Manchester United dominantly defeated the Seattle Sounders in the second game of their US Tour early this morning as they turned the style on after half-time to win 7-0.
Seattle started the game well and in the opening five minutes spent a virtually the whole of that time locked in our half keeping the ball well. There were a number of early crosses sent in from both flanks which Anders Lindgeaard did well to collect doing his confidence no-harm as he looks to make the most of his opportunities this year despite our signing of David de Gea.
Our defence though despite Seattle’s early pressure looked calm and it wasn’t long before United began to click into gear. United’s midfield quartet of Anderson, Ryan Giggs, Nani and Ashley Young were all working well. Giggs and Anderson both were demonstrating their passing ability well with the Brazilian in particular showing some impressive touches and movement on the ball.
Out on the flanks Nani and Young were looking dangerous in the opening stages of the game. Whilst Nani beat his marker down the byline, his crosses were not matching his runs early on.
Young didn’t quite have enough freedom down his wing in the first half but was unlucky not to score his first goal since joining from Aston Villa when Kasey Keller palmed a fierce strike over the bar midway through the first half.
On the quarter-hour mark United went ahead. Good play by Young on his flank gave Patrice Evra the chance to get to the by-line and put a cross into the box. Despite a push from Seattle’s James Riley, United’s left back was still able to send the ball into the area where Michael Owen was on hand to head home from more or less the middle of the six-yard box to score his second goal of pre-season.
Owen was unlucky not to put United 2-0 up shortly before half-time but after being picked out by Giggs saw his shot saved by Keller and somehow managed to block Nani’s shot of the line (not that he could have got out of the way) from the resulting corner.
There were four changes made at half time with Giggs, Lindegaard (who made two smart saves mid-way through the half), Kiko Macheda and Owen making way for Ben Amos, Mame Diouf, Park Ji-Sung and Wayne Rooney coming on.
It took United just four minutes into the half to double the lead. A lovely ball by Nani over the top of the defence picked out Mame Diouf perfectly. Diouf did well to beat the offside trap and took the ball past Seattle’s sub keeper Terry Boss before finishing from a tight angle to score his first goal of pre-season.
Two minutes later United made it 3-0. Nani was again the provider linking up with Rafael before cutting a ball back into the penalty area. Diouf dummied the ball allowing Rooney the chance to take one touch before burying the ball home clinically.
It was Rooney’s first goal of pre-season and his second followed 18 minutes later. A great long ball by Carrick found Park out wide in space. Park cleverly looked up and found Rooney’s late run into the area. Rooney set himself well before striking low into the corner giving Boss no chance.
Rooney returned the favour for Park to score United’s fifth dummying Gabriel Obertan’s ball into the box giving our Korean time and space inside the area to finish well. It was a smart finish by Park and was his second goal of pre-season as he looks to be carrying on from his terrific form last season.
Rooney grabbed his hat-trick barley a minute to make it 6-0 after 72 minutes. It was good play again by Obertan down the flank and after he skilfully beat two players cut a brilliant ball into Rooney’s path who on the half-volley drove the ball home. It was United’s third goal in three minutes.
Down the other end Ben Amos was looking assured in the United goal and aside from one mistake from a corner did all that he could be asked to do. Seattle though never gave up with their players looking to impress and learn from the experience.
Obertan got the goal that his second-half display had deserved a minute from time, when he surged his way through the defence after collecting a deflected ball in midfield from Rooney before coolly shooting home to complete the scoring.
Star Man: Despite good performances particularly from Nani and Obertan, Rooney rightly stole the show with his hat-trick and looks in great form ahead of the upcoming season.
With no shenanigans on his shoulders unlike last season where he was suffering from injury and disappointment with England, next season it looks like we will see the best of our number 10 right from the off, which every United fan will be pleased by
Next up United face the Chigago Fire at Soldier Field on Saturday night. New signings de Gea and Phil Jones are expected to take part in the game alongside fellow young starlets Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck and will want to make an impression on their first appearances this pre-season.
By @ADennehey87
