Just after Smith scored Leeds United's first goal, the skies began to drizzle in Manchester.

The pitch began to get slippery and the surface of the soccer ball got wet.

This makes it more difficult for players to control the ball.

In the 16th minute of the game, because O'Shea received a return pass from Carrick, the ball was slightly stopped, and the ball was snatched away by Kuyt who came from the side.

Fortunately, Heinze made up for the defense in time and stopped Leeds United's frontcourt counterattack through fouls, for which Heinze also received a yellow card.

The situation was that Carrick passed the ball back to O'Shea, who was a little further to the left, and O'Shea thought that he was in front of him on the right, with Milner on the right, and there would definitely be a Davis waiting to steal behind him.

I want to stop the ball to the left so I can avoid the front of the Leeds guys.

But because the ball was too slippery, he stopped the ball a little wider, and it was broken by Kuyt on the other side.

Nearly caused a catastrophe.

Milner did not appear on the wing today, as George Lee had requested, but started as the team's midfielder, alongside Graveson and Parker.

George Lee gave him the task of the team's lateral coverage in attack and defense.

Unlike the B2B midfielders, who cover the front and back, what George Lee needs is for Milner to finish between the two touchlines. For example, when a winger cuts inside and the full-back doesn't come in in time or is in the wing-back position, then Milner goes to the wing to fill the void and receive the ball on the wing.

Similarly, if a winger is picking up the ball along the wing, then Milner moves to the winger's flank position to help pick it up.

George Lee is interested in Milner's balanced feet, fast speed, courage to fight, and abundant physical strength.

Judging from the performance of the first half in the past 30 minutes, Milner performed quite well, leaving the left and right responses, coordination, and the ball to Milner, and the transition in the middle was handed over to Graveson, anyway, there was Parker behind him, and the two of them could rest assured and boldly cooperate with the two wingers to play the ball. Coupled with the retreating Kevin Davies, Leeds United were always in a certain area of the midfield in the attacking advance, ensuring a numerical advantage.

In the 36th minute of the game, Manchester United's left midfielder, Kieran Richardson, slipped when facing England international Mills, and handed the attacking football directly to the opponent's feet.

Mills directly chose to move forward.

Seeing Mills advancing, Kuyt hurriedly chose to run close to the sideline, trying to lure Heinze away and prevent him from coming forward to defend Mills.

Other Leeds United front-court players also started to push forward to help Mills pull apart United's defence.

When Mills reached United's half, the first thing he saw was O'Shea.

But O'Shea kept retreating, because several Leeds players were in front, and if O'Shea took the initiative to defend, Mills had at least two options to pass the ball to the feet of the Leeds players behind him, and O'Shea could only choose to keep falling back to protect the defence.

Davies was up front, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were defending him, and O'Shea was between Milner and Graveson, thinking Mills would be the first to make up for whoever he transferred to.

Kuyt was watched by Heinze on the right.

On the left side is Smith answering in the middle, Neville does not dare to get too close, one is Leeds United on the left side of Baines coming up, he can't completely let go of him; Another is that Smith is about to come to Ferdinand's defensive range with a few more steps, and he can give Smith to Ferdinand.

Ferdinand!

Neville thought of Leeds United's goal just now, and he didn't worry about Ferdinand at all, and hurriedly let Baines go and followed the central defense.

If Mills were to pass the ball to Baines, it would have to be a long one, and Neville was confident that he could come back to defend Baines at this point.

But Mills told United's defenders with action.

You're thinking too much!

After entering the United half, Mills watched the situation as he advanced, but there was no one to defend him, and there was still no one to defend him until he advanced to the penalty area.

Mills just wanted to shoot.

But I usually don't do this often, so I'm still a little worried, so I continue to tap the ball forward again.

Eventually, Vidic saw Mills' intentions and began to defend himself.

Mills didn't wait, he raised his foot and shot.

The ball was fast and Milton was very powerful.

Fly straight past Vidic's face and head straight for goal.

Robinson had been preparing to save the ball. However, because the weather was too slippery, the ball was not hugged by Robinson after touching Robinson's gloves, but continued to rub his gloves in the direction of the goal.

“duang~”

The ball hits the post of the goal.

The Manchester United fans broke out in a cold sweat and then applauded Robinson for the save.

Robinson lifted his shoulders and wiped the water off his face with his jersey at the shoulder position. I don't know if it's the rain or the sweat from the ball just now.

Robinson was afraid when he thought about it, he was actually a butter hand just now, but he looked like he was pounced, but he actually didn't hold the ball because it was too slippery.

If another one is added, Robinson may have to think about how to go back and be scolded by Ferguson.

Robinson looked at Mills, who was shooting, and then at Smith, who had just scored.

His two former teammates were too themselves, and they didn't care about face at all.

Thinking that most of the teammates on the other side are teammates who have fought with him for a season, as well as Woodgate, and Bowyana off the field are all teammates of the previous generation of Leeds United.

Now they are at Leeds United and they are their own opponents.

And Leeds United's current goalkeeper is Van der Sar, who the team found after his departure.

The Dutch goalkeeper on the opposite side today was empty, as if he hadn't saved the ball yet.

It's really idle!

Van der Sar didn't actually make a save, he completed a long-range defense against Ronaldo in the first half, holding the opponent's shot.

Then in the 42nd minute of the game, Van der Sar ushered in his second defense, which was still the opponent's long-range shot, and Rooney's shot was directly won by Van der Sar because it was too positive.

In the 44th minute of the game, Carrick made a rare pass to the ball, and a very hidden through plug found behind Mathieson and Baines, and Xiao Luo got rid of Baines and went to chase the ball.

But Van der Sar, who was directly attacked outside the box, was cleared directly.

That's all three of Van der Sar's first half defending, all of which were successful in defusing the opposition's attack, two of which were from within the opponent's framework.

As for why this statistic is so emphasised, it is because it was all three of United's threatening attacks in the first half.

And those 2 shots on goal were all the shots Manchester United had in the first half.