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Article by Mark
Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official Reporter &
@ MUFCINFO.COM
The latest crop of young Red Devils with a strong Samba flavor
impressed all who watched on Tuesday night as United broke this
seasons hoodoo spell of only playing well for twenty minutes out of
the ninety. United also found the net three times as Ronaldo,
Ryan Giggs & Nani all scored on the night with Middlesbrough scoring
against the run of play to equalize.
SAF opted to choose experience mixed with youth as Brown, Vidic,
Giggs, O'Shea & Ronaldo were all name as starters with Amos, Possebon
& Danny Welbeck given debuts & the ultra impressive Rafael Da Silva
making his second appearance. And with Nani & Anderson only one
year older than the youngsters but the more experienced added to the
team, United's latest crop of future talent look impressive on this
showing.
Nani who tormented the visitors all night with pace & several shots
kept Boro keeper Brad Jones busy as did Nani's team mates as United
pinned back Boro in the early going.
Cristiano Ronaldo returning from injury & rapidly approaching full
match fitness made United's bustling possession count as he headed in
a corner for his 93rd goal of his career after United had gave Boro
several signs in the build up.
Young Keeper Ben Amos had little to do on an easy debut as Afonso
Alves was a minor pest after feeding on what little threatening
possession Middlesbrough could muster, With Danny Welbeck looking
assured & a constant menace to the Boro defence, United always looked
to increase their well deserved lead but a series of sparkling saves
gave Brad Jones confidence & kept the score still within the realms of
a potential victory for the visiting Teesiders.
As has been the tale this season so far, United fail to kill teams of
after a bright start & the "here we go again" alarm bells started to
ring as against the run of play, Boro equalized through Substitute
Johnson after very little danger resulted in Nemanja Vidic clearing a
Downing cross with his head, the Serbian's clearance fell to Johnson
and he volleyed his shot into the net beating Amos for 1-1.
With the scores level but United playing some of the best football in
quite a while, the game turned sour on 66 minutes as a revolting
challenge on Possebon from
Emanuel Pogatetz saw the Braziliant
Brazilian youngster crumple to the ground screaming in agony & it must
be said extremely lucky the Rodrigo's leg did not suffer a compound
fracture similar to Arsenal's Eduardo from last season.
SAF said of the appalling tackle "It was an absolutely terrible
tackle," "What gets me about challenges like that is that the opponent
always claims he has done nothing wrong." "Pogatetz should have just
walked off the field,"
"Then you get
their bench screaming that it wasn't a sending off and there is
nothing wrong with our player. "At least Middlesbrough manager Gareth
Southgate was very good about it. He apologized and understood the
gravity
With the
inevitable departure of Dirty
Pogatetz
and the game delayed as Possebon received treatment for a nasty gash
which the TV cameras we kind enough to show,
United capitalized shortly after when Chris Riggott miss controlled
Possebon's replacement Darron Gibson's long attempted pass, Ryan Giggs
capitalizing on the error raced toward goal & dinked Jones with a
beautiful finish to give United a truly deserved lead.
United then booked
themselves into the next round of the competition with the "job well
done" goal as Nani converted with seconds left capping of a fine
display from the young Portuguese winger & the rest of his team mates.
HAVE YOU'RE SAY BELOW
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