Champions League Group C: Manchester United beat Bursaspor 1-0 with the help of Luis Nani’s stunner:
Although Manchester United dominated the match, they managed to score only one goal in the entire match. Their performance may have been a bit lacklustre, but given that they got all their points from the match, they are now favourites to qualify for the next stage.
Luis Nani’s superb 20-yard strike in the 7th minute gave Manchester United a flying start in their match against Bursaspor. Keeper Dimitar Ivankov had no chance – his reaction to the goal seemed to express incredulous realization that United could actually cope without star player Wayne Rooney. It was the same belief with which Sir Alex Ferguson selected the youthful side that played the match, including the likes of Tomasz Kuszczak, Chris Smalling, Rafael and Federico Macheda.
Daren Fletcher was credited with the assist for Nani’s goal. At that point, it looked like United would run away with the match. However, after the goal, the Red Devils lost a bit of tempo. It turned out to be a rather mediocre performance from both teams. Bursaspor lacked ambition going forward and seemed happy with a respectable 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford. The team was limited to a couple of shots on target in the entire match.
United, on the other hand, lacked imagination in the final third. There were some anxious moments for United: at one point, Sercan Yildirim slipped the ball pass the covering Smalling – but fortunately for United, there was no one in the six-yard box to convert. Another incident involved Rafael coming to the rescue when the Green Crocodiles broke into the middle with Ali Tandogan.
United were content to play a high game with their back-line pushing up towards the halfway line at every opportunity, despite the defensive weaknesses that cost them dearly in the Premier League. The second half started the same way as the first finished. There was no ambition from either side going forward. Only the French left back Patrice Evra looked dangerous with his movement and passing.
United looked sound in their defence in the absence of Ferdinand. Chris Smalling was not tested much in this match but he held his own. Gabriel Obertan was introduced in the 71st minute, in place of Park Ji-Sung, and created some chances from the right wing. He was a bit unfortunate when his header hit the right goalpost from the six-yard box provided by Nani. Javier Hernandez, after coming in as a substitute for Anderson, should have scored but his shot was wide of the goalpost.
Alex Ferguson will be content with the three points garnered from the match that have put Manchester United at the top of Group C, and it will lift the morale of the Red Devils even if it was a narrow victory. The start of the match was overshadowed by the Wayne Rooney saga. Rooney earlier issued a statement in which he gave away the reason behind his willingness to leave Old Trafford after six years: he questioned the club’s ambitions and wanted a new challenge.
Sir Alex Ferguson will need a miracle to somehow convince his star player Rooney to stay put for another season or maybe extend his contract. Manchester United has not yet recovered from the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. Rooney leaving at this stage will have a devastating effect not only on the team but on the club as well.
At the end of the match, the day belonged to Nani. His performances have been really good this season and are now attracting a lot of interest from big clubs. If he can maintain that level all season, then United can put up a challenge for silverware. With Rooney obsessed with leaving the club, and key player Antonio Valencia suffering a long-term injury, Nani is going to be an important player for United.
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