Nani 94 minute winner completed a stunning recovery, as Manchester United beat derby rivals Manchester City to win the Community Shield.
Without extra time to be played and threatening sanctions, the Portuguese winger threw on some hesitant defending to run City to release Wayne Rooney rounded Joe Hart and slotted home.
The city had led 2-0 at halftime after a shaky start with United Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea saw beaten by Joleon Lescott heads and Edin Dzeko have long-distance drive.
But United, beaten at Wembley in their last two visits - in Barcelona in the Champions League final and the City in the semi-final FA Cup - has responded by taking the game to their neighbors and eventually they got their reward.
Chris Smalling reduced the deficit when he turned to Ashley Young free kick before Nani tied the game before time to complete one of the most impressive play.
City held firm and even threatened to take the lead when Adam Johnson tested De Gea, but it was United who have laid down a marker for the Premier League campaign begins to come defend their title by collecting more silverware.
Indeed, the men of Sir Alex Ferguson could be out of sight of the city in time, with the signing of new young people to the quick search his house on the left flank, but failed to make the most of very over its possession.
Young had a shot deflected just wide of the first volley is blocked Smalling line Lescott, but United were the best free kick from Rooney and Nani, who flew wide to close, the second deflecting off Dzeko.
City, however, were slow in all areas of the lawn and the main contribution of the first half hour was to keep the referee Phil Dowd busy, with Micah Richards four players booked very early in the case of a slot in the young savage.
At that time, beginner Gea had almost nothing to do with the objective Kingdom - and therefore open city was a huge surprise when he arrived in the 38th minutes.
David Silva in the whipped cream over the right and Rio Ferdinand appeared to leave the ball to his goalkeeper, who had come to a halt when Lescott header look at his house.
If there was any doubt about who is guilty on this occasion there was when Dzeko made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time.
United defender fell to the Bosnian space to shoot from 25 yards, and although there was a lot of pace behind his move, De Gea seemed too slow to react and dived after flying in front of him.
Ferguson's response to see his side trail at the break was to make three changes, bringing in another new recruit Phil Jones and Jonny Evans to replace Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic in the back, and the introduction of Tom Cleverley in their environment on the field.
Their dividend changes almost instantly, prepay States after the restart.
Smalling deficit declined from close range after Young twisted punishment Lescott and six minutes later, Nani stabilized when it has completed a rapid-fire passing with Rooney and Cleverley.
United seemed to pace would overwhelm the neighbors, but the city, their credit, stood firm. United were dangerous to their quick attacks, but do not force another save from Joe Hart before hitting the very death.
Rooney on the hook from the corner of the city and Vincent Kompany to stay out, and Nani cut short on Yaya Toure kept his cool to beat Hart and solve an exciting race.
0 comments:
Post a Comment