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Radamel Falcao opens account to help Manchester United sink Everton 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 times are finally changing at Manchester United and the moment that might go down as the first ray of a new dawn under Louis van Gaal came at the end of the first half.
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 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 miss from the spot in the Premier League. It was virtually the half’s closing action and as Old Trafford erupted and a grateful Shaw hugged De Gea, Friend blew and the 20-times champions floated into the dressing room on the back of a perfect psychological moment.
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 halftime talk holding a 1-0 lead that would become a 2-1 win despite a second half in which only De Gea’s excellence repelled Everton.
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 manager was unhappy at how United allowed the visitors back into the contest. But now on 11 points, he agreed they are ahead of schedule. “That is what I have told my players. We are not playing good but we are already fourth in the table,” said Van Gaal. “What is coming when we are playing well? We have to do it 90 minutes.”
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. United’s opener came from the consistently excellent Angel Di Maria who collected a third goal in five United appearances. On 27 minutes Rafael Da Silva swung a delivery in from the right, was aimed at the out-of sorts Radamel Falcao. It failed and Juan Mata picked up play and slipped the ball back to Di Maria, who made no mistake with a swish of his right boot.
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. As Van Gaal could find no place for his vice-captain, Darren Fletcher, Van Persie was leading the team in the suspended Rooney’s absence. There was a second start for Paddy McNair, a first in three matches for Mata, and Falcao hoping to break his scoring duck at the fourth attempt for his new side.
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. Towards the end of the first half McNair was caught out in a chance that might have led to Everton’s equaliser. Baines flipped a 40-yard pass into Romelu Lukaku that bypassed the defender to easily. Lukaku brought the ball down but could not finish.
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. Yet Van Gaal was pleased with the 19-year-old. “Paddy McNair is doing great in my opinion,” he said.
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. After Falcao was lucky that an aimless shot deflected off John Stones for a corner, the home No9’s profligacy was punished almost instantly. Baines picked out Steven Naismith and his flying header beat De Gea for a fourth league goal.
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. Van Gaal is yet to restore the United swagger so when a set-back arrives confidence seeps from players and fans. This tentativeness was nearly costly seconds later when Phil Jagielka was left unmarked from a Baines corner and the defender’s header was cleared off the line by Falcao.
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. His next contribution came at the other end. After Tim Howard raced out to make a clearance near the touchline he found only Da Silva and the right-back turned the ball to Antonio Valencia, who recycled it to Di Maria. The Argentinian’s shot became a scuffed cross straight into the path of Falcao, who made no mistake from close range.
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. “He needed that goal,” said Van Gaal. “I have talked with him because I thought he was forcing himself too much to score a goal. He’s a player who will normally make a goal every match and he has had to wait so long. I can understand that but now he has scored it will be better after the international break.”
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. Roberto Martinez believed play should have stopped before the goal due to an injury to Steven Pienaar. “He receives a knock, off, goes to ground, the ball is in front of him and the ref is well aware and talking with fourth official and I just don’t understand that decision,” said the manager.
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. United’s first consecutive league victories were confirmed by two late, breath-taking De Gea saves. The first came from a Leon Osman bullet, the second kept out 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. “When you hold [save] the penalty and then in the dying seconds you make magnificent saves, then you are great because you win the game because of that,” said Van Gaal.
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. The one concern was Luke Shaw, who limped off in what was just a second United appearance following a hamstring issue. “Shaw had a kick in the back of his knee and he has a dead knee so I think a nerve has been touched,” said his manager who does not believe it serious. “I don’t think but we have to wait.”
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 away in the dying embers with ankle ligament damage that should rule him out of England duty, this was a satisfying occasion all-round for United. Sir Bobby Charlton was present following a stomach complaint and Sir Alex Ferguson made a first return to the Old Trafford grass since retirement to announce Ji-sung Park as a club ambassador.
More importantly, United now have 11 points and are only three behind Manchester City, who are third. Van Gaal’s team can enjoy the two-week pause in action.
Man-of-match David de Gea