Man United squander host of opportunities to hand the German Club Audi Cup on penalties
Man United squander host of opportunities to hand the German Club Audi Cup on penalties
Manchester United missed a handful of decent opportunities before losing out to Bayern Munich 7-6 in a penalty shootout in the final of the Audi Cup yesterday.
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Mercury Rensing: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Michael Rensing effects a save during the final of the Audi Cup against Manchester United in Munich yesterday. Bayern won the match 7-6 after a penalty shootout. pic/AFP |
Bayern, playing in front of a 70,000 crowd at their Allianz Arena home, delivered the first piece of silverware for new coach Louis Van Gaal a week ahead of the start of the new Bundesliga season.
Missed chancesBut Alex Ferguson's English champions were left to rue a succession of decent opportunities with Dimitar Berbatov hitting the woodwork while Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney also came close.
Bayern had the first opening with Mario Gomez seeing a 12-metre drive crash of the crossbar with keeper Edwin van der Sar well-beaten.
Three minutes before half-time, Berbatov slipped by the Bayern defenders only to see his shot come back off the post with goalkeeper Michael Rensing struggling to make up his ground.
Owen saw Rensing save a shot in the 62nd minute while Rooney also went close late on.
In the shootout, Rensing saved spot-kicks from Patrice Evra and Jonny Evans in the shoot-out before Daniel van Buyten stroked in the winner.
"We played some very good football in the first half," said Van Gaal.
"We should have scored but Manchester United also should have found the target in the second period. It was tight right from the start so I am happy to have won."
