ROBIN VAN PERSIE came on with 27 minutes remaining against West Ham and the Hammers kept him quiet for 27 minutes of normal time.
The Dutchman bided his time and struck in the first minute of injury time.
West Ham looked set to knock Manchester United out of the FA Cup at the third round stage but van Persie intervened to make it 2-2 and ensure a replay at Old Trafford.
United, trailing to a James Collins double after Tom Cleverley opened the scoring, gathered as Jussi Jaaskelainen took a goal-kick and hoped for one more chance.
The ball broke to Ryan Giggs, who looked up and spotted his fellow substitute making a break.
The Welsh midfielder lashed up a raking 60-yard pass that van Persie took on the run, cushioned with his left foot and drove home with his right. You can have a look here:
YouTube credit: HDSerieAGoals
Speaking to ITV after the game, West Ham’s Joe Cole lamented the late strike by the Red Devils.
He said, “They’re a quality side and they always have a chance to come back.
“World-class players like van Persie and Giggs combine and there you go.”
United manager Alex Ferguson told ITV that he was confident that his side could create one last chance to get back into the tie.
He said, “The manner of the goal, the first touch from Robin and his finish, was absolutely world class.”
Have to say i thought they were goners in all honesty but they pulled another rabbit out of the hat! Superb strike
He scores when he wants, he scores when he wants!
Robin Van Persie, he scores when he wants.
If he scores when he wants he’d score 10 in the first 10 minutes get subbed and have a nice early bath…
He doesn’t score when he wants, he scores when we need him to
Seconds earlier Giggs missed a gilt edged chance to get united level, undeterred by this got possession and stroked a 60 yard pinpoint pass into Van Persie, who controlled with ease an dispatched it low and hard into the net. Sublime football, it has to be said.
Congrats on rescuing a draw with West Ham!
If it’s a West Ham goal, it’s a long ball punt, but it’s United so it’ s an outstanding pass. some touch though.
Because it was an outstanding pass, touch and finish. One of the goals of the season.
A long ball is a punt straight up the middle hoping it will come to something…Giggs playing a 60 yard ball to the feet of RVP is CLASS..!!
Learn the difference between a pass and a punt.
Ignorance of the game.. It was a super pass with a great finish.
A pass over distance isn’t a long ball. The difference is one is intended and accurate to feet, the other is hopefully punted in the air in the vague direction of a big fellas head and more as an attempt to relieve pressure as to hit a team mate!
It was a class goal
Agreed, good goal, but defo not wonder goal….. Suarez as done similar twice v Swansea and v Sunderland
Not a pool fan
Great pass superb touch decent finish not a wonder goal but. Zlatan’s goal was a wonder goal
Zzzzz over rated egotistical loon that’s never done it when it mattered
Man united…one man team
you must be sick that the money men at arsenal sold rvp.
Hey without RVP’s goals united would be 11th…same was said about arsenal last year with his goals. But yes…yes I am sick of them selling our best players every year
Route 1. Wimbledon still alive. He he !