Ex-EPL stars put on a good show

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LIVERPOOL fans who were hoping to see some sort of silverware at least in the form of the EPL Masters Football Malaysia Cup 2009 had their hopes dashed when Manchester United ousted the defending champions in a penalty shootout.

The second edition of the Masters Football held at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, on Sunday attracted only a handful of football fans with Manchester United and Liverpool supporters making up the majority.

Last year’s final at the Stadium Malawati in Shah Alam saw a Liverpool team led by legendary captain Ian Rush defeat Captain Marvel Bryan Robson’s Manchester United 5-3 in the final.

All smiles: Manchester United fans Ameillya Fellirina Mohd Nazrin (left) and Farah Nadia Shamsudin taking a photograph with ex-player Andrew Cole.

Overall, this year’s United team saw a fitter line-up with striker Andrew Cole leading the squad comprising Viv Andersen, Ronny Johnsen, Jesper Blomqvist, David May, Simon Davies, Clatyon Blackmore, Paul Parker and goalkeeper Fraser Digby.

Playing for Liverpool were Jason McAteer, Don Hutchison, Michael Thomas, Mark Wright, Jimmy Carter, Mark Walters, John Durnin and goalkeeper Paul Jones.

The format of the game was a eight-minute match each way with a maximum of six players on the pitch at any one time.

The fierce rivalry between the two teams provided for an interesting final with fans from both sides cheering on their teams with songs and chants.

It was a neck and neck final with Johnsen scoring the first goal in the third minute and Durnin equalising two minutes later.

Blomqvist put United one up in the first half with 42 seconds on the clock only to be written off by a stunning goal into the top corner of the net from Wright before the whistle.

Both teams were on their toes in the second half and it was not until the fifth minute before Durnin put Liverpool one up.

Not alone: Liverpool fans enthusiastically supporting the Liverpool Masters team during the tournament at Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil.

United was saved by Blomqvist with less than two minutes to the final whistle to bring the game to a penalty shootout.

Goalkeeper Digby was the toast of the Manchester United camp when he saved the third spot-kick by Hutchison.

Liverpool’s Durnin was the top scorer of the tournament, netting an astonishing 12 goals in four matches.

The other two teams in the tournament were the EPL All Stars comprising Lee Martin, Ray Parlour, Russell Beardsmore, Ugo Ehiogu, Richard Sneekes, Craig Highnett and goalkeeper Ian Walker; and the Sheffield United team of Paul Wood, Carl Bradshw, Mark Todd, George Santos, Tony Agana, Alan Wright, Brian Deane, Tommy Mooney and goalkeeper Sasa Ilic.

Some of the players like McAteer, Andersen and Mooney also took time in between the round robin matches to give live commentary of the games alongside football pundit Shebby Singh for the live telecast on Astro.