Mecheda Does It Again
11 April 09 by Bill
Manchester United continued their push for the Premier League title with a mixed performance against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
United started the game on the front foot. Wayne Rooney’s first chance came in the first minute as the striker curled an effort just wide of Craig Gordon’s post from the edge of the area.
Sunderland were clearly weary about over committing and spent much of the opening periods camped behind the ball. Wayne Rooney was involved in almost everything and United looked to have steadied their ship.
Edwin van der Sar was rested which allowed Ben Foster to make only his eighth Manchester United appearance and the young Englishman was called into action early as he came to claim a cross. Foster spilled it but did well to claim the ball on his second attempt.
A few minutes later and the ball was back in the Sunderland box. Gary Neville burst through but must have felt he was impeded in someway and fell to the ground. Rob Styles booked him for diving and replays suggest the decision was the right one. On the pitch, Gary Neville is a shadow of his former self and it is sometimes painful to watch him chasing past form.
Vidic could have given the visitors the lead were it not for a goal line clearance and when the ball fell to him a second time, his over head kick flew wide.
United dominated play and the breakthrough came after 19 minutes when Wayne Rooney drifted a lovely ball into the box which Paul Scholes headed past the rooted Craig Gordon for his third goal of the season.
Sunderland still lacked much going forward and it looked like United were going to cruise to victory.
United’s defence was rarely called into action but when it was, it looked like goals would be easy to come by. A mix up between Vidic and Foster followed by a string of poorly defended crosses seemed to give Sunderland a lift and after about half an hour, the Sunderland players were pushing forward.
The game opened up and Sunderland created a number of chances exposing United’s vulnerability at the back but the half time whistle came at the wrong time for them and United edged the advantage at the break.
United started the second half as the did the first; brightly and with Wayne Rooney going close. The few thousand or so United fans at the Stadium of Light certainly appreciated Rooney’s efforts as chants of ‘Wayne Rooney’ drowned out any noise the home supporters were making.
United’s defence had been unable to deal with the aerial threat posed by Cisse and Jones and in the 55th minute, another cross and another mistake by Foster left United’s title hopes in real danger. Ben Foster was in pole position to reach the cross but the young goalkeeper made a hash of it, missing the ball which fell to Kenwyne Jones who poked it in at the second time of asking.
United responded well to the goal and pushed forward looking for the winner as you would expect them to. Sunderland seemed happy with the draw and fell back into their “everyone behind the ball” strategy.
Former Red Phil Bardsley had a great game but whilst off the pitch receiving treatment, United had a numerical advantage and they almost made it count. Wayne Rooney made space on the left before cutting the ball back to Scholes who teed up Berbatov beautifully. The Bulgarian striker had never really got going though and he blasted his effort well wide.
Cristiano Ronaldo was thrown into the fray in the 69th minute, replacing Ji Sung Park and before he had even touched the ball, Sunderland could have been two one up. A Sunderland throw-in beat United’s defence but Cisse’s audacious overhead attempt only found the side netting.
United’s new starlet, Federico Mecheda was called into action in the 75th minute, replacing the ineffectual Berbatov, and in the 76th minute, he scored.
Michael Carrick’s long range effort was heading wide and the young Italian was in the right place at the right time to redirect the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot. The second time in as many games Macheda has rescued three points for the Champions and yet should United win the title, he wont get a medal. Still, there are plenty more to come.
United played out the last fifteen minutes of the match with Sunderland failing to create much. Their players looked deflated after the second goal and even in the dying minutes of the game, failed to get men forward.
Three points for United, back to the top of the table, thank you very much.
6 Comments already, join the discussion
Discussion, what's your opinion?
Still want more?
Here are some related posts you may enjoy
- What’s Happened To Our Defence?- United Win Seven Goal Derby Thriller
- Wayne Rooney in squad to face Fulham
- Rome Here We Come
Nicely put Bill, Rooney is just amazing, Berbatov is just ….. well and Ronaldo needs a kick up the ar*e – hopefully being a sub will teach him a lesson. I reckon Park’s long haul trip has caught up with him he is normally such a good player.
Mechada – super sub, just when we need one. Come on you Reds !
ronaldo is a wicked player well mecheda is the next ronaldo u have to play mecheda against porto
SAF says none of his squad are “immune” from criticism and he has spoken to star player Cristiano Ronaldo over the winger’s attitude.
Macheda is the new wonder kid for united…2 goals in as many 1st team appearances and crucial ones as well
I would like to see him partner rooney tomorrow night vs porto, berbatov is back from injury but still lacks fitness, while ronaldo definitely has to stop his antics and play like a real united player in the quest of trophies
Tomorrow’s game is going to be massive challenge. The lads can do it if they play to their full potential which we haven’t seen for a few weeks now. They will get up if they are hungry enough!
Interview here with Rooney:
http://www.zootoday.com/sport/archive/2009/04/17/wayne-ooney.htm