Tim Howard Kills ManU Quintuple Hopes, Sets Up an All-Blue FA Cup Final

By: Laurie | April 19th, 2009

Manchester United’s dreams of a quintuple are officially dead, and Everton/US National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard is the one standing over the body.

After a scoreless 120 minutes, former Red Devil Howard stopped spot kicks by Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand setting up Everton’s 4-2 win on penalties to punch Everton’s ticket to the FA Cup final; they’ll face off against Chelsea.

(And twenty minutes later, my heartrate is almost back to normal. Tim Howard is probably my favorite goalkeeper currently playing. And for the record, I have discovered that the time it takes for me to pace from my TV room to our spare bedroom and back again is precisely the time it takes a player to set up for taking a penalty.)

Manchester United rested several important starters, including Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, and possibly most importantly, goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar — after their midweek Champions League win against Porto. In their places Sir Alex gave the nod to a number of debutantes, including the up-and-coming Federico Macheda, who got his first start ever.

In the match’s most controversial moment, referee Mike Riley (who else?) refused to award a penalty in the second half when Danny Welbeck was (or wasn’t) taken down in the box by Phil Jagielka. Sir Alex nearly had a stroke complaining, but after seeing the replay in slow motion from multiple angles, from a neutral perspective I’m thinking it was the right call. Probably. Maybe. I think.

(I’m glad I’m not a referee.)

Penalty summary:

Cahill – MISS…blazed over
Everton 0-0 Manchester United
Berbatov – MISS…saved by Howard
Everton 0-0 Manchester United
Baines - GOAL
Everton 1-0 Manchester United
Ferdinand – MISS…saved by Howard
Everton 1-0 Manchester United
Neville - GOAL
Everton 2-0 Manchester United
Vidic – GOAL
Everton 2-1 Manchester United
Vaughan - GOAL
Everton 3-1 Manchester United
Anderson - GOAL
Everton 3-2 Manchester United
Jagielka - GOAL
Everton 4-2 Manchester United

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Category: World Football

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Angelo

Im just glad i support the US national team, its players, and its countrys league....during the ups and downs...unlike somepeople......

THE YANKS ARE COMING !!!!! :D
olasupo sunday

i am especting the coche to trubsoot DANNY WELBECk for BABERTOV insted of fedrico Macheda,becouse that boy he as playing rubishe for us in that forword so insted of macheda he supose to send WELBECk out so babertov and macheda will hold that forword very well and from there goal will be happen but that man have confidence on that boy, but that boy lazy and he is not lazy allso he dose not have enougt stright. But there is no problem next sesson he will be perform very well. so now they will be have to cosentrate with champions league and premier league in order to perform well and carry the two throphy that is remaing for them. God will give them power to do that
MAD

"It doesnt matter if the kids were from Rome that were poached its all about rules and regulations."

Obviously Juventus/Juventus supporters don't care about rules...
Dave L

Alessio u were a prick and that comment of yours just took you to a total different league. It doesnt matter if the kids were from Rome that were poached its all about rules and regulations.

Well we will see how you act when one of your Juve kid is poached. Then we will hear you moan like a bitch.

Grow up dickhead.
Johnny

jk
Johnny

My, my, those grapes aren't just sour, they've become whine.
Laurie

I don't believe those shots stopped themselves, Colin. :-)
colin m

Rubbish, Tim Howard had nothing to do with the penalty shoot-out win. I am not a Man U fan, in fact, I hate them, but those were very poor attempts by Rio and Babytov. I could have stopped them. Better yet, an MLS keeper could do it.
martin

I thought Macheda was from Lazio?
Julian

alessio, I think he meant in addition to Petrucci and Macheda
MAD

Manchester might need some reinforcements to cover all the competitions that they are in for next season.

Looks like it's time to take out another loan and steal another 16 year old Italian kid without compensating the club that trained him for 6 years...
Matt

Is it me or did the commentator in the video (now, I can't say I speak his language) really enjoy the first penalty miss by Man U? Sounding like this a bit...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
Jose

Well... I guess it's not really a treble if they don't win their association's most important cup.
Weston (@wpazzurri)

congratulations to everton and congratulations to Howard, i am so glad he is our national team goalkeeper and the united states would be much less than what they are without him.