Ash Young strikes late (via a deflection) to lead United to a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion…
Match Report – West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Manchester United
Competition: Barclays Premier League
Kick-Off & Date: 4pm, Sunday, 14th August 2011
Venue: The Hawthorns, West Bromwich (Away)
Attendance: 25,360
Manchester United got their Premier League title defence off to a winning start, thanks to a late winner from Ashley Young against West Bromwich Albion, at The Hawthorns. With Premier League debuts handed to three Reds, the starting XI was young and inexperienced. That didn’t stop Wayne Rooney putting the away side ahead, but not so long after Shane Long – on his own debut – equalised. But The Devils had the last laugh through ‘The Youngster’…
Sir Alex Ferguson started with many fringe players, as the average age of just 24 showed. David De Gea was entrusted with the gloves once again, while old heads Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand controlled the defence, along with Chris Smalling and Fabio Da Silva. Ash Young and Luis Nani were wide as will become custom this term, with Tom Cleverley and Oliveira Anderson playing in the centre behind Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck.
Both sides’ opening domestic league fixture got off to a quick start, but the away club were enjoying most of the possesion and many early opportunities. Paul Scharner then tested De Gea for West Bromwich Albion, before – 13 minutes in – The Red Devils broke free and scored the first goal of the game in the midlands. Rooney back-flicked to Young, who repaid Wayne with a juicy pass on the edge of the box. Wazza turned and beat Ben Foster on his left…
Wayne Rooney strikes a 13th minute opener to put The Champions 1-0 up
United took a deserved lead through a nice piece of play that originated with Fabio. Sir Alex’s men could have found themselves further ahead if Rooney and then Nani found the target, while the Portuguese winger – fresh from his heroics against Manchester City at Wembley last Sunday – should have beaten Foster from a corner rebound, but instead fired over the bar. Welbeck was working well up front, but The Reds couldn’t stretch their lead.
Either side sported black armbands in respect to those who died during mindless rioting in England over the past week, while a ‘Get Well Soon’ message was worn by West Brom for unwell kitman of 50 years, Dave Matthews. Shane Long – making his debut for Albion – created a chance for Scharner, whose effort was foiled by De Gea. The home side were finding their way back into the game, and a goal was on everyone’s lips around The Hawthorns.
Long escaped the challenge of Smalling and Cleverley in United’s box, catching De Gea unaware at his left post, and struck past the Spaniard to get his WBA career off to a flyer. The 24-year-old Irish striker was snapped-up by Roy Hodgson for a bargain £6.5 Million from Championship outfit Reading, where he has had previous experience in the top flight during their promotion in 2006. However, there was some amount of luck in Long’s first goal for the club.
New boy Shane Long finds an equaliser for WBA in the 37th minute of the game
De Gea, who received undue criticism from footie pundits last weekend, watched Chris Brunt volley over the bar before he punched Somen Tchoyi’s cross away. The match died-down a little heading towards half-time, but there was no doubt that West Brom went down the tunnels the happier. Early in the second period, captain Vida was forced off through a knock, with Jonny Evans replacing the Serbian powerhouse. Bad news on the injury front !
Shortly afterwards, the lively Welbeck was hauled-off in place of Dimitar Berbatov. Rooney headed poorly wide from a Nani free, before Phil Jones came on to cope with another loss through injury – this time Rio limped off. In the latter stages of the tie, neither side threatened too much, but United remained on top. 1-1 quickly changed to 2-1 in the visitors’ favour though, thanks to some wing wizardry from summer signing: Former Aston Villa flanker Ashley Young.
With 9 minutes remaining on the clock, Berbatov passed to Young on the left, who skipped past Chris Brunt and his shot/cross/pass took two deflections; firstly off Gabriel Tamas and decisively Steven Reid to take the ball past former Red stopper Ben Foster and into the back of the net. De Gea was roughed up, but thwarted any late West Brom danger. United’s first League game finished in a victory, with a traditionally late winner (arguably an own-goal)…
We’re back in business.
Ashley Young creates a late winner for United in the 81st minute !
United Team: David De Gea, Chris Smalling, Nemanja Vidic (Jonny Evans ’52), Fabio Da Silva, Rio Ferdinand (Phil Jones ’76), Oliveira Anderson, Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young, Luis Nani, Danny Welbeck (Dimitar Berbatov ’65), Wayne Rooney.
Goals: Rooney ’13, Steven Reid (Own-Goal) ’81
Bookings: Young ’56, Anderson ’78