Airtricity XI 1 - 7 Man Utd
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Manchester United opened the Aviva Stadium to soccer with a
comprehensive 7-1 win over an Airtricity League XI.
Goals from Owen, Chicharito, Valencia, Evans, Nani and two from Park Ji Sung gave United an unassailable lead, even in spite of a late Dave Mulcahy goal.
United dominated from the off, with the first goal coming after just thirteen minutes. Park was the first player to score in the Aviva stadium, although his goal will perhaps be more remembered for the way it came.
Gavin Peers had the ball beside his goal, and attempted to clear the ball only for it to deflect off Park and go in to the net.
Joey Ndo was one of the few players on the Airtricity League XI to have an impact on the match, but Ndo’s silky passes couldn’t find their destination.
The Red Devils doubled their lead after twenty-five minutes- Michael Owen scoring with and exquisite lob over Gary Rogers from close range.
A concern for Manchester United is the injury Michael Carrick sustained: the midfielder hauled off for Darren Fletcher after thirty- five minutes with an injury which could rule him out of Sunday’s Community Shield.
Half-time came and the Airtricity League XI went in two goals down. Play resumed and United were instantly on the attack.
Substitute Chicharito, a new signing at Old Trafford, scored just two minutes after the break. Valencia crossed from the wing and the Mexican striker finished well from close range.
Two Manchester United goals in the space of three minutes around the hour mark ensured an emphatic win for the English Premier League side.
Antonio Valencia complemented his earlier assists with a goal, dribbling easily past Conor Powell of Bohemians before finishing superbly.
Chicharito had a chance from long range but was denied by a Gary Rogers save, but it wasn’t long before the visitors scored again.
On sixty-nine minutes Northern Irish international Johnny Evans scored, tapping the ball in following a United corner.
The Airtricity League XI did claw one goal back in the seventy-eighth minute through Dave Mulcahy.
Brian Shelley passed to Mulcahy on the counter-attack, allowing Mulcahy to finish well past Ben Amos.
It wasn’t long before normal service was resumed though, as United restored their six goal lead just three minutes later.
Chicharito dribbled in to the box on the left side and was brought down, resulting in a penalty which Nani converted.
Nani went close again on eighty-five minutes, thundering a shot against the crossbar from distance.
Karl Sheppard had two half chances late-on, but the match finished 7-1 and an emphatic win for United.
Referee: Alan Kelly
Attendance: 49,861
Airtricity League XI: Gary Rogers [Gerard Doherty ‘70]; Brian Shelley, Ken Oman, Gavin Peers [Conor Kenna ‘54], Conor Powell [Ger O’Brien ‘70]; Ryan Guy, Paul Keegan, Shaun Williams [Richie Ryan ‘64], Killian Brennan [Alan Kirby HT], Joseph Ndo [Dave Mulcahy ‘70], Paddy Madden [Karl Sheppard ‘64]
Manchester United: Tomasz Kusczak [Ben Amos ‘64], Johnny Evans, Chris Smalling, Nemanja Vidic, John O'Shea, Antonio Valencia, Michael Carrick [Darren Fletcher ‘36], Darron Gibson, Ji-Sung Park [Nani ‘64], Wayne Rooney [Chicharito HT], Michael Owen [Dimitar Berbatov HT]
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Antonio Valencia
Goals from Owen, Chicharito, Valencia, Evans, Nani and two from Park Ji Sung gave United an unassailable lead, even in spite of a late Dave Mulcahy goal.
United dominated from the off, with the first goal coming after just thirteen minutes. Park was the first player to score in the Aviva stadium, although his goal will perhaps be more remembered for the way it came.
Gavin Peers had the ball beside his goal, and attempted to clear the ball only for it to deflect off Park and go in to the net.
Joey Ndo was one of the few players on the Airtricity League XI to have an impact on the match, but Ndo’s silky passes couldn’t find their destination.
The Red Devils doubled their lead after twenty-five minutes- Michael Owen scoring with and exquisite lob over Gary Rogers from close range.
A concern for Manchester United is the injury Michael Carrick sustained: the midfielder hauled off for Darren Fletcher after thirty- five minutes with an injury which could rule him out of Sunday’s Community Shield.
Half-time came and the Airtricity League XI went in two goals down. Play resumed and United were instantly on the attack.
Substitute Chicharito, a new signing at Old Trafford, scored just two minutes after the break. Valencia crossed from the wing and the Mexican striker finished well from close range.
Two Manchester United goals in the space of three minutes around the hour mark ensured an emphatic win for the English Premier League side.
Antonio Valencia complemented his earlier assists with a goal, dribbling easily past Conor Powell of Bohemians before finishing superbly.
Chicharito had a chance from long range but was denied by a Gary Rogers save, but it wasn’t long before the visitors scored again.
On sixty-nine minutes Northern Irish international Johnny Evans scored, tapping the ball in following a United corner.
The Airtricity League XI did claw one goal back in the seventy-eighth minute through Dave Mulcahy.
Brian Shelley passed to Mulcahy on the counter-attack, allowing Mulcahy to finish well past Ben Amos.
It wasn’t long before normal service was resumed though, as United restored their six goal lead just three minutes later.
Chicharito dribbled in to the box on the left side and was brought down, resulting in a penalty which Nani converted.
Nani went close again on eighty-five minutes, thundering a shot against the crossbar from distance.
Karl Sheppard had two half chances late-on, but the match finished 7-1 and an emphatic win for United.
Referee: Alan Kelly
Attendance: 49,861
Airtricity League XI: Gary Rogers [Gerard Doherty ‘70]; Brian Shelley, Ken Oman, Gavin Peers [Conor Kenna ‘54], Conor Powell [Ger O’Brien ‘70]; Ryan Guy, Paul Keegan, Shaun Williams [Richie Ryan ‘64], Killian Brennan [Alan Kirby HT], Joseph Ndo [Dave Mulcahy ‘70], Paddy Madden [Karl Sheppard ‘64]
Manchester United: Tomasz Kusczak [Ben Amos ‘64], Johnny Evans, Chris Smalling, Nemanja Vidic, John O'Shea, Antonio Valencia, Michael Carrick [Darren Fletcher ‘36], Darron Gibson, Ji-Sung Park [Nani ‘64], Wayne Rooney [Chicharito HT], Michael Owen [Dimitar Berbatov HT]
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Antonio Valencia
About Niall Farrell
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