Kecederaan Hernandez jejas keceriaan United
2011/09/20
Red Devils kini selesa 2 mata di depan ‘jiran bising’
MANCHESTER: Sir Alex Ferguson mengakui terjahan ‘mengejutkan’ oleh Ashley Cole terhadap Javier Hernandez membayangi kemenangan 3-1 yang dicatatkan oleh Manchester United ke atas pencabar kejuaraan, Chelsea kelmarin.
Skuad kendalian Ferguson mendahului lawan terlebih dulu dengan tiga gol menerusi Chris Smalling, Nani dan Wayne Rooney tatkala juara bertahan itu mengekalkan permulaan sempurna mereka dalam kempen Liga Perdana Inggeris (EPL). United kini mendahului pasukan tangga kedua, Manchester City dengan kelebihan dua mata.
Bek kiri Chelsea, Cole dilayangkan kad kuning kerana terjahan keras dua kaki terhadap Hernandez dalam kotak penalti pada minit ke-79 tetapi tiada sepakan penalti diberikan kerana bola keluar dari kawasan permainan. Penyerang Mexico itu terpaksa dikeluarkan akibat kecederaan yang mungkin akan menyebabkannya diketepikan untuk sekurang-kurangnya dua minggu.
“Bagi saya, ia terjahan yang mengejutkan. Pengadil melayangkan kad kuning terhadapnya (Cole) dan jika dia melayangkan kad kepadanya, saya tidak tahu kenapa ia bukan satu sepakan penalti,” kata Ferguson.
“Kami perlu menunggu sehingga pagi kerana kakinya berasa amat sakit. Bagaimanapun, dia mungkin tersisih selama beberapa minggu.”
Walaupun Ferguson gembira dapat menewaskan pencabar kejuaraan itu, pengendali warga Scotland itu merumuskan bahawa United agak bernasib baik dengan margin kemenangan kerana mereka memberikan terlalu banyak peluang kepada Chelsea serta melakukan beberapa hantaran yang cuai.
Pengurus Chelsea, Andre Villas-Boas, yang kali pertama tewas dalam perlawanan liga sejak April 2010, menegaskan pasukannya berhak memperoleh keputusan lebih baik hasil prestasi ditunjukkan dan gembira dengan cara mereka memberikan tekanan terhadap United pada babak kedua. - AFP
SNEK keluaran tempatan, Mister Potato bakal terpampang di skrin paparan digital Stadium Old Trafford selepas termeterainya perjanjian penajaan antara Mamee Double Decker Bhd dan Manchester United, kelmarin.
Perjanjian itu bakal memperlihatkan jenama snek popular itu dipaparkan bersama beberapa lagi penaja utama seperti Thomas Cook, Turkish Airlines, Singha, Nike, Aon, AudiDHL, Epson, Hublot dan banyak lagi penaja lain bersama pasukan Red Devils untuk tempoh selama tiga tahun.
Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Mamee Double Decker, Datuk Pang Tee Chew berkata, syarikatnya berbangga menjadi jenama snek pertama tempatan yang bakal bergandingan dengan juara bola sepak Inggeris 19 kali itu sekali gus menghangatkan ‘bangku peminat’ MU tempatan dianggarkan lebih lima juta orang itu.
“Sebagai rakan kongsi kepada Manchester United, kami menawarkan ‘Peluang Terunggul Bersama Man Utd’ kepada peminat bola sepak tempatan termasuk menonton perlawanan membabitkan Manchester United di Old Trafford.
“Kami juga berpeluang membawa legenda Manchester United ke Malaysia bertemu peminat yang tidak dapat ke United Kingdom. Bola sepak adalah sukan untuk belia dan juga keluarga, dan oleh itu kami berbangga kerana dapat menyediakan semua ini kepada peminat tempatan,” katanya.
Leeds 0-3 Manchester United
In the competition Manchester United use to blood their kids, Michael Owen and Ryan Giggs combined to see off Leeds and ease the club into the Carling Cup fourth round.
That the veteran duo were involved at all says everything about how United have attacked this season.
Owen had not kicked a ball in competitive combat before the contest began but scored twice to take his tally to an impressive 11 goals in 12 starts.
Then Giggs followed up his effort in Benfica last week by curling home his 161st career goal, nutmegging Tom Lees in the process.
The game won by half-time, Sir Alex Ferguson did give youth a chance afterwards, Danny Welbeck amongst those introduced after the England man recovered from his hamstring injury.
But Leeds were never a threat, even though the visitors ended the game with 10 men after debutant Ezekiel Fryers limped off, leaving last season's joint Golden Boot winner Dimitar Berbatov to partner Michael Carrick in central defence.
Nineteen-year-old Fryers had been the lucky youngster called upon by Ferguson.
The eye-catching statistic was that the team United sent into battle was, on average, 3.4 years older than the one that started Sunday's Premier League triumph over Chelsea.
In Owen and Giggs, there was a combined 68 years' worth of experience. And how they used it after the visitors had survived a difficult start.
Leeds fans never need to get up for this particular fixture.
A gap of eight years between visits to Elland Road, punctuated by that famous 2010 FA Cup triumph at Old Trafford when Simon Grayson's team were still in League One, had heightened anticipation amongst the white rose contingent.
Had either Lees' header, or Ross McCormack's follow-up gone in, the roof would have come off this famous old stadium.
As it was, Ferguson found an unlikely saviour in Berbatov, who booted off the line on both occasions, allowing United to assume total control by half-time.
Owen's first involved a little jink inside Lees after he had collected Park Ji-sung's square pass, then a rather scruffy finish that ended up in the bottom corner.
Andy Lonergan had no chance there, and he was equally helpless with Owen's second.
Again, the cross came from the right, this time delivered by Mame Biram Diouf. The finish was clinical, one touch to control, the second to belt it into the top corner.
Giggs provided the perfect ending to the first-half for the Premier League champions, pushing the ball through Lees' legs after collecting Park's return pass from a short corner, then curling home a deflected effort with the outside of his trusty left foot.
It proved to be the end of the veteran Welshman's contribution as promising midfielder Paul Pogba was given his first taste of senior action at the break.
The French teenager could hardly have had a better position with which to begin life at senior level, although he will not remember the curling shot he skied into the night air with much affection.
Indeed, the second period was largely a forgettable affair.
Leeds found it impossible to give their fans the glimmer of hope they craved and United strolled around in comfort.
Owen came close to completing his hat-trick when he turned onto a Berbatov through ball and curled narrowly wide of the far post.
The introduction of Welbeck for Diouf was a welcome development for Fabio Capello ahead of England's crucial Euro 2012 trip to Montenegro next month.
The Italian can only hope that expedition proves as easy as this was for the visitors.
Check out our individual assessments of the Reds in the Carling Cup triumph at Leeds...
Ben Amos: A clean sheet and safe handling from the young keeper who, in truth, was rarely extended. A couple of catches from crosses exuded confidence and he made a decent stop when Mika Vayrynen was offside in any case.
Antonio Valencia: Filled in a right-back after doing a good job there against Chelsea. Looked more at home going forward, as you'd expect, but never slackened from his duties in defence and his strength makes him a formidable barrier. Should have scored when prodding a Michael Owen pass wide in the first half.
Ezekiel Fryers: Never put a foot wrong in the heart of the defence and will be well pleased with his debut. Looked unfazed from the start and was rarely troubled by the Leeds attackers before being forced off through injury, leaving the Reds down to 10 men.
Michael Carrick: Slipped in to the back four with ease and displayed his ability to read the play effortlessly. Took over the armband from Ryan Giggs in the second half and made a couple of excellent clearances.
Fabio: Needed to take extra responsibility and he thrived on it. Was slick with his passing and incisive with his tackling, although one over-exuberant tackle brought a yellow card. Made a towering header when needing to cover in the middle in the closing stages which summed up his enthusiasm for the game.
Mame Biram Diouf: A little out of position out wide, but he tracked back and worked hard. One air-shot betrayed a few nerves in the opening exchanges but he was soon fired up and in the thick of it, picking up a yellow card for a mistimed tackle. Heavily involved in Owen's second goal, earning the assist following some impressive battling for possession.
Ryan Giggs: Captain fantastic and a majestic presence in midfield. Ignored the taunts from the home fans with a brilliant solo strike on half-time after a cheeky nutmeg on Robert Snodgrass and just oozed class from a central role. Rested at the break.
Ji-sung Park: Effervescent and energetic but disciplined as well as a senior figure in the side. Had to weather a couple of stern challenges but he just does the simple things very effectively and is an ideal role model for the younger players. Set up Owen's opener.
Federico Macheda: Took a while to get into the game from an unfamiliar position but tried to make his mark and get involved. Showed his natural aggression and raw qualities before making way for Larnell Cole late on.
Dimitar Berbatov: Ended up playing at centre-back but still looked comfortable on the ball there. Greeted the crowd to some lovely touches and killer passes, seemlessly linking the midfield with the attack. Fed Park in the move that led to Owen scoring the first goal.
Michael Owen: His first action of the season and it only took 15 minutes to make his mark. His rolled finish may not have been the most spectacular but his second, a ferocious drive, proved he just loves scoring goals. Unselfishly passed to Valencia when presented with another opening and chipped just wide when hunting a hat-trick.
Substitutes:
Paul Pogba (for Owen, 45m): His first pass at senior level was a terrific one to Valencia and he certainly doesn't lack confidence. Used his power to win the ball in midfield and was greeted by a rough challenge that left him needing treatment. Had one shot that was high and wide but a promising start.
Danny Welbeck (for Diouf, 70m): A good run-out to work himself back into contention for Stoke at the weekend.
Larnell Cole (for Macheda, 78m): Another debutant who will be thrilled with his first involvement on the big stage.
Post time 19-9-2011 04:32 PM
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