Sport 14-12-2004 Man Utd Held By Diop Screamer who: Manchester United what: Draw 1-1 with Fulham where: Craven Cottage, LONDON when: Last night snippet: "With three minutes left, Fulham exploded Manchester United`s dream," says Kevin McCarra of The Guardian, reporting from last night`s 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage. "This was the night when they had thought they could steal a little closer to Chelsea, Arsenal and, for that matter, Everton. But the detonation of Papa Boupa Diop`s drive brought the home side level towards the end of a lively second-half display." It was a true game of two halves. Fulham were "outclassed in the first," says Henry Winter in The Telegraph, and the home side conceded to Manchester United courtesy of Alan Smith in the 33rd minute. But they "strived manfully after the break with Andy Cole giving Rio Ferdinand a thoroughly uncomfortable night". "While the visitors were profligate as well as unlucky they came up against a Fulham side that was determined and, more importantly, efficient when they needed to be," comments The Independent`s Conrad Leach. "All match long, the Londoners forced only one save from Roy Carroll as well as hitting the post." When the Senegalese international struck, his shot was unstoppable. "Hit from 30 yards, his right-footed effort swerved and clipped the post on its way in, giving Carroll no chance of saving it." "It is too early to write off United," concludes The Mirror`s Martin Lipton, "yet the wind was taken out of their sails - and it might not blow again." [... more]

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