Ono's late strike deflates touring United

SAITAMA, Japan: Shinji Ono denied Manchester United victory in the first game of its Asian tour with a late equalizer to secure a 2-2 draw for Urawa Red Diamonds in Saitama yesterday.

Second half strikes by Darren Fletcher and Cristiano Ronaldo had cancelled out Hideki Uchidate's opener to put United ahead, but Japan midfielder Ono's 77th minute goal proved enough to seal a share of the spoils.

United, which had arrived in Tokyo less than 36 hours earlier, appeared off the pace in the early stages as J-League champions Urawa attempted to carve out an opener.

But with Portuguese winger Ronaldo in the starting line-up, United carried a threat going forward and the Premiership's Footballer of the Year almost created an opening on nine minutes before a hard but fair challenge on the edge of the penalty area by Urawa defender Nene.

The home side went closest to scoring early on, though, when Takahito Some forced Edwin Van der Sar into an important save low down to his right at the near post.

Uchidate then teed up Brazilian striker Ponte to shoot over the crossbar from 20 yards before United finally worried the home side with a long range effort from England midfielder Michael Carrick that flew narrowly over the bar.

That near miss appeared to give a clearly tired United the lift it needed and it required a crucial save by Ryota Tsuzuki on 24 minutes to keep out Ronaldo's fiercely struck shot from the edge of the penalty area.

United was then caught out on the break, though, when Uchidate left Van der Sar red-faced with his freak long-range opener less than sixty seconds later.

With the prospect of a dispiriting opening defeat looming, United stepped up a gear early in the second half and Scotland international Fletcher pulled the English team level two minutes after the interval.

Carrick's shot had been saved before Rooney picked up the rebound and laid off to Carrick, who pulled the ball back for Fletcher to score from six yards.

When Ronaldo put United ahead with right-foot strike on 52 minutes, Urawa looked out of the game, but Ono secured a deserved draw when he capped a late fightback with a well-taken 77th minute goal.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said his side had tired as the game wore on.

"It was an entertaining match, but in the second half we tired a little, which was understandable. Urawa played better in the second half, so they came back into it because of a combination of the two."

AFP

(China Daily 07/18/2007 page24)