Skip to main content

Chicharito "The Superman" for Manchester United


Via Bleacher Report

Manchester United survived the shock of conceding two early goals to move a step closer to the Champions League knockout phase with victory over SC Braga. 

The Portuguese side's veteran Brazilian striker Alan punished carelessness from United's reshuffled defence - without the rested Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra - with two clinical finishes to stun Old Trafford.
It was the sort of slow start that has threatened to undermine United this season, but Mexican Javier Hernandez took advantage of the opportunity to make his mark by leading the fightback.

Hernandez scored with a far post header to put United back in the game before half-time and, after Jonny Evans scrambled an equaliser, he was on the mark again as he rose to beat Braga keeper Beto for the winner with 15 minutes left. 

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson wanted a third successive victory in the group stage to move his side closer to the target of 10 points he believes will ensure a safe passage into the last 16. 

And while he will be delighted by the verve and finishing shown by 24-year-old Hernandez as he demonstrated his determination not to be overshadowed by Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck, Ferguson will once again have concerns about how easily United are conceding goals. 

For all those faults, however, United's character can never be doubted and they deserve great credit for the manner in which they recovered from such a dreadful start. 

Ferguson has already noted with indignation how often his side have fallen behind this season - and here was no exception as the opposition scored first for the eighth time in 12 games. 

The game was only 90 seconds old when former Newcastle midfielder Hugo Viana crossed from the left for Alan to head low past home keeper David de Gea in front of the Stretford End. 

United were sleepwalking their way through the early stages and paid for it again as the visitors doubled their lead after 20 minutes. 

Michael Carrick, never a comfortable fit in central defence, was embarrassed as Eder showed great technique to cross for Alan to apply another clinical finish inside De Gea's near post. 

Ferguson looked nonplussed but he was at least cheered by a swift response as Hernandez pulled a goal back with a header at the far post from Shinji Kagawa's cross. 

The same pair were in action again as United were unfortunate to have a goal ruled out for offside. The flag went up as the Japanese midfield player crossed for Hernandez to score but replays confirmed the goal should have stood. 

Kagawa was not seen after half-time as Ferguson gave the hosts extra width and pace with the introduction of Nani. It provided the impetus required as they drew level just after the hour. 

Van Persie's corner created confusion in the Braga box and, after one unsuccessful attempt to make contact, Evans stabbed the ball over the line beyond Beto. 

As United applied concerted pressure, Beto then did well to save from Nani after he was released on the edge of the area by Hernandez's fine pass. 

Hernandez had been a constant threat and he was rewarded with his second goal after 75 minutes as United completed the turnaround. 

He showed his trademark clever movement in the area but credit must also be given to a magnificent cross from Tom Cleverley that allowed him to rise and head past the exposed Beto.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

These are Said to Be the Best Goalkeepers in the World, Ranking from 1-25

25. Stephane Ruffier, Saint-Etienne Had Stephane Ruffier not sustained a groin injury in 2011, Monaco might never have been relegated to Ligue 2. But he did, and they were, and that summer the then-24-year-old goalkeeper joined Saint-Etienne, rebuffing Manchester City in the progress. This season he played all 38 Ligue 1 matches for Les Verts for a second season in succession, conceding just 32 goals as his side finished a surprising fifth in the standings and qualified for the Europa League. 24. Pepe Reina, Liverpool Only Joe Hart kept more Premier League clean sheets than Pepe Reina in 2012-13. In a season that saw Liverpool finish a disappointing seventh in the English top-flight, the 30-year-old managed to keep things respectable from a defensive standpoint, conceding only 34 goals and stopping 88 per cent of the shots he faced. To finish the season he conceded just a single goal in his last four matches. 23. Mariano Andujar, Catania Only Parma managed ...

Read What Shakira Says. Via Yahoo!

Looking at  Shakira  and her fabulous figure you might be surprised to learn it was only three months ago that she gave birth to son Milan. But the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer reveals that dropping the pounds was no cake walk. While promoting “The Voice” in Pasadena, California, on Monday, the blond bombshell revealed, "[Losing baby weight] is the only thing that’s been a little stressful … I knew I had to come back here to do ‘The Voice’ two months after I had delivered a baby. I didn’t have my four months of maternity like every woman on Earth has. I’m not trying to complain, but it’s been a process full of challenges.” Photo source: omg INSIDER & Yahoo The 36-year-old mama added that the pressure to shed the baby weight at record speed is something that she feels the previous generations didn't face. She said, “I think that our mothers and grandmothers weren’t under the pressure women of today are after delivering a baby. My dad says there’s nothing better than meat...

"Respect Robin Van Persie." Says Arsene Wenger

Via HITC Sport Arsene Wenger has called on Arsenal fans to respect Robin van Persie tomorrow when they take on Manchester United. When Arsenal take on Manchester United tomorrow there will inevitably be huge focus on former Gunners captain Robin van Persie. The striker spent almost a decade at Arsenal before leaving this summer, after a drawn out saga over his future which took until August to resolve. Arsenal fans are left feeling hugely embittered towards their former hero, and the thought of seeing him in a United shirt will stir emotions of anger and sickness. Manager Arsene Wenger has urged supporters to respect the striker, who has scored 11 times in 15 games for his new side. He said: "I hope a respectful [reception] because he played for us for eight years, he's done well, very well for us, and you want him to be respected." That may be true, he did do well for Arsenal, very well in fact last season, but that only ma...