New England 1 : 4 Manchester United - 7M sport

New England 1 : 4 Manchester United



I have a say

Posted Friday, July 15, 2011 by The Sun

New England 1 : 4 Manchester United
OFF TO A FLYER ... Franco Coria dives to stop Wayne Rooney - but United still walked it in Boston

MICHAEL OWEN gave Alex Ferguson a timely reminder in Boston of just why he should be given more first team football this coming season.

Owen scored the final goal of their historic title winning campaign last season when he came on as a substitute to complete a 4-2 win over Blackpool.

Last night in the Gillette Stadium he opened the scoring in Manchester United's pre-season tour of the US with a typical Owen finish.

He had been on the pitch just six minutes after coming on as a substitute at half-time for Wayne Rooney and brought the 51,523 crowd to life after a poor opening period.

Michael Carrick provided the through ball and from a tight angle Owen found the far side of the goal with a perfect side-foot finish.

He has been doing it all his career and wants to show Ferguson he has not stopped - even in the twilight of it at 31 years old.

The problem is that he doesn't get enough chances to do so.

Last season he started just four games in all competitions, one in the league, and came on 13 times as a sub.

He still managed five goals.

Despite his lack of football Ferguson does still have faith in him as he showed by extending his initial two-year contract by another season.

He also promised him he would get more time on the pitch this coming season.

Another striker making an impression last night was forgotten man Federico Macheda.

The Italian was back at United after a six-month loan deal at Sampdoria.

Ferguson had farmed him out to get more first-team football but no goals in 14 games meant it was hardly a success as the team were relegated from Serie A.

But back amongst his United teammates it was a different story.

The 19-year-old hit a brace of goals after also coming on as a half-time sub, this time for Dimitar Berbatov.

His first came in the 54th minute on the break with Carrick again the supplier, Macheda finishing well past an exposed goalkeeper.

His second on the hour saw a cross from Rafael find him at the far post and after killing the ball with one touch he rammed it home with another.

In between Macheda's strikes New England had got a goal back when Benny Feilhaber's scuffed free kick deflected in off teammate Kenny Mansally.

United completed the scoring on 80 minutes when Ji-Sung Park played a great one-two with Ryan Giggs before lifting the ball over the goalkeeper from close range.

All that was memorable from the first-half was a bright opening to his Manchester United career for Ashley Young.

Young was clearly keen to make a good impression on his new manager and teammates from the very first minutes.

The way he combined with full-back Fabio and the United midfield suggested he had been with the club a lot longer than a few weeks.

After just two minutes he was cutting inside and delivering a good cross that just evaded Rooney.

Then on 16 minutes he was at it again as he scorched down the left and fired over a deep cross which Berbatov just failed to reach.

New England full-back Kevin Alston looked like a man who had easier days in the MLS Eastern Conference where his team lie bottom.

Young's first touch and movement will have been a joy to behold for Ferguson, who spent £20million bringing him in from Aston Villa.

United were constantly feeding him and when in the 40th minute he found Nani at the far post they could have taken the lead.

The Portuguese winger's head back for Berbatov looked good but the Bulgarian striker was slow to react and the ball was cleared.

Berbatov would have an even better chance a minute later when United produced their best move of the half.

Carrick found Rooney who rolled the ball down the left for the lightening quick Fabio.

His cross was perfect for Berbatov who met the ball first time but his shot was too near the goalkeeper Matt Reis, who made a good save.

Young was eventually replaced in the 67th minute by Gabriel Obertan.

MANCHESTER UNITED (starting line-up): Lindegaard, Fabio, Evans, Vidic, Rafael, Nani, Carrick, Anderson, Young, Berbatov, Rooney.

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