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Manchester United 0-0 Newcastle United: Magpies impress to frustrate Red Devils

NBC Sports

Manchester United and Newcastle United played out an entertaining 0-0 draw at Old Trafford on Saturday, with the Red Devils and Magpies both going close to snatching all three points on a sunny day in Manchester.

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After just five minutes it looked like United had gone ahead but Rooney had a goal disallowed for offside. On second viewing, Rooney appeared to be level with Steven Taylor when the ball was played but it was an incredibly tight decision against the Red Devils’ captain.

In a positive first half for the home side, Juan Mata first tested Tim Krul with a free kick on target and then in the 15th minute the Dutch goalkeeper saved well down low after Mata jinxed inside and his low left-footed effort went towards Krul’s near post.

Despite United pouring forward in the first half and dominating the game, Newcastle came closest to scoring as Aleksandar Mitrovic hit the crossbar with a towering header from Chancel Mbemba‘s superb cross, as Sergio Romero was beaten. So close for the Magpies to snatch the lead.

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Newcastle improved dramatically before half time, with Massadio Haidara becoming dangerous on the left as Mata failed to track him back. In the 42nd minute, Newcastle again came close as Ayoze Perez‘s shot squeaked just wide of the post after the ball pin-balled in and around the box.

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In the second half the tempo of the game slowed down but United pressed as the game wore on and should have been ahead in the 64th minute when a corner from the right found Chris Smalling at the back post but he couldn’t get clean contact on the ball and the chance passed him by.

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Late on Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez came on for United as they tried to nick all three points. In the 73rd minute Mata blasted an effort high and wide, then Luke Shaw‘s effort went straight at Krul soon after. Chicharito had a glorious chance to win the game 10 minutes from time, but after breaking free inside the box he was denied by a wonderful stop from Krul.

Then in stoppage time Smalling had a header hit the post and seconds later new Newcastle signing Florin Thauvin came so close to stealing the win for Newcastle as he slid in. There was time for one more chance but Michael Carrick‘s shot deflected wide of the far post as the teams shared the spoils.