Post by 9tilesofgiggs on Jul 21, 2007 15:02:16 GMT
Nani scored on his debut as United ran riot against Shenzhen FC in a humid Macau Stadium.
The summer signing hit the Reds' third after just 23 minutes in a game that felt more like a practise match than a pre-season showpiece. Shenzhen rarely troubled United's rear guard and Sir Alex would undoubtedly have preferred a sterner test. But the Reds did provide plenty of entertainment, including spectacular goals from both Wayne Rooney and Chris Eagles.
Only five players who started against FC Seoul last Friday kept their places in Macau, with the manager handing starts to a number of youngsters. Nani operated on the right side of midfield, while Johnny Evans partnered Nemanja Vidic in the centre of defence. Paul Scholes' absence handed Darren Gibson a chance to prove himself in the centre of midfield and he looked lively early on when he combined with Wes Brown to force a corner in the third minute. Cristiano Ronaldo rose highest to head the corner past Shenzhen FC goalkeeper Jianjia, but the referee had already blown his whistle for a mysterious foul.
The Reds continued to press and duly took the lead after just 12 minutes. Wayne Rooney collected a curling Darren Fletcher pass inside the area and headed straight for goal. But while everyone expected the England striker to shoot, Rooney squared the ball inside to Ryan Giggs who rolled the ball into an empty net. There was no question United deserved the lead, especially after having Ronaldo's early header ruled out.
The home side looked comparitively limp going forward but could have equalised had the referee spotted Johnny Evans' 15th-minute handball when the defender attempted to block a Shenzhen FC cross. United took advantage on 20 minutes via another moment of magic from Wayne Rooney. This time it was Ryan Giggs who provided the splitting pass into the area, which Rooney controlled before sending a superbly disguised chip over Jianjia. It
Nani marked his debut with agoal shortly afterwards when he thumped Ryan Giggs' lay-off into the bottom corner. It was a well-taken strike that left the goalkeeper with little chance and prompted the 20-year-old's trademark somersault celebration.
Ryan Giggs, enjoyed a sparkling first half, which saw him involved in all three of the Reds' goals. The Welshman certainly doesn't look like relinquishing his spot in the side, despite the arrival of Nani, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves over the summer. Giggs made way for Alan Smith at the interval, while the United boss also introduced Tomasz Kuszczak, Rio Ferdinand and John O'Shea.
It was Shenzhen who started brightest in the second period, with Rio Ferdinand doing well to block a fierce Marek Zajac shot. But the more numbers the home team committed forward, the more gaps opened up at the back. John O'Shea kept his cool to net on 55 minutes after Ronaldo had drawn two men inside the penalty area, before the Portuguese winger capped a brisk counter-attack shortly afterwards to send the Reds 5-0 up.
It was the last action Ronaldo saw, as Sir Alex made a further four changes. Among them was Chris Eagles, whose impact was felt almost immediately. With the ball bouncing almost 35 yards from goal, the youngster lashed a shot over substitute goalkeeper Lei and under the bar. It was a fine finish and one that rivalled Rooney's first-half gem.
Alan Smith should have made it 7-0 on 75 minutes but the striker almost seemed to have too much time when sent clear of the Shenzhen defence. Of course, it mattered little to the final result, as the Reds coasted to victory in front of yet another capacity Far East crowd.
United line-up:
United: van der Sar (Kuszczak, 45), Brown, Vidic (Ferdinand, 45), Evans, Evra (Silvestre, 59), Nani (Carrick, 59), Fletcher, Gibson (O'Shea, 45), Ronaldo (Eagles, 59), Giggs (Smith, 45), Rooney (Dong, 59)
The summer signing hit the Reds' third after just 23 minutes in a game that felt more like a practise match than a pre-season showpiece. Shenzhen rarely troubled United's rear guard and Sir Alex would undoubtedly have preferred a sterner test. But the Reds did provide plenty of entertainment, including spectacular goals from both Wayne Rooney and Chris Eagles.
Only five players who started against FC Seoul last Friday kept their places in Macau, with the manager handing starts to a number of youngsters. Nani operated on the right side of midfield, while Johnny Evans partnered Nemanja Vidic in the centre of defence. Paul Scholes' absence handed Darren Gibson a chance to prove himself in the centre of midfield and he looked lively early on when he combined with Wes Brown to force a corner in the third minute. Cristiano Ronaldo rose highest to head the corner past Shenzhen FC goalkeeper Jianjia, but the referee had already blown his whistle for a mysterious foul.
The Reds continued to press and duly took the lead after just 12 minutes. Wayne Rooney collected a curling Darren Fletcher pass inside the area and headed straight for goal. But while everyone expected the England striker to shoot, Rooney squared the ball inside to Ryan Giggs who rolled the ball into an empty net. There was no question United deserved the lead, especially after having Ronaldo's early header ruled out.
The home side looked comparitively limp going forward but could have equalised had the referee spotted Johnny Evans' 15th-minute handball when the defender attempted to block a Shenzhen FC cross. United took advantage on 20 minutes via another moment of magic from Wayne Rooney. This time it was Ryan Giggs who provided the splitting pass into the area, which Rooney controlled before sending a superbly disguised chip over Jianjia. It
Nani marked his debut with agoal shortly afterwards when he thumped Ryan Giggs' lay-off into the bottom corner. It was a well-taken strike that left the goalkeeper with little chance and prompted the 20-year-old's trademark somersault celebration.
Ryan Giggs, enjoyed a sparkling first half, which saw him involved in all three of the Reds' goals. The Welshman certainly doesn't look like relinquishing his spot in the side, despite the arrival of Nani, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves over the summer. Giggs made way for Alan Smith at the interval, while the United boss also introduced Tomasz Kuszczak, Rio Ferdinand and John O'Shea.
It was Shenzhen who started brightest in the second period, with Rio Ferdinand doing well to block a fierce Marek Zajac shot. But the more numbers the home team committed forward, the more gaps opened up at the back. John O'Shea kept his cool to net on 55 minutes after Ronaldo had drawn two men inside the penalty area, before the Portuguese winger capped a brisk counter-attack shortly afterwards to send the Reds 5-0 up.
It was the last action Ronaldo saw, as Sir Alex made a further four changes. Among them was Chris Eagles, whose impact was felt almost immediately. With the ball bouncing almost 35 yards from goal, the youngster lashed a shot over substitute goalkeeper Lei and under the bar. It was a fine finish and one that rivalled Rooney's first-half gem.
Alan Smith should have made it 7-0 on 75 minutes but the striker almost seemed to have too much time when sent clear of the Shenzhen defence. Of course, it mattered little to the final result, as the Reds coasted to victory in front of yet another capacity Far East crowd.
United line-up:
United: van der Sar (Kuszczak, 45), Brown, Vidic (Ferdinand, 45), Evans, Evra (Silvestre, 59), Nani (Carrick, 59), Fletcher, Gibson (O'Shea, 45), Ronaldo (Eagles, 59), Giggs (Smith, 45), Rooney (Dong, 59)
