Manchester United have qualified for the
knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League after crushing their
German opponents 5-0 at the BayArena, also ending their 15
match winning streak at the stadium. Many thought United would limp into
this match after the 2-2 draw away to Cardiff at the weekend.
Supporters would have settled for a draw, but United proved us all wrong
with this amazing performance.
David Moyes, who has had a managerial
headache because of injury, picked the perfect side and tactics for the
match. Shinji Kagawa played in the hole normally filled by Wayne Rooney,
but the England striker led the line with Robin van Persie out of
action. Nani, and Phil Jones returned to the starting lineups and both
impressed.
Bayer Leverkusen were hotly tipped to
cause United problems and in actual fact only cause a handful of
problems, which United dealt with perfectly. The home supporters assumed
that their side would qualify for the knockout stages of the
competition, but that will now rely on them beating Real Sociedad and
United beating Shakhtar Donetsk, which they need to do to guarantee the
top spot in the group.
Wayne Rooney was involved in four of the
goals, which show how he thinks of the side, instead of himself. It was
a proper team effort. In fact there is so much praise due for this
performance, and hopefully it will continue into Sunday's match away to
Spurs and throughout the festive period, as United look to gain momentum
in the Barclays Premier League to close the gap between them and them
and leaders Arsenal.
The first goal came after 22 minutes
with Antonio Valencia finding the back of the net. Shinji Kagawa started
the run, the ball was fed to Ryan Giggs then Wayne Rooney, who then
assisted Valencia in scoring the goal. United were off the mark, but
more would need to happen for them to guarantee victory this evening.
Rooney was against the provider for the second goal which was headed
into the net by Spahić, but Chris Smalling was ready to receive the ball
to head home. United were 2-0 up inside the first 30 minutes, the
opposite of what happened to the U19 side earlier today! United led at
the end of the first half 2-0.
In the second half, United carried on
where they left off. By the 66th minute United had scored again,
settling the result. Ryan Giggs took a corner, which was headed by
Patrice Evra, who passed to Rooney. The England striker forced Leno to
spill his save and Jonny Evans reacted to bury the ball into the back of
the net. Bayer Leverkusen were being schooled in their own stadium, but
there was more to come. Kagawa and Rooney interacted to set up United’s
fourth, Chris Smalling was in the box finding the back of the net from
close range. The Germans were being punished this evening, and what a
good sight it was.
The home side were at the receiving end
of all the goals, but United did not let up just because they were 4-0
up. Phil Jones could have scored a great volley, but Leno manager to get
one hand to the ball to save his blushes, but it was soon to be five
for United after Giggs put a great through-ball to Nani who was
one-on-one with the keeper. He scored a pretty classy goal with his
right foot ending United five-goal rout.
David De Gea denied Eren Derdiyok in the
closing stages of the match, keeping his clean sheet in tact. United
now need a point in order to win the group in just under a fortnight’s
time. David Moyes, despite his lack of European experience before
September has led his Manchester United side into the knockout stages of
the Champions League, which I am sure will annoy the anti-motes
brigade, who continue to talk the same talk as they did back in May when
it was announced he would succeed Sir Alex Ferguson. Obviously lacking
respect for the former manager after he told the supporters to get
behind their new manager!
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