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Article by Mark
Graham, Stats Nerd
United 5 - 1 Fulham, Old Trafford, 13.30pm Sunday 20th
August 2006
Goals: United - Saha (7), O.G. Pearce (15), Rooney
(16), (64), Ronaldo (19). Fulham - Ferdinand O.G. (40).
Attendance: 75,115
Match Review
If this was a heavyweight boxing match United would
have won by K.O. in the first. The Reds were exceptional in
front of goal and had far too much movement and pace for
Fulham in front of a new Premiership record attendance of
75,115. Within 20 minutes United were 4-0 up and were
readying themselves for a cricket score. Not for a long time
has the team looked so devastating on the opening day - 40
years to the day in fact. United's previous best opening
score was on the 20th August 1966 when West Bromwich Albion
were licking their wounds after a brace from Denis Law
coupled with strikes from Best, Herd and Stiles, which gave
United a half time lead of five goals (the game ended 5-3!).
It took just seven minutes before
United had broken the deadlock through former Fulham striker
Louis Saha. Rooney hit a ball to Saha, who in turn flicked
it Giggs for the Welshman to hit a peach of a cross
in-between two Fulham players allowing the French striker to
claim his his third goal against his old employers.
Then came the goal avalanche as
United scored three times in five minutes. Ryan Giggs and
the White Pele combined to find Ronaldo in space on the left
and from the little winker's low hard cross veteran warhorse
Ian Pearce steered the ball into his own net . The third
came after Saha's volley was saved by Fulham stopper Antti
Niemi who could only push the strike into the path of Wayne
Rooney who easily side footed home for 3-0.
With Fulham dazed and confused by the
box of fireworks that had been let off in their half they
were once again beaten by the electric pace and movement of
Saha, Ronaldo, Giggs and Rooney. It was the scouser who
provided an assist for his best mate Ronaldo, who gratefully
volleyed an effort past Niemi for 4-0 up in less than 20
mins.
United could so easily have added
more when Ryan Giggs's corner was scooped off the line by a
thankful Liam Rosenior. Fulham then had the woodwork to
thank for keeping the score down as The Ginger Ninja saw his
textbook effort strike the post. Fulham, battered and
bruised, played on to their credit but nothing much troubled
EVDS until a freak effort found the net. After collecting a
ball from Bullard, Helguson's long-range strike hit Rio
Ferdinand and looped over the stranded EVDS into the net.
Fulham had pulled one back with five to go before half time.
Chris Coleman had the task of rallying the troops in a war
that was already lost.
The second half started with EIH
replacing the injured Gary Neville. Meanwhile Fulham's
Michael Brown was lucky not to see red as a two footed lunge
on Ryan Giggs grounded the winger in agony. With only
revenge in mind Giggs, usually as quiet as a church mouse,
"chopped" Brown down and was booked immediately. It was then
left to Rooney to wrap up the day's scoring for 5-1.
United Starting Line-up
Rant Ratings in parenthesis
van der Sar (6); Neville (7), Ferdinand (6), Brown (7), Evra (9);
Ronaldo (9), O'Shea (8), Scholes (8), Giggs (7); Saha (7), Rooney (9)
Subs: Silvestre (6) for Neville (45 mins), Park (6) for Giggs (60 mins),
Solskjaer (5) for Saha (61 mins).
Subs not used: Kusczak, Fletcher.
United's Man of the Match
Rooney and Ronaldo were too much for Fulham to handle by an
enormous margin, but to give credit where credit is due,
Patrice Evra was simply brilliant at left back for United.
His tackling was sublime and his overlapping runs and general
play was his best in a United shirt. Well done Mr. Evra.
Rant's Reaction
Far far too early to pass judgement but this was an awesome
performance. United's, pace, power and movement killed
Fulham and on this evidence will cause teams bother. Your
reporter loved RVN, as we all did, but on this evidence
United won't miss him this season. Oh yes, and where does
Carrick fit into all this?!
Was Rant's Prediction Right?
No we said 2-0!
Milestones
Louis
Saha's 16th Premiership goal of his United career and 24th
overall for the club
Cristiano
Ronaldo's 19th Premiership goal of his United career and
28th goal for the club
Wayne
Rooney's 28th and 29th Premiership goals of his United
career - his 37th and 38th goals overall
Miscellaneous Info
United's next match is on Wednesday 23rd August 2006 against
Charlton Athletic in the Premiership at The Valley with a
20.00 kick off.
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