Sheffield Wednesday-Manchester United 3-3
It’s the first boxing day of the newborn Premier League, it’s the first boxing day of Eric Cantona in the red United shirt.
Sir Alex get immediately surprised by the softness of his defense: after six minutes Sheffield Wednesday lead 2-0.
The pace is very intense and the match proceeds alternating Wednesday’s counterattacks to United’ siege.
Machester’s forward Brian McClair seems particularly inspired, the scotsman creates more than a danger with his head shots which are stopped by the bar when Wednesday’s keeper look definitely beaten.
Cantona, arrived from Leeds from less than a month, is constantly booed by Hillsborough fans, who don’t forgive him his refusal to Wednesday one and half year before, when the French disdained Trevor Francis request of a second trial before offering him a contract. Some years later the then Wednesday coach will explain that it was a favour he conceded to Michel Platini, who was trying to promote his compatriot in Britain, but that the club hadn’t the required amount to buy him from Auxerre.
In the second half Manchester’s defense continues to have an hard time trying to manage Roland Nilsson long shots which are intercepted by David Hirst whose flank play picks again a teammate in good position. This time is John Sheridan to take advantage of this scheme bearing Schmeichel for the third time in an hour.
The match seems definitely compromised with less than a half hour to play and the Owls leading 3-0. As it happens for Wednesday, also for Manchester the most interesting opportunities come from a recurrent scheme where the left back Lee Sharpe succeeds to put the ball in the middle for McClair’s head. That is how United scores his first goal keeping the match alive. Ferguson’s boys look like revitalized, Ryan Giggs serves Cantona on the second post but the play ends with McClair having a scuffle with Wednesday’s keeper.
Soon after, another cross from Sharpe picks McClair’s head for the second goal. Cantona fails a transition offering Wednesday a big chance to end the game but Schmeichel’s save keeps United hopes alive.
A few minutes from the final whistle a penetrative from Paul Ince picks McClair on the edge of penalty area where he serves Cantona. In the end the French resists the pressure of a defender and the keeper scoring the unexpected equalization. Here’s the commentator who dare to say: uh la la, says Cantona.
