Sports FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014 What next for United hit new low Man United? By Ahmad Al Othman in shootout defeat KUWAIT: Out of the title race in January, knocked out shamefully by Swansea in the FA Cup and now, eliminated by sur- LONDON: United’s troubled sea- vival strugglers Sunderland in the Capital son took another turn for the worse when One Cup. It just couldn’t get any worse they lost 2-1 to Sunderland in an error-strewn for in a single month. Once penalty shootout in their League Cup semi- called “The Chosen One” by United fol- final on Wednesday. lowers after retired legend Sir Alex United looked to be heading for the final Ferguson handpicked him to be his suc- against Manchester City when they led 1-0 cessor, Moyes is looking more like “The two minutes from the end of extra time Losing One”! Fans are still baffled by their before a dreadful error by goalkeeper David team’s performance since the Scot took de Gea gifted Sunderland’s Phil Bardsley an charge, with 4 unpleasant defeats since equaliser. the turn of the year. Some have been Javier Hernandez’s dramatic intervention pointing the finger towards their new moments later gave United a 2-1 win on the manager by labeling him incompetent night and a 3-3 draw on aggregate which and unqualified to manage such a mas- sent the tie to penalties. sive club, while others have been con- But to Old Trafford’s disbelief, England demning the players for underachieving striker Danny Welbeck, Adnan Januzaj, Phil and slacking in matches when it mat- Jones and Rafael failed to convert their spot- tered most. kicks and it was Sunderland - who missed During Fergie’s regime, United were three penalties of their own - who scraped knocked out only once from the FA Cup through to the March 2 showpiece at third round in 27 years, while Moyes Wembley. The outcome left David Moyes fac- acquired the unprivileged status in his ing more scrutiny in his first season as United debut season. The lack of transfer activity manager and under pressure to add to his OLD TRAFFORD: Manchester United’s Alexander Buttner (right) fights for the ball is having a frustrating effect on their fans, lacklustre squad in the January transfer win- against Sunderland’s Phillip Bardsley during their English League Cup semifinal sec- especially with the Marouane Fellaini dow. Media reports around kickoff time sug- ond leg soccer match. — AP capture proving to be an inadequate one gesting United were on the verge of buying from Chelsea for 37 million pounds after Jonny Evans scored with a close-range er , decided to take on an early to say the least. The welcoming signing header shortly before halftime to put them shot and wafted a left-foot effort well wide. of out of favor Juan Mata from title ($61.4 million) were timely all round. Asked if criticism of him and his players one up. But they labored throughout and Uruguayan Poyet has invigorated Sunderland chasers Chelsea will surely lift the pace at were clinging on for victory when De Gea since taking over from in Old Trafford and retrieve the self belief was fair, Moyes told Sky Sports: “It’s fair if you don’t win at this football club. I understand failed to stop a routine 20-yard shot from October last year but they still lie second-bot- they have been missing since Fergie Bardsley - a former United player - in the tom of the table. waved goodbye last May. The 25-year- that.” The Scot, whose side are seventh in the Premier League and in danger of failing to 119th minute and watched as the ball The Black Cats are now looking forward to old Spaniard is expected to slot directly squirmed off his palm and into the corner of their first Wembley appearance since 1992 - in the United team sheet against Cardiff even qualify for next season’s Champions League, added: “’s been very the net. when they lost the FA Cup final to Liverpool - City next Tuesday and would most cer- United stunned the visitors by hitting back and another chance to add to their famous tainly have an instant impact. good this season. It happens (making mis- takes) but that was a costly one. in final minute of extra time, Hernandez win in the 1973 FA Cup final. “To have a day I am sure that most neutrals were sweeping home off the underside of the bar of football like this is great for everybody, rooting for United against Sunderland “The shootout was really poor. I expect better. We didn’t play well tonight ... overall from Januzaj’s low cross to force penalties. great for football too,” Poyet said. “Let’s see if when it went down to penalties, in order Yet Hernandez could have put the out- we can go one better. “The things that hap- to witness a mouth-watering clash we didn’t really deserve to go through after the way we played. come beyond doubt but for a glaring miss in pened today were incredible, the players against their arch rivals Manchester City, extra time. Januzaj did well to wrestle free on have been outstanding, they have been try- who convincingly thrashed West Ham 9- “That’s football, we’ll get on with it, pick ourselves up and go again.” United had been the right and feed the striker on the break, ing to learn the way I want them to play so 0 on aggregate. Losing on penalties was but Hernandez, running unopposed on keep- credit to them.” — Reuters never a humiliating defeat, but it was on course to make the final on away goals United’s approach to the contest and style of play that frustrated their support- ers. The fashion of their exit was over- Watford next to challenge City shadowed by an injury to midfielder Michael Carrick. LONDON: Manchester City will launch their In that spell they have scored 19 times and lost United game, and it was more than 30 years ago. It’s still early to write off United’s imposing strike force against Watford in the FA seven games and one manager in Gianfranco That tells you how much of a shock it was. chances in their current Champions Cup tomorrow and challenge the struggling Zola who guided them to a Championship play- “My advice to the (current) Bournemouth League campaign, with an unpredictable Championship club to end their dreams of an off final defeat last season but who resigned in players would be to make sure they enjoy the encounter against Greek giants unprecedented quadruple. City have scored 106 December. day and don’t go on to the pitch with any fear. It Olympiakos only a month away. To credit goals this season to advance on four fronts, and His successor, Italian Giuseppe Sannino, in will fly by and they need to make the most of it.” where it’s due, they have performed rea- their latest test arrives in the fourth round of the his 15th managerial appointment from 14 clubs Liverpool will be without Brazilian midfielder sonably well in Europe and are one of 3 game’s oldest cup competition. has hardly revived the Hornets. Watford, 15th in Lucas, who damaged knee ligaments during last teams who were unbeaten in the group Premier League giants Arsenal, Chelsea and the division, are two places lower than when Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa. stages along with Spanish giants Real Liverpool are also in action this weekend, when Zola departed. As such, their sights will be set Kidderminster, of the Conference, meet and Atletico Madrid. The minimum Bournemouth will be aiming to replicate their low - perhaps only to better the result when the Sunderland at the on Saturday expectations should be reaching the 1984 FA Cup heroics, holders Wigan Athletic teams met in the FA Cup third round 12 months with dreams of a previous giant-killing run on quarter finals along with the continent’s host Crystal Palace and Kidderminster Harriers - ago, when City won 3-0. That day, 6,000 Watford their minds, when they reached the fifth round top elites and competing with its best. the only non-league club in the last 32 - travel to fans made the journey to Manchester; this time in 1994 with wins over Birmingham City and Their aim in the meantime should be 1973 winners Sunderland. City have generated the figure is likely to be no more than 2,500. Preston North End. to solemnly concentrate on acquiring the ominous momentum this season, shrugging off Bournemouth, one place below Watford in the The Harriers had an average attendance of Premier League’s fourth spot and a guar- early defeats by Bayern Munich in the Championship, at least have a home tie to relish 2,200 last season but are set to take at least anteed qualification for the Champions Champions League and Chelsea in the league to - a televised match tomorrow against seven- 4,000 fans to the north-east, and hope to earn League. If they fail to do so, the financial put together a run of 18 games unbeaten — 16 times winners Liverpool. approximately 250,000 pounds from gate meltdown would simply be too enor- of them victories. The south-coast club will need to evoke the receipts, a critical sum for a club that was in mous to sustain and a huge club like They are second in the Premier League, one spirit of ‘84, when as a third-tier side managed financial peril in 2011. United is surely too big to suffer such an point behind Arsenal, into the knockout phase by Harry Redknapp they beat holders “This has been a team effort,” said chairman experience, especially with millions of of the Champions League - where they face Manchester United 2-0 in one of the biggest Mark Serrell. “The players and management fans in Asia and all over the world. Would Barcelona - and can look forward to one shocks in the competition’s history. have done very well to get us this far (in the the Glazers even consider keeping Moyes Wembley occasion, the League Cup final. The opening goal at Dean Court that day was competition), but everyone has rallied to help in charge if he underperforms and Watford’s credentials are not as impressive. scored by Milton Graham, now a supervisor for us.” Arsenal host third-tier Coventry on Friday doesn’t meet their aspirations or are they They have won three of their last 18 games, an energy management company near Leicester. and Nottingham Forest play Preston - the two already impatient? the latest a 2-0 victory over third-tier Bristol City He told the Bournemouth Echo newspaper on clubs first met in the FA Cup in 1892, when at home which set up their trip to Manchester. Wednesday: “People still talk to me about the Forest won 2-0. —Reuters