^Nani was brought on with 15 minutes to go and he produced the goods^Team Changes: Man United fielded a much weaker side than the one that faced Newcastle on Saturday and it may have been the cause for United’s slip-up. Rafael was brought in for Neville and O’Shea was preferred ahead of Evra. Tevez and Rooney started upfront again and Hargreaves and Park came into the midfield for Scholes and Giggs. Veloso was on the substitute’s bench and Edwin Van Der Sar was captain of the side.
Man United came into this match fully expecting to win but some people might have been getting a bit nervous when Rio Ferdinand was sent off in the 14th minute. It was thought that Sibon, the Heerenveen striker, said something to Ferdinand. He lashed out at Sibon and was given a straight red. The suspension is likely to be 3 games, which will mean he’ll miss the rest of the group stages, and it is rumoured that Sir Alex Ferguson could also suspend him bringing the likely suspension up to 5 games.
The red card turned the match on its head. Man United were looking comfortable but now started to come under serious pressure. O’Shea tucked into Centre back to fill the gap but that left a big space on the left wing for Heerenveen to exploit. Van Der Sar had to make a very good save in the 19th minute to stop United from going behind. The ball was crossed into the box and was headed on at the front post and Van Der Sar just got fingertips to it and pushed it out for a corner.
Heerenveen went closer in the 23rd minute when the ball went out off the bar. The Heerenveen striker was through on goal and Van Der Sar came rushing out. He chipped the ball over him though but the bar came to United’s aid and the ball went out for a goal kick. Both teams went into the break at 0-0 and Man United were lucky that they were not behind.
Man United went behind for only the 5th time this season in the 60th minute. The ball was fired across the face of goal and Vayrynen took one touch before slotting the ball into the bottom corner. Man United were getting more and more frustrated as the match went on and Heerenveen put more men behind the ball to stop United pulling level. Tevez and Park came off in 76th minute for Berbatov and Nani. Both of them were keen to show the United manager how good they are after not playing much this season.
The substitution paid off in the 82nd minute when both substitutes combined to give United the equaliser. Berbatov had the ball on the wing and Nani made a little run at the back post to lose his marker. Berbatov saw this and played the ball over to him. Nani took the ball down before smashing the ball into the top corner from a tight angle. Heerenveen were keen to not let in another goal and took the ball to the corners and they held on for a draw.
United will be sad that their 100% record has now gone but are glad to have grabbed an equaliser to keep their unbeaten streak going. Man United will have a tough match next against Arsenal as well. Can they keep their unbeaten streak and 100% record in league intact or will the loss of Rio Ferdinand affect the players?