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EPL [ 12 ] : Arsenal 2 - 2 Manchester United

Barclays Premier League
Emirates Stadium, Sat 3 November

ARSENAL 2
Fabregas (48), Gallas (90)

MANCHESTER UNITED 2
Gallas o.g (45), Ronaldo (82)

William Gallas netted at both ends at the Emirates Stadium, including Arsenal's last-gasp equaliser after Cristiano Ronaldo looked to have scored the winner.

The Gunners’ captain struck two minutes into injury time to earn Arsene Wenger’s side a 2-2 draw after the Reds had twice taken the lead in a pulsating match.

United went in front on the stroke of half-time when Gallas turned in Wayne Rooney's effort with his arm. Cesc Fabregas drew the hosts level three minutes after the restart when the Reds were slow to react in their own box, but Ronaldo then put United 2-1 up eight minutes from time. Victory was then in United's grasp until Gallas intervened again.

Sir Alex Ferguson made two changes to the side that had thrashed Middlesbrough a week ago with recalls for both Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra, who had missed the Boro win through injury. The Reds boss also had significant options on the bench with Louis Saha and Michael Carrick back in the frame after returning from knee and elbow injuries respectively. Tomasz Kuszczak, Nani and John O’Shea took up the remaining sub spots.

Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, stuck with the same eleven who earned a point at Anfield last weekend. Both sides went into the game in top form - the Gunners unbeaten with six league wins out of six on their own patch, while United had eight consecutive league victories under their belt.

The game began at a frantic pace as both sets of players took time to settle. Arsenal’s first sight of goal arrived on 10 minutes with Gael Clichy firing in a cross for Emmanuel Adebayor but his header was off target. A minute later, Carlos Tevez fired an effort wide of Manuel Almunia’s right-hand post after a fizzed centre from Ryan Giggs.

Shouts for an Arsenal penalty rang round the Emirates 15 minutes in when Aleksandr Hleb went down under Nemanja Vidic’s clumsy challenge. Replays showed the Serbian centre-back had a handful of Hleb’s shirt, but referee Howard Webb, a somewhat fussy officiator throughout, waved away the Gunners’ appeals.

Two minutes later Ryan Giggs, making his 37th appearance against Arsenal, poked the ball just wide after an excellent break from United and a fine cross from Ronaldo into the Welshman's path at the back post. The Reds’ skipper fired an effort just over the bar soon after, picking up Tevez’s deflected knock down before turning and hitting it first time. Almunia looked to have covered had it been on target.

United seemed content to let Arsenal have possession and play on the counter-attack with the Reds’ backline and midfield duo of Anderson and Owen Hargreaves standing firm. Kolo Toure found a glimmer of an opening after exchanging passes with Hleb just before the half hour but his shot flew over.

Arsenal’s possession percentage continued to grow as the half drew to a close and their best chance of the opening period duly arrived on 36 minutes. Fabregas whipped in a free kick to the near post where William Gallas stooped in front of Patrice Evra to head the ball goalwards. Edwin van der Sar saved well with his legs as United’s travelling army breathed a sigh

Having gone so close at one end to opening the scoring, it was Gallas who got the final touch as United made the vital breakthrough in first half injury time. Wes Brown shrugged off a challenge from Hleb, before slotting the ball into Ronaldo who in fired a low cross. Rooney took a swing at it at the near post with the last touch coming off Gallas and past Almunia.

After a somewhat cagey opening 45 the game burst into life three minutes after the restart. Having looked so solid in defence during the first half, United found themselves stretched for the first time in the match and it led to Arsenal's equaliser. Van der Sar bravely blocked Adebayor’s effort and as the ball ran loose, Bacary Sagna was quickest to react slotting the ball into Fabregas’ path. The Spaniard picked his spot and fired into the bottom corner.

Fabregas found the target again three minutes before the hour mark, curling a low free kick under the United wall. Thankfully, van der Sar was alert to the situation grasping the ball on the line.

United continued to weather the Arsenal storm and went close through Rooney on 64 minutes. The England front man picked up the ball in midfield after Fabregas had given possession away and slipped a pass through to Giggs. The Welshman chipped a superb cross back into Rooney’s path, but the striker was unable to guide his header on target.

Rooney flicked a ball through to Evra soon after but the Frenchman's cut-back eluded Ronaldo who was unable to get there in front of a cluster of Arsenal defenders.

Ronaldo was not to be denied eight minutes from time, however, as United snatched the lead once more. Saha, on for Tevez, slid a superb ball into the onrushing Evra who crossed brilliantly for Ronaldo to simply slot the ball home.

The drama was not finished though as Arsenal went in search of another equaliser. As the game entered added time the Gunners grabbed a point through Gallas who guided the ball home brilliantly from a tight angle. Van der Sar looked to have saved it, but an eagle-eyed linesman spotted that the Dutchman was behind his goal line when he parried the ball clear. It was a sickening moment for the Reds who were so close to avenging their loss to Thierry Henry’s late goal last season.

It felt like a defeat when the final whistle sounded but many United fans would have taken a point before kick-off, and it could prove to be a vital point in the long run.

Teams

Arsenal: Almunia; Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy; Eboue (Walcott, 74), Flamini, Fabregas, Rosicky (Eduardo, 81); Hleb (Gilberto, 81), Adebayor. Subs not used: Lehmann, Diarra

Booked: Fabregas

United: van der Sar; Brown (O'Shea 71), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Ronaldo, Anderson (Carrick, 76), Hargreaves, Giggs; Tevez (Saha, 76), Rooney. Subs not used: Kuszczak, Nani

Booked: Evra, Hargreaves


Attendance: 60,161

EPL [ 11 ]: Manchester United 4 - 1 Middlesbrough

Barclays Premier League
Old Trafford, Sat 27 Oct

MANCHESTER UNITED 4
Nani (3), Rooney (33), Tevez (55 & 85)

MIDDLESBROUGH 1
Aliadiere (6)

Middlesbrough have traditionally held something of a hoodoo over United at Old Trafford, but even they had no answer to another vibrant attacking display from Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

Goals from Nani, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez (twice) invalidated an early equaliser from Jeremie Aliadiere and put United on top of the Barclays Premier League, ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Liverpool on Sunday.

Following on from convincing victories over Wigan, Aston Villa and Dynamo Kyiv, the scoreline also marked a fourth-consecutive four-goal haul, equalling a club record set back in the 1907/08 season.

The only noteworthy change to Sir Alex Ferguson’s line-up saw Owen Hargreaves return for only his fourth United appearance, his first taste of action since the victory over Sunderland on September 1.

Whereas Boro traditionally come to Old Trafford with a stifling approach clearly at the fore, Gareth Southgate’s 4-4-2 formation suggested the potential for an open game, and Nani's early goal bore that out in style.

Just three minutes had passed when he picked the ball up on the left flank, just inside the Boro half. The Portuguese winger beat three defenders, cut inside and sent goalwards a scorching 30-yard drive which arced over the flailing Schwarzer.

Less than two minutes later, Tevez could have doubled the Reds’ lead. The Argentine striker was sent clean through, but his attempt to lift the ball over Schwarzer was thwarted by the Australian stopper.

United would rue that miss moments later as the visitors drew level. Turkish striker Tuncay, who scored a hat-trick for Fenerbahce in his last appearance against the Reds, did superbly to outfox John O’Shea and send in a cross, which Aliadiere glanced in off van der Sar’s far post.

The Turk proved troublesome again after 24 minutes, curling in another fine cross which Stewart Downing headed wastefully past the far post. Boro were by no means bossing the game, but they were certainly proving a handful on the counter-attack.

United, as per, were enjoying the lion’s share of possession, and responded to Downing’s near-miss with one of their own, as Ronaldo latched onto Rooney’s pass and sent a left-footed shot skidding just past Schwarzer’s post.

Downing was heavily involved again as United retook the lead after 32 minutes. The England international dwelled on the ball inside his own area and, as he attempted to pass clear, Nani nicked the ball to Rooney, who hammered a shot past Schwarzer and in.

The Australian was called into action again moments later as United sought to extend their lead. A spell of heavy pressure ended with O’Shea sliding the ball back to Ronaldo, whose low sidefooted effort was held just in front of the line.

United seemed liberated by the chance to savour their advantage, and they continued to pile the pressure on Boro’s goal, coming agonizingly close to scoring a third in first-half injury time.

A defensive slip allowed Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo to break against just one Boro defender, but Rooney’s overhit pass to Tevez was half-cleared to Nani. In the ensuing melee, the winger’s cross fell invitingly to Ronaldo, but the ball merely bounced off him and ricocheted straight to Schwarzer.

The lead stayed at just the one goal going into the break, but it could easily have been extended further within a minute of the restart as Tevez fed Rooney, but the England striker could only fire narrowly over the crossbar with a diagonal shot.

Much had been made of the burgeoning English-Argentine partnership upfront after their prominent role against Aston Villa and Dynamo Kyiv, and they combined again to devastating effect to put United 3-1 ahead.

Tevez flicked a long ball straight to Rooney and continued his run into the box. The Argentine then slipped below Boro's radar as he crept into the box, but Rooney was able to find him with a sumptuous back-heel, which teed up a simple slid finish.

Parallels have been drawn between the infamous Cole-Yorke partnership and the current Tevez-Rooney pairing of late, and this goal was the most glaring sign of similarity yet. The duo’s interplay immediately evoked memories of Cole’s much-heralded 1998 goal against Barcelona, scored with similarly intuitive front-play.

With a two-goal lead established, Sir Alex opted to bring on Darren Fletcher and Gerard Pique for some much-needed playing time, as they replaced Hargreaves and Ferdinand respectively, while Ryan Giggs replaced Anderson. There was no disruption to United’s attacking flow, however, and they grabbed a fourth goal with five minutes remaining.

Rooney broke from deep inside his own half and left Cattermole trailing in his wake before picking out Tevez, who cut inside and, although his goal-bound shot struck Taylor’s arm, it bounced down into the ground and past the hapless Schwarzer.

And with that, United had equalled a century-old record and moved to the top of the Premier League table, with a tantalising trip to title rivals Arsenal looming next weekend.

Manchester United: Van der Sar; Brown, Vidic, Ferdinand (Pique, 73), O’Shea; Ronaldo, Hargreaves (Fletcher, 66), Anderson (Giggs, 78), Nani; Tevez, Rooney.
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Simpson.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer; Young, Woodgate, Wheater, Taylor; O’Neil, Cattermole (Boateng, 90), Rochemback, Downing; Tuncay (Lee, 80), Aliadiere (Hutchinson, 55).
Subs not used: Turnbull, Hines.

Attendance: 75,720

UCL [ 3 ] Kiev 2 - 4 Manchester United

Champions League Group F
Olympiyskiy Stadium, Wed 23 Oct

DYNAMO KV 2
(Rincon 34, Bangoura 78)

MANCHESTER UNITED 4
(Ferdinand 10; Rooney 18; Ronaldo 41, 68)

Centre back Rio Ferdinand opened the scoring, but United's frontline ran riot in Kyiv during a free-flowing and frenetic Group F encounter.

Despite pre-match predictions of a tight tussle likely to be settled by a single strike, the net bulged six times in the Ukraine capital as Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed the freedom of the Olympiyskiy Stadium's vast pitch.

Dynamo Kyiv did score two of the six goals, but never seriously threatened United's stranglehold on a third successive Champions League victory. The win leaves the Reds with maximum points so far in this season's competition and the opportunity to secure group qualification when Kyiv travel to Manchester in a fortnight.

United's first-half performance was as good as any European display in recent memory, with the Reds carving out a number of chances in the first half-hour. With Kyiv desperate for a win and manager Jozsef Szabo adopting a three-pronged strikeforce, United found gaps aplenty in the home side's defensive armour.

Szabo's tactics left Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo with boundless space in which to operate and it was the Reds' no.7 who looked most menacing in the game's early stages. Tiberiu Ghioane decided the easiest way to halt the 22-year-old was illegally, but his 9th minute foul on the Portuguese winger ultimately led to United's opener.

Giggs curled the resulting free-kick teasingly into the space in front of Kyiv goalkeeper Olexandr Shovkovskiy, who remained rooted to his line. Instead, Rio Ferdinand,who scored the Reds' third at Villa Park on Saturday, met the ball early to thump home a header and send United into the lead.

It must have been tempting for Sir Alex to then issue stifling instructions to his troops, but United continued to push forward in search of a second goal. It duly arrived on 18 minutes when Ronaldo fed Wes Brown on the right hand side of the penalty area. Kyiv's Goran Gavrancic slid in to intercept Brown's first-time cross but could only divert the ball into Rooney's path, who found the net for a simple tap-in.

It was Rooney's fifth goal in his last four United appearances and no less than the Reds deserved. Sir Alex's European sides are often criticised for a lack of attacking ambition but the manager's decision to attack Kyiv so early must surely be applauded.

Indeed, United would have killed off the game a minute later had Rooney or Tevez been able to get onto the end of yet another searching Ronaldo ball. The front two then went close again when Rooney stung Shovkovskiy's palms before Tevez's shot from the rebound was bravely blocked.

Such frenetic pace could never be sustained and the match slowed, albeit marginally, until the Ukrainians pulled a goal back on 34 minutes. Anderson did well defensively to break up a rare foray into the penalty area but Diogo Rincon gave John O'Shea the slip at the resulting corner and headed home unmarked from 10 yards.

It was a poor goal to concede from United's point of view, although the Reds almost restored the two-goal advantage immediately when Cristiano Ronaldo forced Shovkovskiy into a smart save down to his right. The Reds were on the march and John O'Shea missed a gilt-edged opportunity five minutes before the break when he miscued a shot from six-yards after good work on the right from Wayne Rooney.

A third United goal did arrive before half-time and again it was Ryan Giggs who provided a telling cross from the left flank. This time it was Ronaldo in the middle and, although he was unmarked, there was still a lot of work to do. Indeed, the no.7 was forced to back-pedal quickly before leaping to direct his header beyond Shovkovskiy and into the corner of the net.

The half-time whistle provided both players and fans a chance to draw breath (but not before the Reds fashioned another chance, which Rooney blasted narrowly over the top) and inevitably the second half was slightly more subdued.

But only just. The major difference was that now the team in white were fashioning the better chances, although United's defence, marshalled superbly by Rio Ferdinand, denied the home side again and again.

Rincon saw a glancing header go just wide on 52 minutes before Carlos Correa's free-kick curled around the wall and narrowly past van der Sar's left-hand post. It did send a scare through United's travelling support, as did Nemanja Vidic when he looked to have brought down Kyiv substitute Artem Milevskiy inside the area. But Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai blew for a foul the other way and a relieved United side restarted the match.

Kassai was under the spotlight again seven minutes later when Goran Gavrancic was adjudged to have handled the ball… initially on the edge of his area. After consultation with his assistant, however, the man in the middle pointed to the penalty spot, where Ronaldo coolly sent the hapless Shovkovskiy the wrong way to notch United's fourth and effectively seal the win.

Kyiv, rooted to the bottom of Group F and with nothing to lose, weren't about to surrender and Bangoura doubled the home side's tally with a long-range rocket on 78 minutes. Despite the revival, however, Sir Alex opted to withdraw Edwin van der Sar and Ryan Giggs, with Tomasz Kuszczak and Danny Simpson given a chance to impress.

There could have been even more goals in the final 10 minutes, but in the end United ran out 4-2 winners after a thrilling, open-ended 90 minutes that gives United every opportunity to secure passage into the knockout stages when the Ukrainians arrive at Old Trafford next month.


United: van der Sar (Kuszczak 80); Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea; Ronaldo, Anderson, Fletcher, Giggs (Simpson 80); Tevez (Nani 73), Rooney

Subs not used: Pique, Evans, Eagles

Dynamo Kyiv: Shovkovskiy; Ghioane (Belkevich 46), Gavrancic, Yussuf, Diakhate; Gusev, Correa (Rotan 83), Nesmachniy; Bangoura, Rincon, Shatskikh (Milevskiy 46)

Subs not used: Rybka, Vaschuk, El Kaddouri, Markovic

Booked: Diakhate

EPL [ 10 ]:Aston Villa 1 - 4 Manchester United

Barclays Premier League
Villa Park, Sat 20 October

ASTON VILLA 1
Agbonlahor (13)

MANCHESTER UNITED 4
Rooney (36, 44), Ferdinand (45), Giggs (75)


United’s excellent form at Villa Park continued with a 4-1 victory characterised by the passing, movement, vision of the Reds' blossoming strike pairing, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez.

Rooney scored twice, but could have scored double that after seeing a penalty saved and a shot rattle off the crossbar. Tevez was as tenacious as ever but, more importantly, his link-up play crucial to the Reds going forward. Villa, who took the lead through Gabriel Agbonlahor on 13 minutes, ended the match with nine men after Nigel Reo-Coker and Scott Carson both saw red. In truth the match was all but over after United’s three-goal blitz before the break.

Without Vidic, Saha, Hargreaves, Carrick Neville, and with Ronaldo on the bench after suffering a slight knock on international duty, Sir Alex was forced to reshuffle. Anderson was handed only his second league start, while Gerard Pique deputised at right-back as Wes Brown filled in for Vidic.

It took two minutes for United to get the first chance when Scott Carson picked up a backpass from Wilfred Bouma 12 yards out. Rooney teed up Ryan Giggs on the volley, but the Villa wall blocked the effort. A promising start. But Martin O’Neill's side are made of stern stuff and, in contrast to the early run of play, they managed to strike first. Ashley Young’s cross from the left found Agbonlahor with time to glance his header past Edwin van der Sar. There was a hint of offside, as Luke Moore appeared to block van der Sar’s line of sight. But the goal stood.

Undeterred, United piled on the pressure, and chances soon followed. Evra’s cross from the left
allowed Rooney to nod the ball back to Nani, who volleyed just over. Then after 25 minutes United’s intricate passing found a way through. Anderson, Nani, Scholes opened up space for Tevez, whose one-two with Rooney put him through on goal. But Carson was quick off his line and saved with his legs.

The Reds deservedly pulled level after 36 minutes following a low and dangerous Nani cross from the right. It caused indecision in the Villa defence. Zat Knight seemed to think Carson was coming to collect, but also knew that the slightest of touches would send the ball into his own net. Rooney gladly capitalised, nipping in behind Knight and tapping home the equaliser.

The understanding between Rooney and Tevez was the signature of United's first-half performance. Tevez drops under the radar of opposition defences, and he caused all kinds of problems for Villa's defence. Charged with linking midfield with attack, he executed the task perfectly for United’s second goal on 45 minutes. Using Giggs’ run as a decoy, the Argentina international cut inside from the left and carved Villa’s defence wide open with a pass to Rooney. United’s no.10 coolly slotted home his second of the match. It was the perfect time to take the lead. But Sir Alex’s men weren’t finished there. From a corner in injury time, Pique had his header cleared off the line before Craig Gardner volleyed Ferdinand’s rebounded shot in off the bar. It was a dramatic, but utterly deserved, turnaround.

The odds were further stacked in United’s favour during a five-minute spell around the hour mark. First, Rob Styles, perhaps slightly harshly, sent off Nigel Reo-Coker,


whose two bookable offences comprised clumsy rather than malicious tackles on Anderson and Tevez. Then, after Tevez was brought down by Carson whilst clean through on goal, he dismissed the Villa shot-stopper and awarded a penalty. However, substitute goalkeeper Stuart Taylor made the most of his first touch, saving low and to his right from Rooney’s spot-kick. The English front man’s hat-trick was proving elusive, seconds later he smashed a shot from 12 yards against the bar.

Tevez, who deserved a goal for his efforts, should have scored shortly before being replaced after 73 minutes by Darren Fletcher. He found space in the box and had just Taylor to beat, but the Villa goalkeeper spread himself well to deny Tevez. Taylor would be beaten, however, albeit via a wicked deflection. Giggs danced through the Villa defence from the right flank before seeing his left-footed shot cannon off Martin Laursen and beyond Taylor to complete the win. Villa Park remains one of United’s favoured grounds on the Premier League circuit, and a performance of this quality so soon after an international break bodes well.

Team Line-ups

Manchester United: Van der Sar; Pique, Brown, Ferdinand, Evra; Nani, Anderson, Scholes (O'Shea, 77), Giggs (Ronaldo, 77); Tevez (Fletcher, 73), Rooney.
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Simpson.

Aston Villa: Carson (sent off, 66, Taylor on); Bouma, Mellberg, Laursen, Knight, Gardner (Osbourne, 54); Barry, Reo-Coker (sent off, 60), Young, Agbonlahor, Moore (Maloney, 54).
Subs not used: Davies, Petrov.

EPL [ 9 ]: Manchester United 4 - 0 Wigan

Barclays Premier League
Old Trafford, Sat 6 October
MANCHESTER UNITED 4

Tevez (54), Ronaldo (59 & 76), Rooney (82)

WIGAN ATHLETIC 0

United moved to the top of the Barclays Premier League with an emphatic, irresistable second half display against Wigan Athletic.

Goals from Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo (2) and Wayne Rooney after the break brushed off the physical challenge posed by Chris Hutchings' Latics.

United lost Nemanja Vidic and John O'Shea to injuries - concussion and a dead leg respectively - in a bruising first 45 minutes, while Louis Saha was a late withdrawal from the squad after injuring himself in the warm-up.

A patched-up Reds defence saw Gerard Pique and Danny Simpson included alongside Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, and the two youngster turned in outstanding performances.

They were rarely tested sternly by a Wigan side intent on containing United, a gameplan which worked for the first 45 minutes as the visitors managed to keep the Reds largely at arm's length.

Visiting goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was only required to be at his best once in the first half, and that came in clawing away a header from his own defender, Salomon Olembe, who inadvertently diverted Carlos Tevez’s cross goalwards.

In the ensuing melee, Ronaldo was denied a strong shout for a penalty, as he was seemingly wrestled to the ground by Michael Brown. Referee Mike Riley quickly waved away the claims, however, much to the chagrin of the Portuguese winger.After 20 minutes Nemanja Vidic, who had earlier been dazed by a clash with Marcus Bent, needed to leave the field of play. After a lengthy touchline discussion with Sir Alex, Carlos Queiroz and club Doctor Steve McNally, the Serbian was eventually replaced by Anderson, who put in a highly promising show.

John O’Shea took the Vidic's place at centre-back, but the big Irishman was one of three defenders to take a knock in the next few minutes. Patrice Evra took a kick to the face, Pique was limping heavily after having his foot trodden on, while O’Shea had to be replaced by Danny Simpson, after picking up a dead leg.

United then had another decent shout for a penalty, with Brown again involved. The former Fulham midfielder appeared to block Evra’s run into a crowded area, but again the Reds’ appeals were in vain.

Ronaldo saw a long-range shot palmed away by Kirkland, but United found clear chances hard to come by, until the final five minutes of the half. First Rooney saw his shot blocked after a winding run, then Tevez fired over after a superb flowing move.

The second half began as the first had ended - with United well on top. Only the woodwork prevented the hosts from taking the lead, when Giggs volleyed Ronaldo’s half-cleared cross against the crossbar.

Moments later, United finally took the lead. Rio Ferdinand carried the ball out of defence and fed Rooney, whose superb clipped pass freed Anderson.The Brazilian slipped the ball in turn to Tevez, who calmly held off the attentions of Kilbane and Bramble, circumnavigated Kirkland and lashed home a left-footed shot.

Almost immediately Wigan survived another strong penalty claim, as Scharner slipped and took Evra down with him, before Koumas almost produced an equaliser out of nothing, firing just past the post with a long-range effort.

That close-call with parity was long forgotten after 59 minutes when United doubled their lead. Giggs’ cross was headed towards his own goal by Kilbane and, although Kirkland brilliantly kept the ball out, Ronaldo was on hand to head home the rebound.

The two-goal deficit prompted Latics manager Chris Hutchings to introduce Antonio Valencia, and the substitute almost pulled a goal back with his first touch. It took a fine reaction stop from Kuszczak to keep out the Ecuadorian’s fierce shot, as the Pole sought to prolong United’s long run of league clean sheets.

At the other end, only a saving interception from Kilbane stopped Ronaldo from poking home his second, while Kirkland was alert enough to clutch the loose ball before Tevez could double his own tally.

A third goal was forthcoming shortly afterwards, and it was Ronaldo who was on hand to give United added breathing space. Anderson nicked the ball off the toes of Brown, and Pique strode onto the loose ball before releasing Rooney down the left wing.The England striker slid an inch-perfect ball into the box, and Ronaldo was on hand to apply an emphatic finish.

Three should have been four straight away but Ronaldo, released by a brilliant pass from Anderson, blazed over the bar from close range when Tevez was an unmarked option in the centre. Wigan were comfortably beaten, offering little by way of resistance to United’s incisive attacking play, and it was no surprise when a fourth goal came.

Simpson was released on the right, and the young full-back swung a teasing cross onto the head of Rooney, who powered the ball into Kirkland’s top corner and registered his second goal in successive games, following Tuesday’s strike against Roma.

Substitute Nani spurned the chance to add a fifth, just mis-timing his pass to release Ronaldo, while Simpson was denied a first senior goal by Kirkland's legs.

But four was enough for United, particularly after a period in which goals had been at such a premium. They would come, Sir Alex had assured the media before the Latics' short trip across the North-West, and he was spectacularly validated.

The dam was always going to burst, and in the end it was Wigan who were left torn to shreds as the tension of United's goal-shy start to the season - and a frustrating first 45 minutes against the Latics - was finally released.

Team line-ups

Manchester United: Kuszczak; Pique, Ferdinand, Vidic (Anderson, 21), Evra; Ronaldo, Scholes, O’Shea (Simpson, 28), Giggs; Rooney, Tevez (Nani, 80)
Subs not used: Heaton, Eagles.

Wigan Athletic: Kirkland; Melchiot (Hall, 51), Boyce, Bramble, Kilbane; Skoko, Brown, Koumas, Scharner, Olembe Valencia, 66), Bent.
Subs not used: Pollitt, Landzaat, Aghahowa.

Attendance: 75,300.

more Picture !!

UCL [ 2 ] Manchester United 1 - 0 AS Roma

UEFA Champions League Group F Old Trafford, 2 Oct

MANCHESTER UNITED 1
(Rooney 70)

AS ROMA 0

There was no repeat of April's Roman demolition but United did enough to take all three points against an Italian side desperate to avenge last season's embarrassing defeat.

The Reds dominated for large spells but couldn't force the ball in during the first half. In the end, it was Wayne Rooney who broke the deadlock with a predatory strike in the 70th minute to hand Sir Alex yet another European scalp.

The United boss opted for pace down the flanks in his team selection, picking both Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani at the expense of the experienced Ryan Giggs.
Louis Saha was handed his first start since February, while John O'Shea slotted in at right back for the injured Wes Brown. There was no Owen Hargreaves in the squad, although Nemanja Vidic passed a late fitness test to take his spot in the centre of defence alongside Rio Ferdinand.

In goal, Tomasz Kuszczak made his European debut and he had to be alert as early as the 10th minute when Francesco Totti fired a long-range effort straight at the Pole. It did little to trouble Kuszczak but suggested last season's European Golden Boot winner had once again adopted the shoot-on-sight policy we saw here at Old Trafford in April.

Of course, on that occasion, United went 3-0 up before 20 minutes. Tonight, the pace was less frenetic in the opening exchanges, as the new-look Roma back four stood firm against United's two-pronged strikeforce of Rooney and Saha.

Nani unwittingly came close on 17 minutes when he stretched to keep a Rio Ferdinand pass in play and the ball cannoned off his shin and across the six-yard box. Two minutes later, the Portuguese winger earned a free kick when Lancashire-born Simone Perrotta caught him 25 yards from goal. Ronaldo lined up the ball but blasted the set-piece into the Italian wall.

It began a period of real dominance for the Reds, with Nani and Ronaldo again involved moments later. United had a half-hearted penalty appeal for handball turned down after a Nani pass struck a Roma defender on the arm. But there was more concern for the Italians in the next phase of play, as Nani whipped in a curling cross that Ronaldo narrowly directed over the bar from six yards.

The summer signing from Sporting Lisbon went close himself on 27 minutes when an in-swinging cross from the left-wing forced goalkeeper Curci to athletically tip the ball clear. Louis Saha then stung Curci's palms before a Totti free kick kept Kuszczak alert at the other end.

But it was all United and once again it was Nani who fashioned a chance for the Reds. This time he beat De Rossi on the left before curling a ball to the back post where Wayne Rooney volleyed over from close range.

Curci required treatment shortly afterwards when he collided with Saha at a United corner but the Italian stopper recovered sufficiently to continue and ensure Roma went to the break on level terms. He'd certainly been the busier goalkeeper, although Roma manager Luciano Spalletti would have been pleased to go into the dressing room at 0-0.

Sir Alex told ITV during the break he expectedthe Reds to take a few more risks in the second half and Ronaldo fired a low cross into the box early on. But it was Francesco Totti who perhaps should have put the visitors ahead in the 48th minute. Nemanja Vidic slipped in the penalty area, allowing Totti space. With Kuszczak bearing down on the striker, Totti was forced to take the chance early but could only clip the ball over both goalkeeper and crossbar.

It was a lively start to the second period and Nani almost illuminated the match further when his cross-come-shot brushed the top of the Roma crossbar after he'd carved open the Italian defence on the edge of the penalty area.

Wayne Rooney forced a smart save from Curci at his near post on 65 minutes before Cristiano Ronaldo found the net on 69 minutes with a cheeky backheel. To the Reds' dismay, the Portuguese winger was ruled offside and he was denied a second European goal in as many games.

There was no doubting the validity of Wayne Rooney's strike a minute later. The England international latched onto Nani's clever pass to fire a first-time drive across Curci and in off the far post to send United ahead. It was Rooney's first goal of the season and no more than he deserved after a night of tireless running and clever interchange play.

Carlos Tevez almost made it 2-0 when he flashed a shot inches wide from long range before Rio Ferdinand blocked a Ludovic Giuly shot that may well have been heading into the far corner.

But Roma's best chances were still to come, with Max Tonetto miscuing a volley at the back post inthe 82nd minute before substitute Ahmed Esposito blasted wide with the goal at his mercy and just three minutes on the clock. That opportunity arrived with the Reds down to 10 men, after Ronaldo, bloodied and groggy from a Mirko Vucinic elbow, had disappeared down the tunnel a minute earlier to receive four stitches.

Even with a numerical disadvantage, Sir Alex's men hung on for a satisfying three points… even if they didn't arrive in quite the same fashion as April's epic 7-1.

Attendance: 73, 652

United: Kuszczak; O'Shea, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra; Carrick, Scholes, Ronaldo, Nani (Giggs 80); Rooney (Anderson 85), Saha (Tevez 66)
Subs not used: Heaton, Pique, Simpson, Eagles

AS Roma: Curci; Cicinho, Juan, Mexes, Tonetto; De Rossi, Aquilani (Pizarro 61), Giuly (Esposito 80), Perrotta, Mancini (Vucinic 74); Totti

Subs not used: Sergio, Antunes, Barusso, Brighi