United’s late flourish is rough justice for Everton

Manchester United 3 Everton 0

It looked like being a bleak evening for the Red Devils as the game entered its final stages before Paul Scholes put them in front, then lashed home a third after Ruud van Nistelrooy had slammed home a penalty.

The fluency of United’s attacking play was causing the visitors tremendous problems, Scholes sending Giggs on a burst which Joseph Yobo did well to shepherd away for a corner.

Unsworth flattened Beckham to earn himself the first yellow card but the England skipper could not clear the wall with his free-kick.

Nicky Butt sent Gary Neville clear down the right and the England full-back’s low cross was perfectly aimed at the near post, forcing Unsworth to slide in and turn behind.

Veron managed a powerful strike at the far post from Giggs’ corner but the deflection looped back to the Welsh winger whose second attempt was flicked narrowly wide by Scholes.

Everton wasted two good attacking chances with over-hit passes, in Gravesen’s case a woeful free-kick which was lofted straight into the stand from 35 yards.

Richard Wright came out to gather an angled Beckham pass which only just evaded Scholes’ outstretched boot.

Wright’s reactions were just as good a minute later when the United captain attempted to find Giggs from a more central position, with the former Arsenal keeper sliding out to collect.

Radzinski went down in a heap after a tackle from behind by Silvestre but quickly resumed after treatment.

Wright was not caught out by Beckham’s disguised chip but it appeared only a matter of time before United created the clear opening which would give them the lead.

Neither side started the second period all that brightly, David Weir heading away a Beckham cross with some degree of comfort.

Gravesen reacted angrily after finding himself in the referee’s notebook after barging Beckham to the floor.

Van Nistelrooy failed to connect with Neville’s right-wing cross to the near post before a touch of genius from Veron sent Silvestre away in the box.

The Argentinean’s lofted pass with the outside of his boot fell perfectly for the full-back, who looped a cross towards Giggs but the winger could not convert with his head.

O’Shea drove an attempted clearance into Blanc at the other end but the rebound fell kindly for Barthez, who punted clear.

A careless pass from Blanc fell invitingly at the feet of Gravesen. The Dane tried to set Radzinski on his way to goal but O’Shea would not be beaten and stood his ground long enough for the United defence to smother the danger.

Butt conceded a foul on Campbell in a dangerous area but Unsworth curled his shot over the top.

O’Shea then robbed Radzinski before the Canadian forced Barthez into a fine one-handed stop with an angled shot, no visiting attacker able to gobble up the rebound before the United keeper finally managed to collect.

Van Nistelrooy shot just wide at the other end before Beckham’s driven cross flashed across the goal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer unable to touch the ball home moments after his arrival as replacement for Veron.

The Norwegian set van Nistelrooy up with a superb guided header but, though the Dutchman controlled on his chest, from six yards he smashed his shot over the top.

Rooney was thrown on for Radzinski and the teenager quickly made his presence felt, nipping in front of Blanc to seize possession but slipping before he could cause any more damage.

United countered with ferocity, Solskjaer exchanging passes with Scholes before the England man drilled a shot wide.

A mazy run by Giggs forced Everton into a rushed clearance to Solskjaer, whose first-time header across the area fell invitingly for Beckham.

He took a single touch before lobbing over Wright to the far post, only for the ball to bounce off the crossbar.

Rooney had an equally decent chance at the other end eight minutes from time when he evaded the clutches of Silvestre and Scholes to create some space on the edge of the box but could not find a finish to test Barthez.

Rooney still could not find the net when he wrestled his way past Silvestre and blasted a shot which Barthez palmed away.

The whistle had gone for a foul against the Everton man anyway and, within a minute, the Merseysiders’ hard work dissolved into nothing.

Giggs switched to the right and took possession just inside the box. His chipped cross did not appear to be causing too much panic but van Nistelrooy managed to rise highest and, more by luck than judgement, nodded the ball back towards Scholes.

The England man took one stride back and lashed the ball home at the first attempt.

It was rough justice on Everton but worse was to follow a minute from time when van Nistelrooy sent Solskjaer away with fine rolled pass.

Weir chased back, tugged the Norwegian’s shirt and found himself red carded, wandering sadly off the pitch as van Nistelrooy smashed home the penalty.

And if that was not enough, Scholes finished the job off with a wicked 25-yard drive after collecting a loose ball which came clear from a Phil Neville tackle in midfield.

MAN UTD: Barthez, Gary Neville, Blanc, O’Shea, Silvestre, Beckham, Veron, Butt, Giggs, van Nistelrooy, Scholes.

EVERTON: Wright, Hibbert, Weir, Yobo, Unsworth, Carsley, Tie Li, Gravesen, Pembridge, Campbell, Radzinski.