2008 UEFA Super Cup

Match

Summary

First half

The opening exchanges of the match were dominated by Zenit, counter-attacking down their right flank, exploiting the attack-minded Patrice Evra. Both Konstantin Zyryanov and Aleksandr Anyukov created opportunities on the right wing, only for Pavel Pogrebnyak to miss the target from a promising position on both occasions. Danny also managed to break into the box from the right-hand by-line, only for Rio Ferdinand to block his low cross.

Up at the other end, United had a couple of half-chances of their own as, first, Carlos Tevez hit a weak shot into Vyacheslav Malafeev's arms before sprinting after a ball played up the right wing, just managing to keep it in, before breaking through one tackle into the box and squaring the ball to Wayne Rooney. However, the England striker's first touch was poor, and the delay meant that the chance had passed.

Zenit's pressure began to mount and, with half-time approaching, they won a corner on the left-hand side. Alejandro Domínguez took an in-swinging corner. Igor Denisov flicked the ball on at the near post, and it floated over Edwin van der Sar for Pavel Pogrebnyak to head in on the line. Paul Scholes picked up a yellow card shortly after the game had restarted, but the half-time whistle soon followed and Zenit went in on top.

Second half

Andrey Arshavin, a target for Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur over the summer, came on as a substitute for Alejandro Domínguez at half-time, but it was Danny who made the breakthrough for the second goal on the hour mark. Picking up the ball just inside the United half, the United defence continued to back off from him and he broke into the box, firing a shot past Edwin van der Sar, who dived the wrong way.

A Carlos Tevez effort came close to pulling a goal back for Manchester United, and sparked a period of sustained pressure for the European champions. As United began to get into full swing, the Zenit side struggled to cope and, after Tevez had been found in space in the box by Wayne Rooney, he pulled the ball back to Nemanja Vidić who stabbed the ball into the net from six yards out. John O'Shea, Park Ji-sung and Wayne Rooney all went close as the clock ran down, but it was Danny who went closest to getting another goal for Zenit, shooting over the bar with just Van der Sar to beat after picking up a through ball from Andrey Arshavin.

With only a minute of normal time remaining, Wes Brown sent over a cross from the right wing. Paul Scholes rose to meet the ball, but, instead of heading the ball, he stuck out his right arm and punched the ball into the goal. The referee had no hesitation in showing Scholes a second yellow card and sending him off. The red card meant that Scholes would miss Manchester United's first Champions League game of the 2008–09 season, at home to Villarreal.

Details

Danny

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Statistics

Sponsorship

Danish brewers Carlsberg were the main sponsors of the event, and the Man of the Match award was officially called "Carlsberg Man of the Match".

References

References

1. Haslam, Andrew. (29 August 2006). "Danny dazzles on debut to remember". UEFA.
2. (27 August 2008). "Larsen to blow the Super Cup whistle". UEFA.
3. (29 August 2008). "Full Time Report". UEFA.
4. (29 August 2008). "Line-ups". UEFA.
5. Lyon, Sam. (29 August 2008). "Man Utd 1-2 Zenit St Petersburg". BBC Sport.
6. "Regulations of the UEFA Super Cup 2008". UEFA.
7. (24 August 2006). "UEFA announces Carlsberg sponsorship of the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup". Union of European Football Associations.