Rooney makes Grant pay penalty

United striker grabs Fratton Park hat-trick

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 29th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Rooney makes Grant pay penalty

Rooney: Pompey treble

Man of the match: Wayne Rooney. Takes the honours after grabbing a hat-trick, but the performances of Ryan Giggs and Tomasz Kuszczak ran him very close.

Moment of the match: Giggs grabbed his 100th Premier League goal on the eve of his 36th birthday with a trademark curling free-kick in the closing moments.

Goal of the match: Rooney's only goal of the game from open play came after an excellent passing move involving team-mates Darren Fletcher and Giggs.

Save of the match: Kuszczak was excellent throughout, but his spectacular stop from John Utaka's acrobatic effort in the closing moments showed stunning reflexes.

Pass of the match: Giggs split the Pompey defence wide open seconds after half-time only for Rooney to fluff the chance with a poor first touch.

Talking points: Can Pompey beat the drop under Avram Grant? Just how long can Giggs play at the highest level?

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Wayne Rooney helped himself to a hat-trick as Avram Grant's first match as Portsmouth manager ended in a 4-1 defeat to Manchester United.

Grant's last match as Chelsea boss saw the Blues beaten on penalties by the Red Devils in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final, and he was left to rue events from 12 yards once again at Fratton Park.

Rooney struck twice from the spot either side of the interval after first being brought down by Michael Brown and then converting following Frederic Piquionne's ridiculous challenge on Ryan Giggs.

Kevin-Prince Boateng, who had missed a penalty in the defeat by Stoke which proved to be Paul Hart's last match in charge, had equalised after the eagle-eyed officials had spotted Nemanja Vidic pulling Piquionne's shirt.

Rooney restored United's lead with his only goal of the game from open play in the 48th minute as he applied the finishing touch to a delightful move involving Darren Fletcher and Ryan Giggs.

The evergreen Giggs claimed his 100th Premier League goal on the eve of his 36th birthday as he curled home a free-kick from the edge of the box in the closing moments.

With Sir Alex Ferguson watching on from the stands, United closed the gap on leaders Chelsea to two points with the Blues travelling to Arsenal on Sunday.

If Pompey have a fighting chance of staying up Grant will need the players left over from a fire sale over the last year - but he was denied the service of England goalkeeper David James due to a calf injury and Asmir Begovic started.

Threatened

For United, it was a case of whether Ferguson's absence in the dressing room would be a factor, although he had communication lines in place to assistant Mike Phelan and was hoping the din at Pompey's stadium would not drown him out.

Sat next to chief executive David Gill in the directors' box, Ferguson saw his side enjoy plenty of possession early on and press when the hosts were on the ball.

Paul Scholes had the first effort of the match, firing over when Giggs rolled a corner to the edge of the penalty area where his team-mate was left unmarked.

Pompey threatened within a minute and Kuszczak, in because Edwin van der Sar had a knock to his knee, was required to block bravely when a ball was lobbed over the top of United's defence and found Aruna Dindane.

Encouraged by this opening, Dindane also fired wide from long distance and headed off-target when unmarked from Jamie O'Hara's cross. O'Hara himself had an effort tipped over after Piquionne nodded in his direction on the edge of the area.

Despite the Pompey attacks, United were ahead in the 25th minute through Rooney.

Antonio Valencia burst forward and exchanged passes with Rooney, and when the winger pulled the ball back for his team-mate in the penalty area, the England forward waited for a clumsy challenge to arrive from Brown.

Dean pointed to the spot immediately and Rooney tucked away the penalty.

Perplexed

Pompey were level, however, on the half-hour mark, although United were perplexed as to why Dean awarded it. Kuszczak climbed above Piquionne, who was having his shirt pulled by Vidic.

With United in shock, Boateng smashed in the penalty after missing against Stoke last time out.

Pompey enjoyed a spell of pressure before the break but United were ahead three minutes after the restart.

There was nothing controversial about this effort, just Giggs weighting the ball perfectly through Pompey's defence for Rooney to place his finish home, his 10th of the season for United.

His hat-trick came in the 54th minute, from the penalty spot. Piquionne was penalised for fouling Giggs - and Rooney sent Begovic the wrong way from 12 yards.

Valencia could have added to the goals when he waltzed through the Pompey defence.

Boateng had Pompey's best chance to get back in the game but he fired over from a promising position, and there would be no way back for Grant's men.

Giggs netted with a free-kick three minutes from full-time for their fourth goal, while John Utaka saw Kuszczak divert his scissors-kick onto the crossbar at the death for Pompey.

PortsmouthTeam StatisticsManchester United
1Goals4
11st Half Goals1
8Shots on Target5
10Shots off Target4
6Blocked Shots5
4Corners8
16Fouls13
1Offsides2
4Yellow Cards3
0Red Cards0
77Passing Success84.6
17Tackles17
70.6Tackles Success76.5
40.1Possession59.9
57Territorial Advantage43

Comments (16)

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Paul Gibbons (Manchester United fan) says...

Excellent Performance from Wayne Rooney and the lads. Closing the gap on Chelsea will be hoping for an Arsenal home win today. Unfortunately I beleive it will be 3 2 to Chelsea!!!!!. A very very rare up the Gunners

Posted 09:09 29th November 2009

Byron Van wyk (Manchester United fan) says...

rooney was playing fantastic... for me hes truly one of the best strikers i hve ever seen, but i thnk that fergie should give obertan some game time, because i saw what potential he has n he is good with the ball.

Posted 08:17 29th November 2009

Roy Webb (Manchester United fan) says...

When Portsmouth played football they looked very good and threatened Manchester United on more than one occasion, forcing three great saves, but I am afraid most of the match all they wanted to do was bundle the united players off the ball. The condiions were awfull making it a very difficult game to ref, the league is very tight at the moment a few wins can see you soar, I think Avram has a tough job but if he can get Portsmouth to play football for 90 minutes they will climb

Posted 07:44 29th November 2009

Azman Hj jaini (Manchester United fan) says...

Kuszcsaks performance was tremendous!..I think he is a perfect replacement for Van Der Sar..they way he played reminded of Peter Schmeichel did..

Posted 06:27 29th November 2009

Prosper Lwakatare (Manchester United fan) says...

manchester united is the best team ever but it needs to put more efforts so to win the title challenge

Posted 05:54 29th November 2009

Jonathan Cleaver (Manchester United fan) says...

good win today that puts the preasure on chelsea tomorrow. they still gotta cum to old trafford and get something and it will be hard for them to cope when there players go to the african nations cup. also they gotta play more top four clashes than us and they still gotta play city. keep dreaming chelsea fans because when push cums to shove u bottle it and fergie always has something extra up his sleeve!!!!

Posted 23:14 28th November 2009

Akash Patel (Manchester United fan) says...

What a fantastic hatrick from Rooney, hope to see more of them in our next matches

Posted 22:18 28th November 2009

Akash Patel (Manchester United fan) says...

What an excellent performance by Wayne Rooney!

Posted 22:15 28th November 2009

Brian Mc daid (Manchester United fan) says...

Happy Birthday Giggsy 36 and still running rings around the defence of every team you play..................................

Posted 21:20 28th November 2009

Paul john Mckay (Manchester United fan) says...

Referee spoilt this one. What a complete idiot.

Posted 21:01 28th November 2009

Gary Arman (Leeds United fan) says...

lets not get too excited.. its the first goals Shrek has bagged for a while... two dodgy penalties to boot. I would have fancied myself for a hat trick against Pompey and I am nearly 60. But Ryan Giggs... what a man.. after all these years he can still play for ten minutes of any game you put him in!!

Posted 19:47 28th November 2009

Ben Stewart (Portsmouth fan) says...

o well we lost today bring on villa in the cup we gonna smash them on our way to the final we r staying up

Posted 19:23 28th November 2009

Michael Blower (Leeds United fan) says...

People may say good win but what is expected when your second in the league against a team that is bottom? Still a win is a win, Lets hope Arsenal win tomorrow

Posted 18:56 28th November 2009

Bhavik Mistry (Manchester United fan) says...

rooney is the best

Posted 18:47 28th November 2009

Shanco Bradye (Manchester United fan) says...

I'VE ALWAYS SAID IT GIGGS AND ROONEY ARE THE BEST PLAYERS OUT THERE THEY ARE WAY BEETER THEN RONALDO!!!!!! FACT!!!!!!!!!!

Posted 18:42 28th November 2009

Darrell Chan (Manchester United fan) says...

Arise Sir Ryan Giggs!

Posted 18:39 28th November 2009
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