United at Sunderland
Rooney fired a shot across the Sunderland goal within 16 seconds of kick-off when he curled a right-foot effort just wide, but as the game unfolded, it seemed only a matter of time before his side took the lead. They would have done just that with 17 minutes gone had Danny Collins not hacked Vidic's towering header off the line and then looked on as the Serbia international sent an overhead kick just wide with United laying siege. Ferguson's men did not have to wait much longer to edge their way in front when Rooney cut inside on to his right foot to deliver the perfect cross for the unmarked Scholes to glance a deft header past the stranded Craig Gordon and into the top corner.
Then Park Ji-Sung smashed a shot across Gordon in first-half injury-time after United broke swiftly, but the visitors returned to the dressing room knowing the game was still very much alive. United re-emerged looking as if they meant business with Rooney seemingly intent on securing the points single-handedly. In the space of four minutes, he forced Davenport to cut out a cross and concede a corner, and also drilled a 25-yard effort inches wide.
Scholes smashed a volley wide and Carlos Tevez curled a free-kick over, and it took a fine block by Bardsley to keep out the Argentinean's 63rd-minute effort. Cristiano Ronaldo eventually joined the fray as a 69th-minute replacement for Park.
But it was Macheda's arrival as a 75th-minute replacement that once more changed the game. The youngster had been on the pitch for just seconds when he steered Carrick's shot past the helpless Gordon to further enhance his blossoming reputation. He was in the right place at the right time to deflect home Michael Carrick's shot as it sped through a crowded penalty area and clinch three precious points.
Sir Alex Ferguson's troops will now regroup ahead of their testing Champions League quarter-final, second-leg trip to Porto on Wednesday evening knowing they remain a point clear of Liverpool with a game in hand in the race for the Premier League title.
Then Park Ji-Sung smashed a shot across Gordon in first-half injury-time after United broke swiftly, but the visitors returned to the dressing room knowing the game was still very much alive. United re-emerged looking as if they meant business with Rooney seemingly intent on securing the points single-handedly. In the space of four minutes, he forced Davenport to cut out a cross and concede a corner, and also drilled a 25-yard effort inches wide.
Scholes smashed a volley wide and Carlos Tevez curled a free-kick over, and it took a fine block by Bardsley to keep out the Argentinean's 63rd-minute effort. Cristiano Ronaldo eventually joined the fray as a 69th-minute replacement for Park.
But it was Macheda's arrival as a 75th-minute replacement that once more changed the game. The youngster had been on the pitch for just seconds when he steered Carrick's shot past the helpless Gordon to further enhance his blossoming reputation. He was in the right place at the right time to deflect home Michael Carrick's shot as it sped through a crowded penalty area and clinch three precious points.
Sir Alex Ferguson's troops will now regroup ahead of their testing Champions League quarter-final, second-leg trip to Porto on Wednesday evening knowing they remain a point clear of Liverpool with a game in hand in the race for the Premier League title.
posted by Swanson Red at 3:55 pm
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