MUFCNZSC vs Takapuna

A wonderful turnout of some highly talented players on Sunday couldn't save the Man United NZ team getting another footballing lesson from the Old Farts.

Amazing that a team consisting of Gareth, Steve T, Wes, KJ, Phil, Mike T plus Wes's brother Greg, his mate Rob and the youthfulness of Karl and Hayden and the others could not grab a goal !

Young Hayden was on fire again, Steve T was his usual irrepressible self and Greg was as good as when he last played 5-6 years ago for us, but with all that talent we couldn't stick one in the onion bag. Anyway we have a bit of video to watch and maybe we can highlight some stuff and heres hoping we get a similar turnout next week, BUT a different result!

Thanks to Steve T, Mike, Ian, Gareth, Karl, Nick, Greg, Rob, old Mike, Phil, Hayden, KJ, young Hayden, Wes, Grant, Jan for playing and especially Nick for helping out the Farts and our wonderful supporters in Mel, Jay, Anamaya, Kobe, Carrie and Roy

Manchester United vs Hangzhou G

United saved their best performance until the last leg of the Asia Tour, winning an entertaining game 8-2 against Hangzhou Greentown in China.

Ryan Giggs grabbed a second-half hat-trick and was joined on the scoresheet by Michael Owen (2), Nani, Zoran Tosic and arguably the man of the match, Dimitar Berbatov.

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Takapuna Sunday

Man Utd NZ play Takapuna this Sunday.

ONE pm kick-off !

ALL WELCOME

Seoul v Man Utd

United made it three wins out of three in the toughest test of the Asia Tour so far, beating FC Seoul 3-2 with goals from Wayne Rooney, Federico Macheda and Dimitar Berbatov, while Ji-sung Park was warmly received on his homecoming.

The 64,000 capacity Korean crowd had been baying for an appearance from their hero since he first emerged for the warm-up, but they would have to wait for a fifteen-minute cameo late on as the midfielder was named on a ten-man bench.

Another United player looking to make his mark was Federico Macheda, handed his second consecutive start on this Asia Tour, which suggests the 17-year-old may feature prominently this season. Indeed, pre-match, Sir Alex described him as a “hero in the making”. And Macheda was the creator of United’s first real opening. Charging down the left channel, he cut inside and squared his pass to Ryan Giggs, but the Welshman miscalculated his volley and swung an air-shot with his right boot.

Any time the stadium’s big screens showed Park sat studiously on the bench, the Seoul crowd leapt up in rapturous applause as if they’d just witnessed a goal.

Rooney had shown some nice touches in any forays forward and he was perfectly placed to head home John O’Shea’s curling cross for Uniteds first.

There were two changes at the break, with Edwin van der Sar replacing Kuszczak and Darron Gibson coming on for Darren Fletcher. There was more purpose about United’s play, Rooney’s lofted pass found the run of Macheda and the Italian teenager let his natural instincts take over. He rounded the keeper before his elevated finish beat the last defender. It was Macheda’s last touch - he was replaced by Michael Owen on 61 minutes, as part of four substitutions, which saw Rooney, Giggs and Anderson all exit to be replaced by Dimitar Berbatov, Paul Scholes and Nani.

Gibson, did really well on the right flank to cross for new arrival Berbatov to nod in at the near post to give the Reds a 3-2 lead.

United had taken greater control and, combined with Seoul’s earlier enthusiasm ebbing away, were firmly in the driving seat. But the largest cheer of the night – or, more accurately, a deafening celebration – was saved for the 74th minute when Park replaced Michael Carrick. The fans inside the World Cup Stadium were delirious but, after all, two years ago when United were in Korea, Park missed out due to injury.

Scholes hit the bar late on after a nice interchange with Park, who was being willed by 64,000 fans to score on home turf, but there were no further goals in what was still an entertaining match and a good work-out.

Manchester United.com

Manchester United in Malaysia

Michael Owen struck his second United goal in as many games as the Reds completed the double over the Malaysian XI with a comprehensive 2-0 victory.

Owen blasted home from close range on 13 minutes after capitalising on a loose ball inside the area having played his part in the build-up. Two minutes earlier Federico Macheda had opening the scoring with a calm finish following Darren Fletcher’s set-up.

In truth, the Reds could have had more – substitutes Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Anderson all went close late on in the second half, but it was certainly another useful work-out for Sir Alex’s men.

MUFC WEBSITE

Man Utd NZ v Norwest

The Red Army turned out at Huapai domain to play the Norwest blues this afternoon.

We lined thus, Norwest Boz in goal, James, Mike, Phil and Jan in defence, Karl, Grant, KJ, Gareth in the middle and up front young Hayden and Wes. Marc dished out the orders.

The wind was howling and Norwest chose to battle into it in the first half, bad decision, because whenever we cleared the ball we were instantly on attack. As the wind dictated, we charged them repeatedly, but couldn’t grab that elusive goal. The defence was fantastic with Mike showing his complete footballing skill and loving it in d, as his nous had him in the right place all the time, with Phil playing his usual strong central defence, they made a great team. James had already played two games that weekend but as usual he was solid az and the midfield passing was excellent, this is the third or fourth game in a row, when we have really controlled the ball, passing it around like a Saturday team !
With young Karl on one wing and Gareth on the other we were setting up heaps of opportunities, but just couldn’t bury it. Wes was in good form and young Hayden was fairly flying, gawd remember being fifteen !!

Anyhow we went to halftime and were brimming with confidence, our passing had been great and the team was together in spirit (happens when you have no subs sometimes, you get tight).

Well into the second and as the gaffer had predicted, the wind faded as the sun dropped. It was more of the same as we passed the ball around and attacked relentlessly, Norwest started to choke on their failure to catch us out and then as usual they got dirtier especially against our Korean star. KJ is just so superior in his ball control he left them all in his wake, like the last time we played them, so they hacked away at him and jeered him, but man he just played even better and was so in tune with young Hayden, who had been moved to the wing, but we just couldn’t finish the fantastic moves down the field, maybe a slight problem with playing Mike at the back. And then with about fifteen to go they scummied a penalty thru a handball. Boz who had been absolutely dynamite the whole game, couldn’t keep out the kick and we were one down. Hard to explain after dominating the game to be suddenly losing, but the boys all lifted and back on the attack we went with Wes, Grant and Gareth just missing. The whistle blew a little early and while we disappointed about not getting at least a draw, we all knew we had played by far the superior football.

Thanks to all the guys who turned up and the great supporters too, Jay and Mikes young girl, Grants missus and daughter, Amber and Raegen (Kobe’s future team-mate), Lisa, and Marc’s brother Roy.

Takapuna this weekend, lets give the Old Farts a surprise !

and sad news from older Phil who wrecked his ACL joint in the last Huapai game, if you were there you heard the pain. Out for a year at least. Sorry bud.

Owen kicks off

Michael Owen scored on his debut, as United brushed aside an Malaysian XI this morning.

Norwest this Sunday, 3 pm

THREE pm kick-off against Norwest at Huapai this Sunday.

ALL WELCOME

Manchester United NZ Club meeting

This Wednesday, the monthly Man Utd NZ Supporters Club meeting will be at the Speakers Corner at Browns Bay.

7.30 kickoff ...

ALL WELCOME

Onehunga CANCELLED

OK,
Game against Onehunga has been cancelled again.

Cancelled

:(

Well at least he will score goals ...

Onehunga this weekend

Manchester United NZ at Waikaraka Park this Sunday.

4-4-2 rulz ...

Congratulations to Mick, Alma and Marc, as last night the Man Utd NZ quiz team scored the jackpot ($300) at the Speakers Corner triva competition.