As a Premier League club who was competing in European competition for the 2004–05 season, Manchester United entered the League Cup in the third round, where they were given an away tie with Championship side Crewe Alexandra. Kieran Richardson netted his second senior goal to double United's lead seven minutes before the interval. After a 1–0 home victory over Fulham, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the only goal in the 21st minute, Manchester United hosted Blackburn Rovers on 2 April. Van Nistelrooy scored twice in the first half, including one from the penalty spot, but Zelenka pulled one back for the Czech side just after half-time. Alex Ferguson made wholesale changes from the side that beat Arsenal on 24 October and Alan Smith took just ten minutes to coolly slot the visitors in front. Before the goal, Cristiano Ronaldo had drawn an instinctive save from the Boro keeper as well as hitting the woodwork. John O'Shea put the defending champions in front after 10 minutes from close range. The Reds then set off to North America for their pre-season tour, taking part in the ChampionsWorld Series.Their first match, played at the Soldier Field in Chicago, United States against Bayern Munich. The 2004–05 season was Manchester United's 13th season in the Premier League, and their 30th consecutive season in the top division of English football.[1]. Paese: Italia . Substitute Rooney was also denied by Király as Palace somehow held on. The second leg was a more emphatic win for United, winning 3–0. The game ended 0–0. In the draw for the UEFA Champions League group stage, United were placed in Pot 1. Manchester United signed Alan Smith from Leeds United and Gabriel Heinze from psg at the end of 2003-04- season for the 2004-05 season A near-post Paul Scholes header doubled the lead just before half-time and Van Nistelrooy's side-foot shot confirmed the Red Devils' dominance. United wasted a host of chances to make it safe as Jones made some great saves, but Wayne Rooney put the tie beyond doubt late on with a cool finish. It was harsh on Alex Ferguson's depleted side, who enjoyed the majority of possession but could not cash in. Chris Sutton gave Celtic an early lead with a penalty after Jonathan Spector fouled Stiliyan Petrov. The Red Devils won 2–1. City survived some erratic handling from David James, while Louis Saha scorned United's best chance, heading wide from six yards. But Emmerson Boyce's own goal, a skilful Scholes strike and John O'Shea's shot rounded off the win. United's next game was away to Sparta Prague, on 19 October. ← 2003-2004 2005-2006 → Questa voce raccoglie le informazioni riguardanti il Manchester United Football Club nelle competizioni ufficiali della stagione 2004-2005 . United travelled to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth in their next game. The game, played on 8 January 2005, ended 0–0, with Exeter producing a magnificent rearguard action to earn a deserved draw. Manchester United booked a place in the FA Cup Final for the second season running with a 4–1 semi-final win against fellow FA Premier League side Newcastle United at the Millennium Stadium. Alex Ferguson's men ended the game in shame as Gary Neville and Paul Scholes were sent off after the break. Manchester United opened their Premier League campaign with an away game against Chelsea on 15 August 2004. Pierre-Alain Frau fired a second after a flowing move 10 minutes later. After a 1–1 draw against Blackburn Rovers, which saw Smith score a last-minute equaliser, United's next game was a home game against Everton. The game took place on 26 October 2004. He side-footed straight at goalkeeper Maik Taylor from only six yards as he raced on to Quinton Fortune's cross. Pre-season and friendlies. The 10-man Eagles held the Red Devils to a goalless draw. United's Alan Smith was sent off for a second bookable offence. Giggs had already forced a great save from Thomas Sørensen before his goal, although at the other end, Lee Hendrie and Liam Ridgewell saw shots saved. Manchester United played at home to their rivals Manchester City on 7 November 2004. United fielded a weakened side, but Conference Exeter matched the FA Cup holders to set up a lucrative replay. On 4 January, United hosted Tottenham Hotspur in a goalless draw. If Bolton were able to disrupt United's attacking rhythm for long periods, they proved less successful in troubling Roy Carroll, who had to make just one save. The draw for the FA Cup third round took place on 9 December 2005, and Manchester United were given a home tie with Conference National side Exeter City. Smith, Heinze, Piqué, Rossi and Rooney were United's only arrivals in the whole of the 2004–05 season. But United were lucky not to concede a penalty when Mikaël Silvestre blatantly used his arm to clear the ball from a lurking Duncan Ferguson. Neville saw red for kicking the ball at a spectator and Scholes for two fouls. Mikaël Silvestre was sent off in a fiery game - with Vieira and Roy Keane pulled apart beforehand in the tunnel. Manchester United played their first pre-season fixture of the 2004–05 season away to Cobh Ramblers. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the opener, slipping the ball between Paul Jones' legs after just nine minutes. United won 4–2. In the first leg, United overcame an early scare to win 2–1. Rooney received a hostile reception, but goals in each half from Quinton Fortune and Cristiano Ronaldo silenced the jeers at Goodison Park. Boro's best chance came after 31 minutes, but Roy Carroll dived to save well at the feet of Boudewijn Zenden from only eight yards. The game, played on 19 February 2005 at Goodison Park, ended as a 2–0 win for the Red Devils. The Baggies began confidently, but were rocked by first-half injuries to Darren Moore and Cosmin Contra, forcing Bryan Robson into a double change. Questa pagina è stata modificata per l'ultima volta il 16 set 2020 alle 02:39. The game ended 1–1. Norwich substitute Paul McVeigh pulled a goal back late on when he shot home from 18 yards out but United held on. Manchester United ended 2004 with a 1–0 away win over Aston Villa on 28 December. The closest the Red Devils came was when Wayne Rooney saw his injury-time shot tipped over by Norwich keeper Robert Green. Ferdinand's goal came after Kevin Nolan had equalised for Bolton, heading home after his initial shot was blocked. It was a well-deserved point for Birmingham. But Paul Scholes ended the resistance by heading home from close range early in the second half. The game ended 0–0. Tiago produced a wonderful equaliser, surprising Roy Carroll with an arcing shot, while his pass set up Eiður Guðjohnsen, who dinked in the second. For their next game, Manchester United travelled to The Valley to face Charlton Athletic. Goals from Paul Scholes, Phil Neville, and Chris Eagles secured a 3–1 win. The last chance of silverware was blown by a Paul Scholes penalty miss against Arsenal in a shoot-out after a goalless draw in the 2005 FA Cup Final. Villa pressed after the break and Gareth Barry came close, but Alan Smith hit the bar in the final minute. The Reds then set off to North America for their pre-season tour, taking part in the ChampionsWorld Series. United, with Wayne Rooney on the bench, rarely troubled Birmingham, but Van Nistelrooy missed the game's best opportunity after 36 minutes. In the end, United were drawn with Lyon, Sparta Prague and Fenerbahçe. Exeter had chances of their own, Sean Devine twice volleying wide and Andy Taylor forcing Tim Howard to save. Robbie Keane made a superb block to deny Mikaël Silvestre, and Paul Robinson saved a David Bellion header as United pushed for a second. In the semi-finals, United were drawn against another Premier League side Chelsea. Van Nistelrooy's close-range header made it 2-0, before Scholes nodded in a third. Newcastle took a surprise first-half lead when Darren Ambrose pounced on Tim Howard's poor clearance. The game was played on 10 May 2005, and United lost 3–1. United won 2–0 to spare their blushes, end brave Exeter's resistance, and set up a home tie against Middlesbrough in the Fourth Round. United broke through on 53 minutes when Scholes latched onto Giggs' back-heel and lashed home a fierce shot. Marcus Bent missed Everton's best chance when Roy Carroll, who was later struck by a missile, saved at his feet. The win allowed Manchester United to close the gap on Arsenal to a point, though Arsène Wenger's side had a game in hand. It was the only clear-cut opportunity of the opening 45 minutes, with United lacking the cohesion to break down an Everton side content to sit deep and defend. The game ended 2–2. Alan Smith lashed in United's equaliser, but within three minutes Reyes drove home a fierce left-foot shot to restore Arsenal's lead. The home side were inspired by former United winger Karel Poborský, who twice brought smart saves out of Roy Carroll. Jerzy Dudek allowed Rooney's tame 25-yard shot to slide in to gift the former Everton striker a goal in front of The Kop. United won 2–1, ending Southampton's 27-year stay in the top-flight. United got an equaliser in injury time through David Bellion, with the ball appearing to come off his arm. With time running out, Wes Brown's winner provided another surprise - it was his first goal in 117 league games. In the final, played on 21 May 2005 at the Millennium Stadium, Manchester United faced Arsenal. Ryan Giggs' left-foot strike in the 41st minute was enough to separate the teams after an entertaining encounter. The game almost certainly ended United's slim title hopes, and kept Norwich's Premier League survival hopes alive. The draw for the fourth round gave United a home tie with fellow FA Premier League club Crystal Palace. Minutes before the final whistle, Spurs should have taken the lead after Pedro Mendes' effort from the halfway line was spilled into the goal by an out-of-position Roy Carroll. Van Nistelrooy pounced to nod home an Alan Smith cross to put United ahead and results elsewhere ensured the Saints finished bottom of the division. Hoult, who suffered a groin injury, was replaced by Tomasz Kuszczak, who made a string of outstanding saves. United won 6–2, with 18-year-old striker Wayne Rooney scoring a hat-trick on his debut. Craig Fleming and Jason Shackell were outstanding in a Canaries defence that thwarted United's subdued strikeforce. Following a 2–0 win over Charlton Athletic, in which veterans Giggs and Scholes scored, United travelled to The Hawthorns to face West Bromwich Albion on 27 November. He pushed the ball out, but only after it had crossed the line; however, the officials were unable to tell whether a goal had been scored and allowed play to continue. Roy Keane put holders United on course for victory over Southampton after two minutes, scoring what turned out to be his final goal for the club, before goals either side of the interval confirmed their supremacy. Danny Granville poked in an effort to equalise before United's Alan Smith and rival Joonas Kolkka traded headers to leave the match poised at 2-2. United went up to 5th with this win. The second leg ended as a 2–1 defeat for United, knocking the Reds out of the League Cup. After a 3–1 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford, United travelled to Highbury to face Arsenal on 1 February. United then almost won in the dying seconds as a Gabriel Heinze free-kick was brilliantly saved by Paul Robinson. On 20 September, United moved up three places in the FA Premier League table to 8th after a 2–1 home win against their rivals, Liverpool. Si'". United paid the price for failing to convert any of their many chances. However Richardson enjoyed an element of luck, Palace keeper Julián Speroni letting the shot bounce under his body. Luke Chadwick was released six days later, while Diego Forlán left United for Villarreal after two unhappy years at Old Trafford. 2004-2005 → Questa voce raccoglie le informazioni riguardanti il Manchester United Football Club nelle competizioni ufficiali della stagione 2003-2004 . Two days later, United were scheduled to play their final game, against Urawa Red Diamonds, but it was indefinitely postponed due to an electrical storm. United captain Roy Keane took advantage of poor defending to put United ahead (his 50th goal for the Red Devils), before Wayne Rooney coolly chipped in to seal the victory. However, another two goals for Van Nistelrooy secured the victory as he equalled a club record for the most goals in a European match jointly held by Denis Law and Dennis Viollet.