Match Report: Cardiff City vs Manchester United 24/11/2013

Bluebirds on song as United stunned by Kim Bo-Kyung: 
Rooney and Evra put United ahead twice in 2-2 draw as Cardiff snatch injury-time equaliser.

The international break couldn't have come at a worse time for Manchester United, a team in form that were just starting to find some momentum after a rocky start to the season. United were nine-games unbeaten in all competitions as they travelled to South Wales for their 12th game of the campaign and had a great chance to jump up to fourth in the table after Liverpool, Everton and Southampton had all dropped points.

Cardiff, on the other hand, had welcomed the international break that meant a chance to re-group after a disappointing performance and result in the 2-0 loss away to Aston Villa. The Bluebirds were hopeful that this rest, coupled with their home form, could inspire them to take some points off the Champions after impressive victories against Manchester City and Swansea at the Cardiff City Stadium had ensured that they stayed clear of the relegation places.

United were left without five of the eleven that started in the home win against Arsenal as injuries hit David Moyes' squad. Their top goalscorer Robin Van Persie was left out of the side due to continued toe and groin problems that also prevented the striker's involvement with Holland last week. The Captain Nemanja Vidic was ruled out after he was left concussed from a nasty collision with De Gea in the victory against the league leaders. United were also without Shinji Kagawa, who picked up a foot injury whilst on international duty with Japan. The versatile Phil Jones missed out with a groin strain whilst Michael Carrick has just begun a lengthy six-week lay-off due to an Achilles injury. 

Javier Hernandez, Rio Ferdinand, Adnan Januzaj, Tom Cleverley and Marouane Fellaini replaced the injured players in United's starting line-up. The home side had a fully-fit squad to choose from as Andreas Cornelius returned from injury to take a place on the bench. Malky Mackay chose to start former United player Frazier Campbell as a lone striker whilst Peter Odemwingie passed a late fitness test to add some much-needed attacking flair to the Welsh side's five man midfield.

Rooney was heavily involved in the opening half's talking points, firstly when he picked up an early yellow card inside eight minutes for a rash kick out at Cardiff midfielder Mutch. It was a deliberate tackle out of frustration that was nowhere near the ball and was reminiscent of the England man's younger days when he struggled with his discipline and anger on the pitch. However, it was the Cardiff supporters who were left angriest as Rooney remained on the field and went on to put his side ahead less than eight minutes later.

The majority of the 28,000 supporters inside the Cardiff City Stadium felt that the striker's malicious challenge should have been punished with a red card and there was a huge sense of injustice when he was the man to score the goal that put them behind. Cardiff could only have themselves to blame for the goal though, as Turner's woeful pass out of defence was straight to Valencia. This gifted the Ecuadorian the chance to cross for Hernandez who sent a lovely flick into the path of Rooney. Cardiff's villain then evaded Medel with a clever turn in the box before seeing his shot goalwards take a slight deflection off the defensive midfielder and bounce over Cardiff keeper Marshall and into the net.

Three minutes later United should have had another when Fellaini was allowed a free header off a Januzaj set piece. His cross in from the right found the midfielder by the far post but his effort at goal was thwarted by the hands of Marshall who got both hands to it with a fine stop. Cardiff then produced a chance at the other end through Odemwingie after Januzaj was caught in possession and a Cowie cross then fell nicely for the Nigerian. Much to the frustration of the Cardiff fans he couldn't keep his shot down and the ball sailed over the bar.

Fortunately for Cardiff this wasn't their only opportunity to get back on level terms and around ten minutes later they managed to create something of more worth. Whittingham started the move as he passed the ball to Mutch in space in the centre. Mutch then threaded through a wonderful ball for Campbell who had made a dangerous run into the box. The ex-United man beat Evans to the ball on the right and slotted home with ease past De Gea and into the far corner.

Unfortunately for the home side the celebrations were short-lived as United notched another goal just before half time to ensure they kept a slender lead. Evra was the unlikely goalscorer, who was having a great week after France had successfully secured their place in next year's World Cup. Rooney was involved again as he set up the goal from a corner. United's left-back got his head on the cross after some poor zonal marking from Cardiff allowed him to run from the edge of the box to the near post and head it in unmarked.

Shortly after half time a Rooney set piece almost created another goal as his free kick in from the left located the head of Fellaini. With his back to goal the Belgian still managed to force a save from Marshall who was alert to the danger and pushed it round his left-hand post and out for a corner. Rooney took it and found a United head again but this time it was Smalling who failed to put the ball in the net and Marshall this time managed to save it with his legs.

Whilst United should have gone further ahead Cardiff continued to press and could have got another themselves after Cleverley misplaced a pass back to his defence and inadvertently set Campbell up for an audacious chip from the edge of the box. It was beautifully executed and had beaten De Gea but United were let off as the effort came crashing back off the frame of the goal.

United made changes as Welbeck and Giggs replaced Januzaj and Hernandez respectively. In the 81st minute Welbeck could have made the tie safe for the away team after brilliant link-up play with Rooney. However, when Welbeck collected Rooney's lovely return ball in space to the right of Cardiff's goal he sent his shot way over the bar rather than on target. 

It was a chance United were left to rue as Cardiff took advantage of their misses in injury time when Smalling gave away a free kick on the edge of the area with a needless foul on Noone. Whittingham stepped up to take it and sent in a superb cross for substitute Kim to head in after Evra switched off and allowed the South Korean the space to convert from close range. It was this time United who failed to pull off zonal marking although, like Cardiff fans in the first half, they will have felt aggrieved after Medel appeared to strike Fellaini's face in the build up to the set piece. 

Cardiff fans were in dream land but had to suffer through the final minutes of injury time as United went so close to scoring a third right at the death. Cardiff-born Giggs sent the perfect ball over the top to Rooney who was clean through on goal and looked certain to find the back of the net. Much to the delight of Cardiff City fans the game's most controversial player failed to shoot and instead tried to square it for Welbeck to his left. However, his casual touch was too short and Cardiff cleared to ensure they kept the vital point, which was no more than they deserved after a courageous performance.

Whilst David Moyes' side maintain their unbeaten run, they will be bitterly disappointed not to have taken advantage of other teams dropping points and the chance to move up to fourth in the table. Their attention now turns to their Champions League group game against Bayer Leverkusen in Germany on Wednesday where a win will secure qualification in the competition. Their next league game is away at Tottenham, who were humiliated at Manchester City over the weekend. It will certainly be interesting to see how both sides bounce back from disappointing results.