Tweet
Roma 1-1 Man Utd
By Jonathan Stevenson
Pique celebrates his second goal in two Champions League games
A much-changed Manchester United side earned a draw at Italian giants Roma in a low-key finish to their Champions League Group F campaign.
A disappointing first-half livened up when Gerard Pique stole in at the near post to head United in front.
Mancini clipped a shot on to the bar as Roma fought back, before Louis Saha was denied by a fine save from Doni.
Mancini slammed in a leveller from substitute Mirko Vucinic's pass, before Vucinic struck the base of the post.
Mancini's goal meant United do not become only the fifth team to establish a perfect record in the group stage - but perhaps they will be pleased as none of the previous four went on to win the tournament.
606: DEBATE
Who do you think Man Utd will get in the next round?
There was nothing to play for with United already having won Group F and Roma having qualified in second place before the game even kicked off.
It was painfully obvious in the first 20 minutes too, as they were filled with just about the most apathetic football you could imagine - the words training game do not even do it justice.
David Pizarro tried to rid the match of its lethargy by shooting from 25 yards, but Tomasz Kuszczak dived away to his left to make a fairly routine save.
At the other end, United's kids fashioned their first opening when Wayne Rooney clipped in a cross from the right and Doni had to be alert to tip over John O'Shea's looping header.
Soon after Mauro Esposito missed a golden chance with a close-range header for Roma, United took the lead.
The otherwise quiet Nani swung in a corner from the left and Pique sneaked in unchallenged six yards out to plant a header past Doni.
Mancini shot against the bar before equalising for Roma
Before the break Roma dominated, as Mancini raised a shot from close-range on to the bar, Mauro Esposito headed the rebound over and then Mancini saw another effort parried away by Kuszczak.
The game was still being played at not much more than walking pace, but at least chances were being created.
United nearly doubled their lead after the interval when Chris Eagles helped another Nani corner goalwards, but a combination of Philippe Mexes and Doni managed to get the ball clear.
Ahmed Barusso nearly got the game back on level terms, but his 25-yard belter just drifted the wrong side of the post with Kuszczak scrambling across his goalline.
Roma brought on Ludovic Giuly and Mirko Vucinic to chase the game and after Louis Saha was denied by a fine Doni save, they got their equaliser.
Vucinic slotted the ball through to Mancini on the edge of the box and he neatly came inside and whipped his shot past the despairing dive of Kuszczak.
Vucinic was having a stunning impact on proceedings and the Montenegro striker rifled a shot against the foot of the post moments later.
Both sides could have won it in the dying stages, but neither Sir Alex Ferguson nor Luciano Spalletti will be too disappointed not to have bagged all three points.
Roma: Doni, Cicinho, Ferrari, Mexes, Barusso (Giuly 62), Antunes, Pizarro, Esposito (Vucinic 62), Taddei (De Rossi 46), Mancini, Totti.
Subs Not Used: Bertagnoli, Panucci, Juan, Pit.
Booked: Barusso.
Goals: Mancini 71.
Man Utd: Kuszczak, Simpson, Pique, Evans, O'Shea (Brown 54), Eagles, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani, Saha, Rooney (Dong 71).
Subs Not Used: Heaton, Lee, Hewson, Brandy, Eckersley.
Goals: Pique 34.
Att: 30,000.
Ref: Martin Hansson (Sweden).
By Jonathan Stevenson
Pique celebrates his second goal in two Champions League gamesA much-changed Manchester United side earned a draw at Italian giants Roma in a low-key finish to their Champions League Group F campaign.
A disappointing first-half livened up when Gerard Pique stole in at the near post to head United in front.
Mancini clipped a shot on to the bar as Roma fought back, before Louis Saha was denied by a fine save from Doni.
Mancini slammed in a leveller from substitute Mirko Vucinic's pass, before Vucinic struck the base of the post.
Mancini's goal meant United do not become only the fifth team to establish a perfect record in the group stage - but perhaps they will be pleased as none of the previous four went on to win the tournament.
606: DEBATE Who do you think Man Utd will get in the next round?
There was nothing to play for with United already having won Group F and Roma having qualified in second place before the game even kicked off.
It was painfully obvious in the first 20 minutes too, as they were filled with just about the most apathetic football you could imagine - the words training game do not even do it justice.
David Pizarro tried to rid the match of its lethargy by shooting from 25 yards, but Tomasz Kuszczak dived away to his left to make a fairly routine save.
At the other end, United's kids fashioned their first opening when Wayne Rooney clipped in a cross from the right and Doni had to be alert to tip over John O'Shea's looping header.
Soon after Mauro Esposito missed a golden chance with a close-range header for Roma, United took the lead.
The otherwise quiet Nani swung in a corner from the left and Pique sneaked in unchallenged six yards out to plant a header past Doni.
Mancini shot against the bar before equalising for RomaBefore the break Roma dominated, as Mancini raised a shot from close-range on to the bar, Mauro Esposito headed the rebound over and then Mancini saw another effort parried away by Kuszczak.
The game was still being played at not much more than walking pace, but at least chances were being created.
United nearly doubled their lead after the interval when Chris Eagles helped another Nani corner goalwards, but a combination of Philippe Mexes and Doni managed to get the ball clear.
Ahmed Barusso nearly got the game back on level terms, but his 25-yard belter just drifted the wrong side of the post with Kuszczak scrambling across his goalline.
Roma brought on Ludovic Giuly and Mirko Vucinic to chase the game and after Louis Saha was denied by a fine Doni save, they got their equaliser.
Vucinic slotted the ball through to Mancini on the edge of the box and he neatly came inside and whipped his shot past the despairing dive of Kuszczak.
Vucinic was having a stunning impact on proceedings and the Montenegro striker rifled a shot against the foot of the post moments later.
Both sides could have won it in the dying stages, but neither Sir Alex Ferguson nor Luciano Spalletti will be too disappointed not to have bagged all three points.
Roma: Doni, Cicinho, Ferrari, Mexes, Barusso (Giuly 62), Antunes, Pizarro, Esposito (Vucinic 62), Taddei (De Rossi 46), Mancini, Totti.
Subs Not Used: Bertagnoli, Panucci, Juan, Pit.
Booked: Barusso.
Goals: Mancini 71.
Man Utd: Kuszczak, Simpson, Pique, Evans, O'Shea (Brown 54), Eagles, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani, Saha, Rooney (Dong 71).
Subs Not Used: Heaton, Lee, Hewson, Brandy, Eckersley.
Goals: Pique 34.
Att: 30,000.
Ref: Martin Hansson (Sweden).
Comment