MLS All Stars 2-5 Manchester United: Macheda double, Hernandez debut goal

**Manchester United reap big victory in the third game in the series toured the United States. Facing the MLS All Stars, The Red Devils finish with a win 5-2 games.

This convincing victory was as a retaliation for the bad results obtained previously MU. Four days ago, Sir Alex Ferguson's protégé subjugated Kansas City Wizards with a thin score 1-2.

Match at Reliant Stadium, Houston, Thursday (7/29/2010) , the MU show kicked off since the first whistle sounded by the referee. The result is a goal that scored by Federico Macheda in the minutes of prime game.

Italian young striker returned to record his name on the scoreboard. Precisely in the 12th minute, goalkeeper tore Macheda MLS All Stars to change the position to be 2-0.

Two-goal advantage 'Red Devils' is to survive until the break. In the current round of increasingly fierce competition, a total of five goals in 45 minutes created a second, with three of them made Manchester United and two players come from MLS All Stars.

Brian Ching is the time to turn up the MLS All Stars when he was hacking into the goalkeeper Edwin van Der Sar on 62 minutes. But MU directly react with all three goals. This time it came from Darron Gibson great free-kick 69 minutes when the game went.

Tom Cleverley enlarge MU advantage to 4-1 when the match went 72 minutes. Club holder of 18 English league titles it fulfilled a 5-2 victory over Javier Hernandez Balcazar debut in 82 minutes.

One minute before the game completely, United conceded a goal for the second time. Dwayne De Rosario is a break through Van der Sar in goal for the second time to change the position to be 5-2.

This is the third victory from four matches MU had they lived in a series of tours to the United States. The Red Devils' previous win over Celtic (3-1) and Philadelphia Union (1-0) and toppled over Kansas City (1-2).

MU is still going to have two races left to face CD Guadalajara and the League of Ireland XI before returning to England and challenge Chelsea in the Community Shield competition.

Line-Ups:

MLS All Stars: Ricketts; Alston, Olave, Marshall, Pearce, Joseph, Le Toux, Morales, Schelotto, Pappa, Angel

Manchester United: Obertan(Cleverley), Macheda(Welbeck), O'Shea,Giggs(Gibson), Almeida(Hernandez), Fletcher,Pereira (Scholes), Evans, Brown, van der Sar

Defeat MU 2-1 Kansas City Wizards delighted large

**Manchester United's pre-season campaign suffered a setback with a shock 2-1 defeat to 10-man Kansas City Wizards in the United States.
Davy Arnaud opened the scoring for the MLS side after 11 minutes before Dimitar Berbatov equalised from the spot and Jimmy Conrad was sent-off four minutes before the break.

But Kansas City hit back less than two minutes later through Kei Kamara to subject United to an embarrassing defeat.

Paul Scholes forced the first save of the match when his right-footed effort from outside the box was kept out by Jimmy Nielsen.

But it was Kansas City who took a shock lead when captain Arnaud beat the offside trap before coolly slotting home past Ben Amos in the United goal.

And the hosts looked to exploit a shaky Red Devils back four - Rafael, Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Ritchie De Laet - with former Millwall man Ryan Smith and Canadian Teal Bunbury both going close in quick succession.

Nani was making his first start of United's pre-season tour after injuring himself ahead of Portugal World Cup campaign and the tricky winger looked most likely to haul the visitors level, forcing a fingertip save from Nielsen from his glancing header.

But it took the intervention of referee Terry Vaughn to draw United level after Berbatov was brought down in the box by Conrad after a superb through-ball by Ryan Giggs.

Despite the game being designed to be a crucial pre-season test for United, Conrad was inexplicably shown a red card before Berbatov dusted himself off to casually convert the spot-kick.

But the 10-man Wizards were soon back in front when the unmarked Kamara powered home an unstoppable header from a corner to leave Sir Alex Ferguson with plenty of talking to do at half-time.

United, despite the one-man advantage, looked devoid of ideas after the break and their performance was summed up with Mame Biram Diouf scuffing two good opportunities within minutes of each other.

Despite dominating large spells of possession, United failed to really test substitute keeper Eric Kronberg in the second half.

Substitute Danny Welbeck proved a menace down the left flank but twice the 19-year-old forward fired in a low cross without finding a United team-mate.

And, in fact, it was the Wizards who were more likely to score again with Jack Jewsbury and Stephane Auvray both going close from distance as the home side registered a famous result.
George Scott / Eurosport

Source: uk.eurosport.com

Line-Ups:

Kansas City: Nielsen, Thomas, Conrad, Harrington, Smith, Rocastle, Auvray, Arnaud, Espinoza, Kamara, Bunbury

Manchester United: Amos, Rafael, Smalling, J.Evans, De Laet, Nani, Scholes, Gibson, Giggs, Berbatov, Diouf

Obertan ensures USA tour win : Philadelphia Union 0-1 Manchester United

**Manchester United ground out a 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Union at Lincoln Financial Field thanks to a 75th minute strike from Gabriel Obertan.
The MLS's newest team, the Philadelphia Union, welcomed Manchester United and 44,000 fans to the Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.
United started the game with a mixture of youth and experience, but failed to gain control of the match in the first half, and had to wait until the 75th minute for Obertan to break the deadlock.
Paul Scholes pulled the strings for United in the opening ten minutes, repeatedly searching for Obertan on the right wing with a series of stunning diagonal balls.
The Frenchman provided the first threat of the game for Sir Alex Ferguson's side in the eighth minute, after good work from Danny Welbeck.
The young forward picked out Obertan at the far post with a delicate cross, only for the 21-year-old to hammer the ball wide of goal with a thunderous volley.
The initial signs were ominous for a Union side which has lost eight of the first 14 games of its inaugural MLS season.

However, the hard-working hosts fought their way back into the game, with 19-year-old Danny Mwanga a constant menace to United's defensive line.
After a narrow miss from Welbeck at one end on the half-hour mark, the Union almost scored the opening goal just two minutes late, with Mwanga again at the heart of the threat.
The young Union striker played an arching diagonal ball to Sebastien Le Toux in the United penalty area, who laid the ball off for Alejandro Moreno to shoot.
The Venezuelan's shot was well blocked by Jonny Evans, though, and United somehow survived the attack.
With the Union beginning to attack with real purpose, gaps emerged at the back for United's speedy forward line to exploit, and Welbeck very nearly did just that in the 35th minute.
Ryan Giggs and Fabio combined well on the left before the latter picked out Welbeck in space in the centre.
The 19-year-old looked certain to score when he shot low to the keeper's left, but Brad Knighton produced a tremendous save to somehow get a hand to the ball.
United's frustration began to show towards the end of the half, with Scholes receiving a yellow card for a trademark, clumsy challenge, before the Union again came close to breaking the deadlock after Mwanga released Le Toux clean through on goal, only for the Frenchman to drag his shot wide of the far post.
Ferguson bucked the trend of pre-season friendlies by refusing to make a change at half-time, while the Union made seven.
However, despite the massively changed personnel, the Union continued to ask questions of the United defence.
Mwanga again pulled the strings, sending substitute Nick Zimmerman free on the right, only for the American to see his shot flash wide of the post.
United could, and perhaps should, have had a penalty in the 65th minute, after Obertan was clearly obstructed in the area, but the Frenchman finally made the decisive breakthrough just 10 minutes later, clipping Welbeck's delicate through-ball under the body of Brian Perk, the onrushing goalkeeper.
United substitute Dimitar Berbatov almost doubled the lead four minutes later, thundering a fabulous shot-on-the-turn against the crossbar.
United saw one more penalty appeal fall on deaf ears in the 83rd minute, and held on for a hard-earned, but ultimately deserved 1-0 victory.
Eurosport

Source: uk.eurosport.com

Line-Ups:

Philadelphia Union: Knighton; Fiscal, Arrieta, Califf, Harvey; Le Toux, Miglioranzi, Coudet, Fred; Moreno, and Mwanga1

Manchester United: Kuszczak; O'Shea, Evans, Brown, Fabio; Obertan, Scholes, Giggs, Cleverley; Macheda, and Welbeck

Glasgow Celtic 1-3 Manchester United: Berbatov brilliant

**Manchester United kicked-off their tour of North America with a hard fought 3-1 victory over SPL giants Celtic in Toronto, Canada on Friday,16/07/2010.

Dimitar Berbatov proved the difference in a tight first half, controlling Mame Biram Diouf's low cross superbly before clipping the ball past Lukasz Zaluska in the 33rd minute.

The Bulgarian's vision and awareness was a constant nuisance to the Celtic defence and he should have opened his account as soon as the 10th minute, when he met Diouf's high ball into the box with a firm header at the far post.

With Ryan Giggs waiting on the line to see the ball home, Berbatov instead went to power the ball towards the near post, and instead sent his header flying over the crossbar.

Berbatov and Gabriel Obertan proved a constant menace in the final third for United, and both came within inches of scoring on the half-hour mark.

Obertan - who used his electric pace on the right flank to repeatedly skin Celtic left-back Charlie Mulgrew - failed to hit the target when Fabio released him clean through on goal, before Berbatov rifled the ball wide from the edge of the area mere seconds later.

Celtic almost made United pay for their profligacy in the dying minutes of the half, with Mulgrew slamming the ball into the post from an acute angle.

United made a host of changes at half-time, while Celtic brought on a single player - Georgios Samaras - and instantly saw the Greek striker make a game-changing impact.

Samaras had the ball in the back of the net just three minutes after his introduction, but saw the goal rightly chalked off for offside.

He got a second chance in the 60th minute, however, when Manchester United debutant Chris Smalling hauled down Joe Ledley in the box to concede a penalty.

Samaras stepped up and confidently slammed the ball into the top-right corner, giving the Scottish side an unlikely equaliser.

With the Rogers Centre's sticky playing surface and summer heat sapping both sides' strength, the match looked to be heading for penalties until Berbatov again provided the crucial breakthrough in the 78th minute.

The Bulgarian drew Zaluska out to the right of the area, before squaring for substitute Danny Welbeck to tap into Celtic's empty net.

If the goal was harsh on Celtic, who had battled manfully throughout the second half to stay on level terms, then United third was simply cruel.

20-year-old substitute Tom Cleverley played a lovely one-two with Berbatov on the edge of the area, before his shot took a massive deflection to deceive Zaluska and nestle in the bottom corner of his net.

Manchester United travel to the USA tomorrow, before facing MLS new boys the Philadelphia Union on Thursday.

Celtic, meanwhile, face a tough Champions League Qualifying match against Braga, on Tuesday.

Eurosport

Source: uk.eurosport.com

Time Line-up:

Glasgow Celtic: Zaluska; Wilson, Rogne, O'Dea, Mulgrew; Brown, Crosas, Ledley; Forrest, Fortune, and Maloney.

Manchester United:Van der Sar; Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Fabio; Obertan, Scholes, Fletcher, Giggs; Berbatov, and Diouf.

Goal from Fletcher, Giggs and Park beat of Stoke City 4-0 not enough chase Chelsea

MANCHESTER UNITED 4
- Fletcher 31
- Giggs 38
- Higginbotham (og) 54
- Park 84

STOKE CITY 0

**Manchester United’s 4 goal defeat of Stoke City on the final day was not enough as Chelsea, as expected, destroyed Wigan Athletic at Stamford Bridge to take the Premier League title. Their mammoth 8-0 win over the Latics certainly impressed but United fans could at least look back at the half time state of affairs and lament the overly generous officiating that the West London side have been the beneficiaries of this term.

Sir Alex Ferguson went for a 4-4-2 in attempt to spell out the attacking message to the visitors even though there was an impending feeling of doom among the home faithful. But by the time Old Trafford had managed to shake off any collective pre-match anxiety their hopes suffered a blow when news of a Chelsea goal – scored by Nicolas Anelka with Malouda in an offside position – filtered through.

Dimitar Berbatov had retained a starting place despite his hatful of missed efforts last week and in the first quarter of the game was guilty of missing another hat-trick’s worth of chances. First, he was played through by Rooney and saw his effort blocked by Wilkinson – then, headed a couple of Nani crosses over, the second clipping the top of the crossbar. On the half hour United did get their breakthrough when Ryan Giggs’ corner was met by Vidic and the Serb’s header pinballed off too Stoke defenders, and landed at the feet of Darren Fletcher less than a yard out. Fletcher duly converted.

The Potters’ resistance was far greater than their recent capitulation at Stamford Bridge, but United were still playing well – the next 7 minutes summed up the season, when Chelsea were the beneficiaries of some more refereeing help, Frank Lampard converting a penalty that saw Wigan reduced to ten men.

Gary Neville had a cheeky effort comfortably saved before Ryan Giggs’ doubled the relinquishing champions lead. Dimitar Berbatov did well with a strong forward surge after receiving Rooney’s pass, and drilled a cross across goal. Giggs was there arriving from the right to side foot home from 12 yards and seal the result with 8 minutes of the first half still to play. Rooney could have put his name on the scoresheet after another good piece of play by Berbatov but Huth snuffed it out.

With the end result a formality and all eyes on Stamford Bridge, it was no surprise that with the ascendancy handed to them by the officials, Chelsea ran riot and scored 6 more over a despondent Wigan side that had already conceded 9 in one game in their travels. Rather more surprising was the bizarre nature of the Stoke supporters at Old Trafford. They have attained quite a good reputation for their vocal support at the Brittania but seemed intent on ruining all of that deserved goodwill.

United’s second half performance defied the fact that they knew they would be replaced as Champions as they relentlessly attacked the visitors – Nani had a chance from a Rooney pass and Scholes chipped wide, though it was already 3-0 by then – Fletcher’s clever reverse found Rooney and the forward’s trick was brilliant and unselfish, making space to fire across goal and ex-Red Devil Danny Higginbotham was only able to divert it into his own goal via the crossbar.

Edwin van der Sar was called upon to make two spectacular saves; first from Rory Delap and second from Danny Pugh – that little spell served no purpose than to prove Stokes proper commitment to the game where it had been sorely lacking 2 weeks ago. Ji-Sung Park, on for Rooney after he had pulled up with a groin injury, made it 4 and a confirmed bittersweet last day hammering when he headed in Ryan Giggs’ corner.

The recriminations will now begin regarding United’s own shortcomings in the title race. Lacking guile in midfield? Perhaps. Lacking a convincing alternative for Rooney either in shape or personnel? Probably. Found short after a spell where 8 first team defenders were injured in the winter? Most definitely.

Regardless of the circumstances, pushing for a record breaking fourth consecutive title was always going to be a tough ask because it has never been done before. Chelsea, remember, have only just got their fourth ever. That task was made impossible because of the defining intervention of a Liverpool supporting referee, a Liverpool player who didn’t want Manchester United to win, and another poor refereeing decision with the score at 0-0 at Stamford Bridge in the final game. The worst thing is, this didn’t need to happen. Chelsea may well have won at Old Trafford, may well have won at Anfield, and would no doubt have won today.

Squads:

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra Nani, Fletcher, Scholes (Gibson, '62), Giggs, Berbatov (Macheda '62), Rooney (Park, '77).

Stoke City: Begovic, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Higginbotham (Collins' 69), Delap, Whitehead (Diao '67), Whelan, Etherington, Sidibe (Pugh '69), Fuller.

Giggs two penalty and Nani scored to bring the MU tight accompany Chelsea

MANCHESTER UNITED 3
- Giggs (pen) 58
- Nani 81
- Giggs (pen) 86

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1
- King 70

**Two Ryan Giggs penalties and a peach of a goal by Nani put the Premier League title ball firmly back in Chelsea's court as Manchester United went back to the top of the table following a 3-1 victory over Tottenham at Old Trafford.

In a game littered with errors which fell well short of the classic many had predicted, the Red Devils called on all their experience to keep their nerve and win.

The first half had been so bad that the game had all the ingredients of an end-of-season affair with nothing at stake.

Both teams seemed to wake up to the fact that there is a league title to be won and a Champions League place at stake in the second period.

United broke the deadlock in the 58th minute. Former Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov, who had replaced Wayne Rooney - out with a groin strain - produced a mazy run into the Tottenham box.

His clever flick to his left found full-back Patrice Evra and he was tripped as he skipped past Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

Referee Andre Marriner pointed to the spot and although goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes guessed right, Giggs' left-foot penalty carried too much power and accuracy as it flew past him and into the bottom right corner of the net.

Spurs bounced back to equalise in the 70th minute.

Gareth Bale's corner into the centre of the United box saw Tottenham skipper Ledley King rise above Jonny Evans to place his firm header into the bottom left corner of the net from seven yards.

United looked flat but they were reinvigorated with nine minutes to go thanks to the best goal of the game.

Darren Fletcher found Federico Macheda 25 yards out and he slipped the ball forward to Nani, who skipped past King before scoring with a superb right-foot chip over Gomes and into the corner of the net from 12 yards.

Another touch of Nani magic set up United's third goal four minutes later.

The Portuguese winger's superb run into the Spurs box ended when he was brought down by Wilson Palacios.

Mr Marriner again pointed to the spot and Giggs changed his routine when he fired his left-foot shot into the bottom left corner of the net beyond the diving Gomes' despairing dive.

Source : Football.co.uk

Team Line-up:

Manchester United: Edwin Van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra (John O'Shea 67), Rafael da Silva (Federico Macheda 80), Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs, Nani, Antonio Valencia (Michael Carrick 60 ), Dimitar Berbatov.

Tottenham Hotspur: Heurelho Gomes, Ledley King, Michael Dawson, Gareth Bale, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Wilson Palacios, Tom Huddlestone, Luka Modric, David Bentley (Aaron Lennon 66), Jermain Defoe (Eidur Gudjohnsen 55), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Peter Crouch 76).

Joe Cole opener goal, Drogba goal is questionable when seized the throne as the top Premier League.

MANCHESTER UNITED 1
- Macheda 81

CHELSEA 2
- Cole, J 20,
- Drogba 79

**A tight game that was won the better side. United looked tired after their midweek game in Munich – Chelsea were fresher, brighter and created more goalscoring opportunities.

As United's injured talisman looked on from his executive box, Chelsea took the points courtesy of a majestic first-half performance in a potential title decider.

Chelsea dominated possession in the first half, partly because Park was playing so high that Chelsea often had an extra man in midfield. Cole and Malouda also played brilliantly fluid role – Ferguson seemed to instruct the full-backs to mark them tightly, but this often resulted in Evra and (in particular) Neville being drawn into the centre, opening up space on the flank.

Malouda beat off a tackle form Antonio Valencia on the left and as he cut in to the United box, brushed off a second challenge by Darren Fletcher.

His cross found Joe Cole three yards out at the near post and, even with Patrice Evra behind him, his audacious back-flick beat the Frenchman and United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar with the ball going in at the far post.

Didier Drogba had been introduced for Anelka on 69 minutes and 11 minutes later he put Chelsea 2-0 up – but in hugely controversial circumstances. Salomon Kalou came forward and slipped a timely pass beyond the United defence for Drogba to lash home high to the left of Van der Sar. However replays confirmed that the Ivorian was clearly offside when the pass had been played through. This goal is questionable.

Nani flow down the left and slipped a low cross in. Cech goes down and paws it up into the air. The ball hits Macheda on the chest, then is propelled forward by his right arm and bounces into the left-hand side of the net, 2-1 position until the end.

Team Line-Ups :

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Neville, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Scholes (Nani 72), Fletcher (Gibson 86), Valencia Park (Macheda 72), Giggs, Berbatov

Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Terry, Alex, Zhirkov; J. Cole (Kalou 74), Mikel, Lampard, Deco (Ballack 82), Anelka (Drogba 70), Malouda

Ivica Olic scored in the last15 minutes send Bayern Munich to a important victory.

BAYERN MUNICH 2
- Ribery 76,
- Olic 90

MANCHESTER UNITED 1
- Rooney 2

**Ivica Olic hit an injury-time winner to give Bayern Munich the advantage after the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final with Manchester United.

Bayern defensive blunders when Wayne Rooney knocked in a deflected Nani free kick just over a minute into the match. Martin Demichelis, who could not blame bad peripheral vision from his mask, simply got deked out of his shoes by the English star, and Van Bommel’s deflection of the ball made it that much easier for Rooney.

Bayern raised their game after the break, Ribery teeing up Olic, whose over-ambitious attempt to beat Van der Sar at the near-post failed. A free kick from Franck Ribery was significantly deflected by the wall and flew into the left corner of the goal with keeper Van der Sar only able to watch.

United almost restored their lead six minutes later when Nemanja Vidic headed onto the crossbar from a corner kick.

And Bayern could have decided the match in the first minute of added time when Mario Gomez forced Van der Sar to make a great save.

But that winning goal did come in the 92nd minute as Ivica Olic collected the ball in the penalty area, dribbled away from the defenders and found space to blast it past the keeper for 2-1.

Team Line-ups:

Bayern Munich: Hans-Jorg Butt, Daniel van Buyten, Martin Demichelis, Philipp Lahm, Holger Badstuber, Franck Ribery, Hamit Altintop (Miroslav Klose, 86), Mark van Bommel, Danijel Pranjic (Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, 89), Ivica Olic, Thomas Muller (Mario Gomez, 73)

Manchester United: Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville, Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Ji-Sung Park (Dimitar Berbatov, 70), Michael Carrick (Luis Antonio Valencia, 70), Luis Carlos Nani (Ryan Giggs, 82), Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher, Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney and Ji-Sung Park retain Red Devils back at the greatness top Premier League.

MANCHESTER UNITED 2
- Rooney 12,
- Park 60

LIVERPOOL 1
- Torres 5

**Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 win against rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford this afternoon.

Fernando Torres scored the opener with a fine header before Wayne Rooney equalised at the second time of asking after his penalty was saved. Ji-Sung Park scored the winner in the second half with a wonderful diving header.

And if United do go on to claim a fourth straight title and a record-breaking 19th in all, Park will deserve special mention for his telling contributions in key games such as this, when victory was vital.

Wayne Rooney may have been United’s star man this season, taking his goal tally to 33 for the season from the rebound of a saved penalty, but unsung hero Park has played his part.

Team Line-ups:

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Park (Scholes '87), Nani (Giggs '79), Rooney.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas (Benayoun '83), Kuyt (Aquilani '73), Gerrard, Maxi (Babel '76), Torres.

Wayne Rooney scored a star with two goals, Dimitar Berbatov brilliant performance contributed one goal.

MANCHESTER UNITED 3
- Rooney 46,
- Rooney 84,
- Berbatov 89

FULHAM 0

**Manchester United back to the top of the standings after the hand over Fulham 3-0. Wayne Rooney scored a star with two goals, Dimitar Berbatov brilliant performance contributed one goal.

Results at Old Trafford, Sunday (14/3/2010) is brought troops Sir Alex Ferguson to the top of the standings with 66 points, two points ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal.

Match path

In the first round, kept locked host Fulham defense, relying on puncture-puncture of the wing that was driven Antonio Valencia and Nani.

MU present opportunities in minute 19. Dimitar Berbatov scissor kick led to Wayne Rooney. Wazza is in a position to try to welcome her back to goal the ball, his shot is wide.

Three minutes later, Nani mature feedback from the left side of the Fulham defense Berba header welcomed. But the ball is still thin across the top goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Minute 29 MU again have a chance. Although a convoy Brede Hangeland, Rooney opened fire from outside the penalty box, which still tipped by Schwarzer.

Ten minutes before dispersal, Berbatov who had escaped from escort the players back next guest team handed the ball to Rooney. This time the England striker kick that hit the Fulham players and produce a football corner.

Fulham have a chance on seven minutes before the interval. Danny Murphy gastric feedback welcomed Bobby Zamora not well guarded. But still his strike soared above the goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

MU's last chance in the first round there two minutes before the interval. Rooney kick from outside the penalty box is still distorted thin on the right side Fulham goal.

Chelsea broke the deadlock a minute to walk through the second half Wayne Rooney.

Starting from the feedback from left-wing Nani, Rooney struck the ball straight standing in the penalty box and tore Fulham goal.

Chelsea threatened again in minute 52. Kick Nani from the side of the penalty box The Cottagers denied by Schwarzer. The ball got loose, but can be secured from the Australian goalkeeper.

MU pressure has not stopped. 65 minutes, Rio Ferdinand kicking a soccer welcomes thin corner still soar above the Fulham goal.

74 minutes, Fulham threatened by Bobby Zamora who take advantage of lax line behind MU. Zamora kick but could be prevented by Nemanja Vidic.

Four minutes later, Berbatov's turn to threaten the goalkeeper Schwarzer. However, the header continued feedback Park was off the mark. Afterward, Patrice Evra react with a number of pass defender guarding opponent. But the execution is off French defender is still thin side.

Schwarzer thwart Darren Fletcher shot in the 82nd minute.

MU double advantage six minutes ahead of dispersal. Rooney returned to record his name on the scoreboard.

This happened after the goal Berbatov tore Fulham defense of the right wing. Bulgaria's next offering players the ball in the direction Rooney in the penalty box. Wazza and executions that shook off the Roy Hodgson teams.

A minute before the dispersal, the scoreboard changed to 3-0 for the MU. Ji Sung Park brilliant cross was greeted with Berbatov header could not be resisted by Schwarzer.


Teams Lineups :

Manchester United: Van der Sar; Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Neville (Rafael 75 '), Carrick, Fletcher, Nani, Valencia (Park 73'), Rooney, Berbatov

Fulham: Shwarzer; Hangeland (Greening 62 '), Hughes, Shorey, Kelly, Baird, Murphy, Davies (Duff 46), Gera, Dempsey (Nevland 72'), Zamora

Wayne Rooney continued his incredible, Ji Sung Park and Darren Fletcher completed success.

MANCHESTER UNITED 4
- Rooney 13,
- Rooney 46,
- Park 59,
- Fletcher 88

MILAN 0

**Manchester United strolled into the last eight of the Champions League for the fourth successive season with a routine 4-0 victory against AC Milan at Old Trafford that sealed a 7-2 aggregate win.

The first goals for Manchester United re-established themselves and took the lead in the 13th minute. Gary Neville was allowed to advance in the Milan half and sent in an inch-perfect cross for Rooney to outjump Daniele Bonera and head past Christian Abbiati.

Within attacks United have extended their lead, Nani played a superb pass with the outside of his foot to play Rooney in on goal, sprinted down the left and then sent an astute ball towards Rooney, who go to it before Abbiati and rolled under the keeper and into the net from 17 yards.

After half-time after Ji-Sung Park drilled in the third on the hour as United exerted complete control, he to slide the ball past Abbiati into the far corner, the Red Devils went 3-0 up.

In the 88th minute as Rafael put in a good cross, Fletcher has just emphasised the point by heading a Rafael cross in at the back post.

Teams Lineup :

Manchester United: Edwin van der Sar; Gary Neville (Rafael 66), Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra; Nani, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes ( Darron Gibson 73), Park Ji-Sung; Wayne Rooney (Dimitar Berbatov 66), Antonio Valencia

AC Milan: Christian Abbiati; Ignazio Abate (David Beckham 64), Daniele Bonera (Clarence Seedorf 46), Thiago Silva, Marek Jankulovski; Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini, Mathieu Flamini; Ronaldinho; Marco Borriello (Filippo Inzaghi 69), Klaas Jan Huntelaar

Wayne Rooney came off the bench to head Manchester United's winner in the Carling Cup.

ASTON VILLA 1
- Milner (pen) 5

MANCHESTER UNITED 2
- Owen 13,
- Rooney 74

**Manchester United successfully defend Carling Cup title. In the final, Manchester United 2-1 Aston Villa bow after first miss.

MU behind quickly after James Milner makes Villa led directly to the 5th minute of the match in Wembley, Sunday (28.2.2010). Michael Owen returned quickly to equalize even at the end of the first half he had to be pulled out.

Wayne Rooney is in place then a hero Owen MU victory. His beautiful header ensure 'Red Devils' fourth success in the Carling Cup after a champion in 1992, 2006 and 2009.

In the fourth minute penalty after Villa had Nemanja Vidic dropped Gabriel Agbonlahor in the box forbidden. James Milner who became executor of the perfect finish to make Villa winning 1-0 at minute 5.

MU quickly returned. Error from Richard Dunne made Dimitar Berbatov had handed the ball to Michael Owen who then successfully send a round through the skin of Brad Friedel. New action to walk 13 minutes and had two goals are created!

Milner's goal threatened MU three minutes later. Penetration ending with a hard kick from the edge of the penalty box and forced Tomasz Kuszczak saves a stretch goal.

In the 27th minute Emile Heskey's turn to test Kuszczak. He controlled the ball before then fired and forced Kuszczak to the rescue.

Owen seems to have problems. Sure enough, he had to be pulled out three minutes before the interval and replaced by Wayne Rooney.

Chelsea gained a golden opportunity in the first half injury time. Park Ji Sung had fired the ball into the net despite hitting only the pole.

MU immediately slapped in the early second round. Four minutes of the game goes, Michael Carrick fired a shot which Friedel had to rescue neat.

At the 64 minute turn-looking Rafael injury. The result also revealed Gary Neville to replace him in the 66th minute. It's been two changes made the MU while Villa have not at all.

Six minutes later, Villa had a soccer corner and Berbatov's effort to banish the head instead to make the ball fall in front of Ashley Young. He then went on to kick volleyball is still spreading despite the direction of the goal.

MU finally turned 74-minute lead on. Rooney is making the MU lead after welcoming Antonio Valencia cross into the Villa net.

Four minutes later Rooney heads back to "talk". Again, starting from Valencia cross, this time Rooney header hit the goalpost.

Villa's first turnover to occur at minute 80 with John Carew replacing Carlos Cuellar; attacker to defender. Sign that Villa would be more offensive to catch up on the rest of the time.

Villa nearly equalized on 82 minutes. James Collins ball and cross the ball looks a bit about Vidic before sliding to the MU goalkeeper Kuszczak though the ball can still be dismissed.

Teams:

Aston Villa: Friedel, Cuellar (Carrew '80), Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Ashley Young, Milner, Petrov, Downing, Heskey, Agbonlahor.

Manchester United: Kuszczak, Rafael Da Silva (Neville '66), Vidic, J Evans, Evra, Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Park (Gibson '85), Owen (Rooney '42), Berbatov.

Wayne Rooney double, Berbatov and Valencia great

Manchester United 3
- Rooney 38,
- Rooney 55,
- Owen 80

West Ham United 0

**Wayne Rooney took his goal tally to 27 for the season as Manchester United saw off West Ham to move to within a point of Premier League leaders Chelsea.

Dimitar Berbatov was a central figure in his team's stylish build-up play and whilst Valencia also caught the eye with a lively winger's performance, it was United's talisman Rooney who represented the gulf in class between the teams.

United take the lead through Rooney in sensational style. Berbatov lofts the ball to Valencia, who crosses first-time on the volley for the England striker his diving header into the corner of Robert Green's goal.

It would be churlish to exclude Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia from praise given the Bulgarian's excellent crossfield pass and an even better volleyed cross to get behind Spector.

In the 54th minute the host doubled their lead thanks to a second goal for Rooney, Berbatov released Valencia into the West Ham penalty area. Valencia's role cannot be overstated for both goals. It was another of his inviting crosses from which Rooney, has plenty of space and time to head in his 23rd league goal in 27 games.

A double change for United. Berbatov and Rooney are replaced by Michael Owen and Mame Biram Diouf.

That didn't take long, Scholes plays in Owen and he clips the ball past Green and in off the far post. Noble looks to be injured and was lying on the right touchline while that move developed.

It was Owen's eighth of the season, only one short of Berbatov's tally. A long way behind Rooney though. And the gap is going to get wider yet.


It was Owen's first Premier League goal since his dramatic late winner in September's Manchester derby, and yet again Capello was not there to witness it.

Team Lineup :

Manchester United: Foster; Vidic, Brown, Evra, Neville; Scholes, Anderson (Ji-Sung Park 19), Gibson, Valencia; Rooney (Diouf 78), Berbatov (Owen 78)

West Ham United: Green; Upson, Tomkins, Spector, Faubert; Noble, Kovac, Diamanti (Dyer 75), Behrami (Collison 63); Cole, Franco (Mido 46)

Wayne Rooney returned a hero

Milan 2
- Ronaldinho 3,
- Seedorf 85

Manchester United 3
- Scholes 36,
- Rooney 66,
- Rooney 74

**MILAN - Red Devils managed to won in the cage opposite, another step towards Manchester United 2009/2010 Champions League quarterfinals, after wrapping AC Milan 3-2 at San Siro Stadium, Milan, Wednesday (17/2/2010). Wayne Rooney returned a hero.

Appeared before Milanisti, Sir Alex Ferguson forces had lost its way in the beginning of the first round. Imagine, a new game walking three minutes, veteran goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar had conceded.

Ronaldinho is featured as executor, make the most of the fall of the ball results are fed free kick David Beckham from the middle of the field.

Superior 1-0 Rossoneri continued unload making Red Devils defense. Instead, the squad is not less upbringing Fergie burning ambition victory in the first leg today.

At 34 minutes, add the numbers almost Diavoli. Unfortunately, Klaas Jan Huntelaar kick wide to the left crossbar. Over the two-minute, United made a surprise turn. 1-1 equalizer. Receiving feedback from the right-wing Fletcher, Paul Scholes to break down the corner of Dida's goal.

Results Half Time until the break.

United appears be famished in the second half. Evidently, not up to the difference in 10 minutes, two goals in the goal Milan nesting. Starring none other than Red Devils mascot, Wayne Rooney.

Rooney's success in sink ball through a 66-minute header, the feedback Antonio Valencia who was barely a minute went off the bench, replacing Nani. And eight minutes later, 24-year striker scored his second goal this morning. United winning 3-1.

Milan seemed to have surrendered. Approximately 10 minutes after the twin goals Rooney, Clarence Seedorf defense dismantle van der Sar, Ronaldinho kick finish from the left side of goal. Position 3-2 for the visitors victory in the first leg last 16 of the Champions League.

Teams :

MILAN : Nelson de Jesus Dida, Alessandro, Nesta, Daniele Bonera, Thiago Silva, Luca Antonini (Giuseppe Favalli, 37), Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini, David Beckham (Clarence Seedorf, 72), Alexandre Pato, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Filippo Inzaghi, 77), Gaucho Ronaldinho

MANCHESTER UNITED : Edwin van der Sar, Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Da Silva Rafael (Wes Brown, 90), Jonny Evans, J, Ji-Sung Park, Michael Carrick, Luis Carlos Nani (Luis Antonio Valencia, 64), Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher, Wayne Rooney

James Collins own-goal rescued a point for Manchester United

Aston Villa 1
- Cuellar 19

Manchester United 1
- Collins (og) 23

**Ten-man United outplayed Aston Villa for much of Wednesday’s game at Villa Park, but Sir Alex’s men, shorn of Nani’s attacking impetus for 60 minutes after the winger was sent off for a studs-up challenge, struggled to assert their dominance and had to settle for a point.

But the 1-1 draw – achieved courtesy of a James Collins own goal after Carlos Cuellar had put the home side in front – takes the Red Devils to within a point of Chelsea after the Blues lost 2-1 at Goodison Park courtesy of a Louis Saha double.

After that result at Everton, the Reds' draw at Villa may look like an opportunity lost: after all, a win would have sent United top of the league. But to come away from Villa Park with a point having played an hour with 10 men is no mean feat.

On a cold Birmingham night, the boss sent out a strong side to take on an Aston Villa team that had not lost in any competition since 2009. There was still no Nemanja Vidic (injured) or Rio Ferdinand (suspended) at the back, but in Wes Brown and Jonny Evans the manager has a second-choice centre-back pairing that would walk into most other.

In midfield, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes started together for the third time in four games, while Ryan Giggs and Nani provided the width. The Portuguese winger was involved early on and his 25-yard free-kick drew a smart save from Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

United were level four minutes later. Nani, in a valuable moment during his cameo outing, crossed from the right and a shrewd Giggs held his position towards the back post while others clustered in the middle. The Welshman, who ultimately had to be replaced because of a worrying arm injury, was therefore in space for a shot that deflected off the centre-half James Collins for an unlucky own goal.

Referee Peter Walton was near enough to make a judgment and duly despatched Nani to the dressing rooms and out of the Wembley showpiece between these sides on 28 February.

With the balance of play remaining with the visitors, it was hard to escape a conclusion that Villa would have preferred to be playing against 11 men, whose defences were rather less solid.
For all the plaudits that have been heaped on Martin O'Neill's men in recent times, dictating play is still a problem and the hosts were markedly less of a threat once their opponents were a man down.

This result inhibit United to seize the top of the table and had to fight again on the next action in addition to the focus also on the Champions Cup

Teams :

Aston Villa: Friedel; Cuellar, Dunne, Collins, L. Young; Milner, Petrov (Sidwell 65), Delph (Carew 59), Downing, A. Young; Agbonlahor

Manchester United: Van Der Sar; Rafael, Evans, Brown, Evra; Nani, Carrick, Scholes (Valencia 46), Fletcher, Giggs (Berbatov 74); Rooney


Source : www.manutd.com

The Bulgarian scored at good session

Manchester United 5
- Rooney 40,
- Vanden Borre (og) 45,
- Hughes (og) 59,
- Berbatov 62,
- Wilson (og) 69

Portsmouth 0


Wayne Rooney collected the Barclays player of the month award before kick-off, Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League thanks to an emphatic 5-0 victory over crisis club Portsmouth at Old Trafford.

Manchester United started very strongly and Portsmouth invited them to have possession as they sat back allowing the hosts time on the ball. In the 8th minute Portsmouth survived a penalty shout when Wayne Rooney was barged over by Frederic Piquionne, referee Lee Mason didn’t agree with the England strikers appeals and turned down the claims.

In the 10th minute Dimitar Berbatov had a great chance to open the scoring, a low cross from Rooney found the Bulgarian but he fired his shot wide of David James’ goal.

United did not have to wait long before going ahead and inevitably it was Rooney who scored.

A hat-trick of Portsmouth own goals was confirmed on 69 minutes in comical fashion as Patrice Evra burst down the left to deliver a dangerous cross that Marc Wilson volleyed perfectly into the top corner of his own net. It just about summed up the bottom club's afternoon and also means that own goals are now United's second highest scorer in the league this season.

United maintained the momentum and made it 4-0 on the hour with Berbatov regaining possession and sending a low shot into the corner after Portsmouth failed to close him down.

After additional wilson own goal the result lifts United to the top of the Premier League before Chelsea face Arsenal tomorrow, they now have a better goal difference than the Blues too, while Portsmouth fall further adrift at the bottom.

Teams Lineup :

Manchester United : Van der Sar, Neville, Brown, Jonathan Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Fletcher, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney

Portsmouth: James, Vanden Børre, Rocha, Wilson, Ben-Haim, Webber, Hughes, Mullins, O'Hara, Belhadj, Piquionne

Terrific Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium

Arsenal 1
- Vermaelen 80

Manchester United 3
- Almunia (og) 33,
- Rooney 37,
- Park 52

United now stand only one point behind Chelsea having played a game more, but the manner of this victory will send out the message that no-one will find it easy to wrest the title away from Ferguson's side

Nani opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when his chip across goal was palmed in by Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, before in-form England striker Wayne Rooney swept home a second following a quick counter attack.

Followed by yet another goal from Wayne Rooney - his 100th Premier League goal - saw United go in 2-0 at the break. Ji-Sung Park added a third early in the second half to complete United's dominance before and after halftime. Arsenal pulled a goal back late on a deflected volley from Thomas Vermaelen in the 80th minute, but could get no closer as they saw Theo Walcott and William Gallas miss headers in the last 10 minutes.

The Portuguese winger was instrumental in the second goal as well in the 37th minute. After clearing a corner, United countered through Rooney and Nani. The English striker found Nani on the right, who sped forward and squared back to Rooney in the area. Rooney finished brilliantly past Almunia, and United had done their damage. Nani nearly scored himself in the 41st, but side-footed his effort wide, missing the goal his first half deserved

Again Nani was the provider, dashing clear after picking the ball up from Rooney before squaring it for the England striker to sweep home his 22nd goal of the season, low into the corner.

Ji-Sung Park graphically illustrated the gulf between Arsenal and United just after half-time when he took advantage of a path lack of resistance to run unchallenged from inside his own.

This time is was Park who broke clear, The winger skipped easily in between two defenders then chipping the ball back across goal. Almunia pushed it inside his far post, with Park Ji-Sung ready to tap the ball into the net sprinting onto Fletcher's chip into the Arsenal half and then slotting past Almunia from just inside the box. Theo Walcott came on as substitute - and Arsenal pulled a goal back with 11 minutes to go when Vermaelen's volley took a deflection off Jonny Evans to wrong-foot van der Sar.

Teams :

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna (Bendtner 72), Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas, Song Billong, Denilson (Walcott 61), Nasri, Arshavin, Rosicky (Eboue 72).

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Jonathan Evans, Brown, Evra, Scholes (Giggs 71), Carrick, Fletcher, Nani (Berbatov 89), Rooney, Park (Valencia 87).

Rooney Scores Injury Time drama

Manchester United 3
- Scholes 52,
- Carrick 71,
- Rooney 90

Manchester City 1
- Tevez 76

Wembley again for United, in the most dramatic of circumstances. And it was fitting the one player United would not sell at any price had the final, dramatic say at the end of another exhausting, exhilerating and epic duel between Manchester's rival tribes. Manchester United extended their Premiership lead to nine points with a win over neighbours Manchester City

City may now have untold riches, but no amount of money in the world could prise Wayne Rooney away from United, and the inspirational striker unerlined his status as their prized asset with the late, late winner.

The game came to life immediately after the restart, Micah Richards forcing a fingertip save from van der Sar, while Tevez was cautioned for diving in on Rafael, the yellow card bringing out the loudest cheer of the night from United fans.

The chance had been laid on by Bellamy, who ought to be a candidate for the footballer of the year award. His side was also vigorous and, before the interval, neither team had been in command for long. Mancini has had an early impact at the club by instilling a touch of rigour into the defence. This has occurred despite the current need to put a youngster such as Dedryck Boyata at the core of the back four while Joleon Lescott recovers from surgery.

Fears of crowd trouble were realised in the 50th minute when Craig Bellamy was felled by a coin thrown from the crowd as he prepared to take a corner, but thankfully the City striker was able to continue, despite being hit on the back of the head

After Carlos Tevez had threatened to take the semi-final into extra-time when he quite brilliantly turned home Craig Bellamy's cross 14 minutes from time, up popped Rooney, who nodded home Ryan Giggs' cross to secure a Carling Cup final meeting with Aston Villa on February 28.

We played very well. We were only under pressure for 10 minutes and in those 10 minutes we were very unlucky, but the rest of the game we played very well and I feel very sorry for the players and the fans. I only give compliments to my players, we can go on and win the FA Cup now," Macini said

Ferguson will have appreciated that his men, for all the endeavour, had not been at their sharpest. A great deal rested with Rooney, who has been in prime form, to wreak havoc. By playing in a supporting role he contributed to a goal in the 52nd minute. Rooney picked out Ryan Giggs on the right and after a challenge by Nani the ball was laid back to Scholes by Michael Carrick

Teams Lineup:

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Fletcher, Scholes, Carrick, Nani, Rooney, Giggs. Subs: Kuszczak, Brown, Owen, Berbatov, Park, Vidic, Valencia.

Man City: Given, Richards, Kompany, Boyata, Garrido, De Jong, Barry, Zabaleta, Wright-Phillips, Tevez, Bellamy. Subs: Taylor, Onuoha, Ireland, Sylvinho, Petrov, Adebayor, Ibrahim.

Wayne Rooney went goal-crazy with 4 goals

Manchester United 4
- Rooney 8,
- Rooney 82,
- Rooney 86,
- Rooney 90

Hull City 0
Wayne Rooney went goal-crazy with 4 goals against the poor Hull City team. In fact, Rooney scored a hat-trick in space of 10 minutes, right before the end of the second half. Rooney scored his goals on 8th, 82nd, 86th and 90th minutes, as United are currently on top of the English Premier League, before Arsenal and Chelsea play in their fixtures.

After opening the scoring just seven minutes into a one-sided contest against Hull, Rooney had to wait until a similar point before the end to get his second.

A third, and his fourth United hat-trick, followed shortly afterwards from a cross by the excellent Nani before Rooney completed his own personal massacre of Phil Brown's men with a solo effort in stoppage time.

Ferguson paid lip service to the way Hull had been "difficult to break down", but the reality was that the margin would have been even wider had Michael Owen, given a rare start, approached the effectiveness he needs to recover if he is to challenge for that World Cup place. As some of us seem to have been saying all season, the Owen of old would have filled his boots here.

The easy part done, local attention turns to the resumption of hostilities between the Mancunian neighbours in Wednesday's decisive second leg of their combustible Carling Cup semi-final. Rooney is up for it; City beware.

Teams

Manchester United: Edwin Van der Sar, Jonny Evans, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra (Fabio da Silva 88), Rafael da Silva, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes (Darron Gibson 72), Park Ji-Sung, Nani, Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen (Dimitar Berbatov 72).

Hull City: Boaz Myhill, Anthony Gardner, Kamil Zayatte, Andy Dawson, Paul McShane, Marcio Geovanni (Kevin Kilbane 74), Nick Barmby (Bernard Mendy 58), George Boateng, Stephen Hunt, Richard Garcia (Kamel Ghilas 70), Craig Fagan .

Manchester United 3-0 Burnley : The Bulgarian was well action

Manchester United 3
- Berbatov 64,
- Rooney 69,
- Diouf 90

Burnley 0
After seeming to doze through the first period, Berbatov awoke to score one goal brilliantly and conjure another for Wayne Rooney as United reignited their title challenge on a strange sort of afternoon which had earlier seen Burnley spurn two glaring chances.

Manchester United started the second half pushing for an opening goal, Rooney had a chance after Evra slipped the ball to the Englishman after driving into the box from the left. Rooney had to take the shot on first time and was leaning back, so his shot skewed over the bar from 12 yards.

The England man might have had another shortly afterwards too when he latched onto Nani's cross but he could only turn his shot wide of the far post.

Then Rooney collected the rebound after Berbatov had been denied by the Burnley keeper and, after taking a while to steady himself, eventually drilled home.

It was Rooney's last involvement before both he and Berbatov were replaced by Michael Owen and Mame Biram Diouf.

Diouf nodded Valencia's cross past the onrushing Jensen to complete the scoring although by then, minds were even turning away from the debt and towards Manchester City and that blockbuster Carling Cup semi-final.

Teams:

Manchester United: Edwin Van der Sar, Jonny Evans, Wes Brown, Patrice Evra, Gary Neville, Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes, Nani, Antonio Valencia, Wayne Rooney (Mame Biram Diouf 73), Dimitar Berbatov (Michael Owen 73).

Burnley: Brian Jensen, David Edgar, Michael Duff, Stephen Jordan, Tyrone Mears, Kevin McDonald (Joey Karl Gudjonsson 73), Graham Alexander, Wade Elliott, Chris Eagles (Robbie Blake 83), David Nugent, Steven Fletcher (Steve Thompson 36).