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| Radamel Falcao opens account to help Manchester United sink Everton | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Perhaps the times are finally changing at Manchester United. The moment that may go down as an augury of a new dawn under Louis van Gaal came in added time of the first half against Everton. | Perhaps the times are finally changing at Manchester United. The moment that may go down as an augury of a new dawn under Louis van Gaal came in added time of the first half against Everton. |
| Luke Shaw made a tackle on Tony Hibbert in the area and took ball and man. The referee, Kevin Friend, pointed to the penalty spot and, after a pause, Leighton Baines took the kick only for David de Gea to make a fine save to his right. | Luke Shaw made a tackle on Tony Hibbert in the area and took ball and man. The referee, Kevin Friend, pointed to the penalty spot and, after a pause, Leighton Baines took the kick only for David de Gea to make a fine save to his right. |
| This was Baines’s first ever miss from the spot in the Premier League. It was virtually the stanza’s closing action and as Old Trafford erupted and a grateful Shaw hugged De Gea, Friend blew and United floated into the dressing room on the back of a perfect psychological moment to end the period. | This was Baines’s first ever miss from the spot in the Premier League. It was virtually the stanza’s closing action and as Old Trafford erupted and a grateful Shaw hugged De Gea, Friend blew and United floated into the dressing room on the back of a perfect psychological moment to end the period. |
| They arrived to listen to Van Gaal’s half-time talk holding a 1-0 lead. This came from the consistently excellent Ángel Di María who collected a third strike in five United appearances. | They arrived to listen to Van Gaal’s half-time talk holding a 1-0 lead. This came from the consistently excellent Ángel Di María who collected a third strike in five United appearances. |
| The Argentinian had previously managed only one goal in 16 outings for Real Madrid to prove his pre-game chat of how the transfer is helping his growth as a player. | The Argentinian had previously managed only one goal in 16 outings for Real Madrid to prove his pre-game chat of how the transfer is helping his growth as a player. |
| On 27 minutes Rafael Da Silva swung in a ball from the right. This was aimed at the out-of sorts Radamel Falcao. It failed to reach him and Juan Mata picked up play and slipped the ball back to Di María: he made no mistake with a swish of his right boot to allow Tim Howard no chance. | On 27 minutes Rafael Da Silva swung in a ball from the right. This was aimed at the out-of sorts Radamel Falcao. It failed to reach him and Juan Mata picked up play and slipped the ball back to Di María: he made no mistake with a swish of his right boot to allow Tim Howard no chance. |
| Moments later Di María nearly registered the second. After Robin van Persie won a free-kick 30 yards out the United No7 belted this to Howard’s left and the scrambling goalkeeper just managed to parry it away. | Moments later Di María nearly registered the second. After Robin van Persie won a free-kick 30 yards out the United No7 belted this to Howard’s left and the scrambling goalkeeper just managed to parry it away. |
| United had dominated the contest’s opening yet the ascendancy was marked by a sloppiness of touch and ball distribution. A prime illustration came when Di María laid a square pass across midfield straight to Steven Pienaar. | United had dominated the contest’s opening yet the ascendancy was marked by a sloppiness of touch and ball distribution. A prime illustration came when Di María laid a square pass across midfield straight to Steven Pienaar. |
| Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Shaw were other culprits here as was Falcao in front of goal, though Everton barely offered the home team a scare. | Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Shaw were other culprits here as was Falcao in front of goal, though Everton barely offered the home team a scare. |
| As Van Gaal could not find a place for his vice-captain, Darren Fletcher, Van Persie was leading the side in the suspended Wayne Rooney’s absence. There was a second start for Paddy McNair, a first in three matches for Mata, and a Falcao hoping to break a goal duck at a fourth attempt for his new side. | As Van Gaal could not find a place for his vice-captain, Darren Fletcher, Van Persie was leading the side in the suspended Wayne Rooney’s absence. There was a second start for Paddy McNair, a first in three matches for Mata, and a Falcao hoping to break a goal duck at a fourth attempt for his new side. |
| Towards the end of the first half McNair was caught out in a chance that might have led to Everton’s equaliser. Baines looked up then flipped a 40-yard pass into Romelu Lukaku that bypassed the 19-year-old defender too easily. Lukaku brought the ball down but could not finish. | Towards the end of the first half McNair was caught out in a chance that might have led to Everton’s equaliser. Baines looked up then flipped a 40-yard pass into Romelu Lukaku that bypassed the 19-year-old defender too easily. Lukaku brought the ball down but could not finish. |
| Moments later Falcao executed a volley in Everton’s area that went for a throw-in and as the second half began the Colombian was lucky an aimless shot deflected off John Stones for a corner. | Moments later Falcao executed a volley in Everton’s area that went for a throw-in and as the second half began the Colombian was lucky an aimless shot deflected off John Stones for a corner. |
| This led to nothing and the home No9’s profligacy was punished almost instantly. In creating Steven Naismith’s leveller Baines made amends for the penalty miss. The left-back picked out the Scot and his flying header beat De Gea for a fourth league strike of the campaign. | This led to nothing and the home No9’s profligacy was punished almost instantly. In creating Steven Naismith’s leveller Baines made amends for the penalty miss. The left-back picked out the Scot and his flying header beat De Gea for a fourth league strike of the campaign. |
| Van Gaal is yet to restore the United swagger, so when a set-back comes confidence seems to seep instantly from players and fans. This tentativeness was nearly costly as, seconds later, Phil Jagielka was left unmarked from a Baines corner and the defender’s free header was cleared off the line by Falcao. | Van Gaal is yet to restore the United swagger, so when a set-back comes confidence seems to seep instantly from players and fans. This tentativeness was nearly costly as, seconds later, Phil Jagielka was left unmarked from a Baines corner and the defender’s free header was cleared off the line by Falcao. |
| Life was about to brighten further for the forward. After Howard raced out to make a clearance near the touchline he found only Da Silva. The right-back turned the ball infield to Antonio Valencia who recycled it to Di María. The 26-year-old unloaded a shot that became a scuffed cross and now came Falcao’s moment as he made no mistake from close range. | Life was about to brighten further for the forward. After Howard raced out to make a clearance near the touchline he found only Da Silva. The right-back turned the ball infield to Antonio Valencia who recycled it to Di María. The 26-year-old unloaded a shot that became a scuffed cross and now came Falcao’s moment as he made no mistake from close range. |
| He needed it. So, too, the side and this first consecutive league victory under Van Gaal, which was confirmed by two late, breathtaking De Gea saves. The first came from a Leon Osman bullet, the second a tip over the bar from Bryan Oviedo’s 20-yard strike. | He needed it. So, too, the side and this first consecutive league victory under Van Gaal, which was confirmed by two late, breathtaking De Gea saves. The first came from a Leon Osman bullet, the second a tip over the bar from Bryan Oviedo’s 20-yard strike. |
| With James Wilson replacing Falcao late on, the one concern was Shaw. He limped off during the second half during what was only a second United appearance following a hamstring issue. | With James Wilson replacing Falcao late on, the one concern was Shaw. He limped off during the second half during what was only a second United appearance following a hamstring issue. |
| While Stones was stretchered off in the dying embers of the match, this was a satisfying occasion all-round for United. Sir Bobby Charlton was in the executive seats following a stomach complaint and Sir Alex Ferguson made a first return to the Old Trafford grass since retirement to announce Park Ji-sung as the club’s latest ambassador. | While Stones was stretchered off in the dying embers of the match, this was a satisfying occasion all-round for United. Sir Bobby Charlton was in the executive seats following a stomach complaint and Sir Alex Ferguson made a first return to the Old Trafford grass since retirement to announce Park Ji-sung as the club’s latest ambassador. |
| More importantly, United now have 11 points and are only three behind Manchester City, who are third. | More importantly, United now have 11 points and are only three behind Manchester City, who are third. |