Manchester United – Newcastle United

1. Good afternoon one and all and welcome to soccernet's first live commentary of the new Premier League season. It's reigning Champions Manchester United against, err, Newcastle. Home win then eh?

2. Due to some tecchy issues we're only just up and running. Teams in a minute, but to the actions first.

3. 1'

   Newcastle are kicking towards the Stretford End.

4. 2'

   Coloccini dives in on Campbell early and Giggs's free kick hits James Milner's hand. A let off for the visitors perhaps.

5. 3'

   This time Beye brings down Brown but Given punches clear from Giggs's delivery.

6. 4'

   The teams Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Campbell and Rooney. Subs from: Kuszczak, Neville, Rafael Da Silva, O'Shea, Evans, Gibson and Possebon.

7. 5'

   Newcastle: Given, Beye, Taylor, Coloccini, N'Zogbia, Milner, Butt, Guthrie, Gutierrez, Duff and Martins. Subs from: Harper, Jose Enrique, Bassong, Smith, Geremi, Edgar and Donaldson.

8. 6'

   A first glimpse of Newcastle's pacy forward line, Obafemi Martins cutting inside and flashing a shot wide.

9. 7'

   A word on the teams, Kevin Keegan throws Fabricio Coloccini right into the mix for his debut, and Gutierrez starts too. Fraizer Campbell begins up front for Fergie's lot.

10. 8'

    Incidents at both ends. Rooney's delicious cross is met eight yards out by Campbell but Given pulls off an unbelievable point blank save, before Gutierrez goes bursting through and is cleaned out by Vidic. Inexplicably, Mike Riley gives nothing. Amazing.

11. 10'

    Wow, a breathless opening to the game! And the Toon giving as good as they are getting. Man Utd should be one up, but Newcastle had a huge shout for a penalty. Mike 'homer' Riley lets them get away with it though. Shocking.

12. 11'

    Both sides look spritely; there's some nice one touch stuff going on. Given's point blank save was made with his head! He knew little about it, but he's the reason why its still nowt nowt.

13. 13'

    Butt gives the ball away and as its swept into the box Rooney's low shot is superbly saved by Given, who then gets to his feet quick smart to save from Scholes. Brilliant keeping.

14. 14'

    Coloccini looks a little startled here. Its a big ask for his debut in fairness, Old Trafford, opening day of the season, just three days after he signed. Hmmm.

15. 15'

    Scholes fires one in after another shaky passage of play from Coloccini. He's hanging on in there though.

16. 17'

    KK looks a little concerned, as he might. But its still 0-0 for now...

17. 18'

    Martins and Milner combine to win a corner, the Toon's first..

18. 19'

    Milner's delivery is disappointing, and Giggs clears at the near post. Coloccini swings it back in but Taylor is penalised.

19. 20'

    Manchester United work the ball across the field before Fletcher floats in a cross. Beye stands firm, Giggs goes down and the ball is behind for a goal kick.

20. 21'

    Butt picks up a Beye throw in and wins another corner, from the other side - the right - this time. Van der Sar punches up in the air, Taylor volleys and Brown gets a decent block on it. Another corner.

21. 22'

    GOAL! Martins!

22. 22'

    Milner's corner is a beauty, Martins is unmarked and he powers a header past Scholes on the line!

23. 23'

    Well, well, well. Cat. Amongst. La. Pigeons.

24. 24'

    A cracking leap from Oba Martins, but he was completely left alone. Criminal defending. In the corner melee Steven Taylor limps off too.

25. 24'

    GOAL! Fletcher!

26. 24'

    Newcastle's lead lasts less than two minutes. With Taylor off the field, Fletcher wanders into the area and flicks home a Giggs cross.

27. 25'

    Carrick now limps off for Man Utd, and John O'Shea is on. Its all happening!

28. 26'

    What a shame for the Toon. They get their noses in front, but reduced to ten men their lead lasted a mere 45 seconds. A clinical break from the Champions.

29. 27'

    Milner wins a free kick on the right after Giggs chopped him down. Perhaps stung by the goal, both Ferdinand and Vidic fight to clear it.

30. 28'

    Duff picked up the ball after the free kick, found Milner again and he delivered a superb ball right along the six yard line. No-one was there to attack it though.

31. 29'

    Taylor is back on by the way, and looks ok.

32. 30'

    Super play from Gutierrez, nipping past a lunging Rooney, who saw the red mist after Butt charged into him. The Argentine's cross was just a touch underhit, or else Martins was there to make it 2-1.

33. 31'

    Newcastle are still giving the ball away in their own third, which will cost them eventually if they keep doing it. Coloccini rescues N'Zogbia this time.

34. 32'

    Good pressing from Milner, who is looking lively, as is Damien Duff. Remember him?

35. 33'

    For the home side, Fraizer Campbell looks neat and tidy. He should have had a opening day goal too.

36. 34'

    Coloccini goes across and pokes the ball out for a throw in after Scholes found Campbell down the right channel.

37. 35'

    A nice spell of keep ball from the Champions ends when Martins brings down Evra. Free kick.

38. 36'

    The game's pattern has been established now: Manchester United possession, Newcastle breakway.

39. 37'

    A let off for Habib Beye who nearly diverts Evra's cross into his own net, Given parries and Butt hooks clear before Scholes volleys five yards wide. Ambitious for anyone else, but not for the little ginger ninja.

40. 38'

    O'Shea climbs well to nod Milner's free kick away from danger, then Duff intercepts to stop Vidic leading the charge downfield.

41. 39'

    Duff holds firm and Evra brings him down. Free kick, wide right, 25 yards out.

42. 40'

    Duff's free-kick is met by Vidic, and VDS prevents a corner.

43. 41'

    A bit of a lull in the match as half-time approaches.

44. 42'

    Martins slips just when he was about to pull the trigger, then Campbell wins a free kick off Coloccini after running into him on the right flank. Another poor decision from Mike 'i love Man U' Riley.

45. 43'

    Giggs fires it in but Butt heads clear at the near post. Newcastle clear their lines, for now.

46. 44'

    Gutierrez does well to track Brown's run and prevent the cross. Necessary with makeshift left-back N'Zogbia playing.

47. 45'

    One added minute as Newcastle knock it around to ole's from their travelling support. He he.

48. 46'

    Brown swings in a cross, Given dives out to parry and that is the end of a very entertaining half, with Newcastle more than holding their own. See you back here in 15 minutes.

49. 46'

    News of the first hat-trick of the season, scored by Gabriel Agbonlahor in Aston Villa's 4-2 win over Man City. Sparky will not be happy. We're off again at OT...

50. 47'

    An early chance for Wayne Rooney to exploit plenty of space down the right side. His ball for Campbell is poor though and the Toon have a goal kick.

51. 48'

    Good spreading of the play from the home side as Giggs fires in a low ball. Taylor clears. Corner.

52. 49'

    Newcastle clear before Evra's dink towards Campbell is scrambled clear by Taylor.

53. 50'

    A great challenge on Rooney from Butt as Man Utd carved the Toon up again. They look improved in this half, Fergie's side. Martins gives KK a bit of respite firing in a low shot that VDS gathers comfortably.

54. 51'

    Now Gutierrez wins a corner off Ferdinand. Milner takes, and a deflection allows VDS to claim in front of Butt.

55. 52'

    Man Utd broke and N'Zogbia allowed Giggs to gallop past. Luckily for the Toon, Steven Taylor meets his cross ahead of Scholes.

56. 53'

    Another brilliant slice of work from Gutierrez, who sprints 60 yards to dispossess Campbell, then wins a free kick after charging up the field. An instant hit with the Toon Army that lad.

57. 54'

    Newcastle stay nice and compact as Man Utd try to break them down. They'll need a good 35 minutes more of that if they are to get anything.

58. 55'

    Duff wins a free-kick from Vidic as Ryan Giggs hobbles to the side line.

59. 56'

    'Pogo if you love the Toon,' sing a buoyant Toon Army. Don't too cocky yet lads and lasses. Please.

60. 57'

    Good work from Campbell who spins N'Zogbia then forces Given into a smart save at his near post.

61. 58'

    A couple of balls fly into the box as first Taylor, then Butt clears, Giggs tries to spray a ball wide but overcooks it and the Toon can breathe again.

62. 59'

    Fletcher wins a corner but as he takes it short Gutierrez is in sharply again to rob Giggs of the ball. Then Martins wins a free kick.

63. 60'

    Rooney opts to shoot when Campbell was screaming for it. A wasted chance. At the other end Martins whacks one goalwards again, and it wasn't too far away. He'll shoot from anywhere that lad. He's the Toon's Xavi Alonso.

64. 61'

    A decent spell of possession for Newcastle as Duff, Gutierrez, then Butt combine and Milner's shot is deflected behind for a corner.

65. 62'

    Martins nearly scored again! He had a free header after O'Shea jumped under it.

66. 63'

    Giggs is off and Rodrigo Possebon is on. Yes, exactly. Who?

67. 64'

    Evra swings in a superb cross and Campbell beats Coloccini to the ball but his header is right at Given.

68. 65'

    Possebon gets on the ball early and demonstrates his Brazilian extraction with a fancy flick.

69. 66'

    A great Newcastle counter, as Gutierrez swaps passes with Martins and charges into the area before Vidic tidies up. Legitimately this time.

70. 67'

    From the corner VDS flaps again but man of the moment Gutierrez can't direct his effort from outside the box goalwards. At the other end Brown wins a corner for the home side.

71. 68'

    The corner breaks to Scholes who rifles one in, but it is always rising and Given can let it sail over.

72. 69'

    Fletcher works hard to rob N'Zogbia of the ball but his pass confuses Brown and it rolls out for a goal kick.

73. 70'

    Newcastle are running out of options a little here, Duff loses the ball and Man United break clear. Fortunately for the Irish winger, Rooney's ball for Campbell is behind him.

74. 71'

    A Possebon look-a-like is warming up. Rafael. Anybody? No? Anybody?

75. 72'

    Gutierrez is at the heart of another promising Toon attack. He spread it wide for Milner, got into the box for the return and megged Vidic but couldn't collect it on the other side. A very bright debut though.

76. 73'

    Beye and Evra slide in by the corner flag and Old Trafford howls as Newcastle get the decision. But Rooney gets hold of it as it breaks and wins a corner.

77. 74'

    Fletcher's corner comes in, Vidic heads it into the ground and it bounces up and hits the bar. He's still down too.

78. 75'

    Rooney has a crack as Newcastle get penned in a little. Taylor sticks out a leg and blocks the shot, then N'Zogbia gifts Man Utd a free kick on the left. Poor.

79. 76'

    Rooney's low free kick ricochets off Coloccini and N'Zogbia brings it clear, then is robbed by a purposeful Ferdinand. Man against boy that looked like.

80. 77'

    Coloccini again does well under pressure from Campbell. He wins a free-kick and goes down injured, in a very Argentinian way. Campbell is booked for a nasty tackle.

81. 78'

    Milner runs out of space and Man Utd come forward again, searching for a winner.

82. 80'

    Gutierrez loops a ball wide for Milner who does well to trick Brown into conceding a free kick on the right flank. Rafael is finally on, for Fraizer Campbell.

83. 81'

    Rafael is into the action early, as Coloccini slides in ridiculously prematurely, then tackles him while lying prostrate on the deck.

84. 82'

    N'Zogbia charges forward, Brown brings him down and is carded, quite rightly. From the free kick Milner tries to blast it goalwards, as VDS was looking right into the bright sunshine, but lifts it well over.

85. 83'

    Colo again is chopped down, this time by Rooney, who is lucky to escape a card.

86. 84'

    Newcastle retreat deeper as Old Trafford screams 'Attack, attack, attack,' incessantly.

87. 85'

    Rooney swings in a ball which looks like it may be dipping in for a second, but Given watches it over the bar.

88. 85'

    Butt chips over the top for Martins but Ferdinand clears, then Milner rescues Nicky Butt, who had gifted the ball to Scholes. Sloppy from the Toon skipper.

89. 86'

    Its all hands to the pump for Newcastle now, as Martins sits deep in his own half. A hopeful punt forward from O'Shea is cleared by Coloccini.

90. 87'

    KK and Terry Mac look pensive as Man Utd launch another offensive.

91. 88'

    Guthrie, who has had an excellent game, keep possession when a lesser man may have just punted it forward. Gutierrez then wins a throw.

92. 89'

    Ferdinand edges forward and as he spreads it to Fletcher to cross, Taylor gets a free kick after Scholes jumped into him.

93. 90'

    Wayne Rooney gets the yellow card that's been in the post all day long as he spits some abuse at referee Riley.

94. 91'

    The Rooney rails at the ref again as he gets in the way of a pass meant for Rafael. Riley isn't going to book him again though! Three mins added....

95. 92'

    A nice move as Scholes and Rooney combine to offer Evra a shooting chance. He cuts across it though and the ball spins wide...

96. 93'

    Newcastle win a throw in as Rooney gets the ball caught under his feet. Butt hoofs the ball away from danger as Ferdinand pumps it long.

97. 94'

    Nicky Butt clatters into Rafael and gives away a silly free kick, which is only a whisker away from the penalty area. Free kick, and last chance for Manchester United.

98. 94'

    Last kick of the game approaching.....Rooney over it....

99. 94'

    Rooney curls it wide and that should be that....

100. 95'

     It's over! Newcastle claim a well deserved share of the spoils, and Manchester United drop points at home on the first day of the season for the second year in a row.

101. 96'

     Well, an eventful game at Old Trafford but the Champions nowhere near their best, and missing a bit of cutting edge up front, and a certain you-know-who. Having said that, and putting my Toon bias to one side, Newcastle were well worth a point with Gutierrez especially playing superbly well. A promising opening for KK.

Sağlayıcının güncel lig tablosudur; maçın oynandığı tarihteki sıralama olmayabilir.