Cahill’s early aerial domination over Johnny Evans.
The pace simmered as United gained greater authority and so did the ferocity of an Everton faithful no doubt deflated by the absence of a former hero. “Rooney”, harked the United fans, reminding the blue half of Liverpool who the striker had left Everton for.
John O’Shea, playing in a five-man midfield, first threatened Tim Howard’s goal, with a thunderous volley that clipped the outside of the post. United then proceeded to enjoy more possession and Everton were twice saved, once spectacularly, by Howard. Paul Scholes, assuming a trademark position on the outside of the area, struck a cleared corner only for a deflection to take it goal –bound. Howard denied his former team-mate with an instinctive leg that brought applause from all sides of the ground.
It was another United corner that lead to the first goal. Having defended Giggs’ out-swinging corner, the ball was played over the top of Patrice Evra, who, questionably, opted to try an overhead kick to clear and missed, allowing Mikel Arteta to race past Gary Neville and bear down on Edwin Van Der Sar’s goal. The Spanish midfielder was blocked by the Dutch keeper but only for Liam Osman to astutely, and precociously, square a pass for Pienaar to slot home.
Undaunted, United resumed where they were thirty seconds before and four minutes later grabbed an equaliser. Giggs swept a pass out wide to Nani who found the run of Darren Fletcher for the midfielder to volley past a helpless Howard. Moyes may have concerns at how easy United found Nani but make no mistake about the cross: perfection.
The second half started almost immediately with United’s second goal. Nani was again the provider, crossing in for Nemanja Vidic, who eluded Marouane Fellani to head powerfully downwards and in. The floodgates should then have opened. Nani should have threaded a pass to the awaiting Berbatov instead of blasting over, and Scholes, uncharacteristically, scuffed what by his standards should have been a simple conversion.
It came as no surprise to hear the sound of emptying chairs when Berbatov, put through by Scholes, screwed the ball with the outside of his right boot into the bottom right corner. The first touch of the striker, elegantly taking the ball away from Sylvain Distin, was followed by an equally sublime finish. Wayne who? Game over.
But the homeside hadn’t read the script and when the fourth official indicated 3 minutes of added time, an anointment that so often plays a key cameo role at United’s theatre of dreams, Leighton Baines found Tim Cahill’s head rising highest of all the United back four.
Hope rather than expectation rippled through the Victorian stadium. Sixty seconds later delirium exuded.
Baines, exploiting time and space afforded him by Gary Neville, floated a cross towards to back post where Cahill headed into the path of the oncoming Arteta. The midfielder thrashed his shot into the net, via Scholes’ deflection. The goal marked not only the most unlikely of comebacks but will no doubt go on to ignite Everton’s season. For Ferguson’s men it was the second time they have thrown away a lead already this season. Keeping their minds on things at hand remains United’s biggest concern.
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