English Premier League: Manchester United 1-0 vs Stoke City - Half Time Report
Score-line: 1-0
Venue: Old Trafford
Starting XI for Manchester Utd - Kuszczak, Rafael, Smalling, Vidic, Evra, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nani-c27299, Fletcher, Gibson, Giggs, Berbatov, Hernandez
SUBS: Amos, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fabio-c13152, Evans, Obertan, Anderson, Carrick, Owen
Starting XI for Stoke City - Begovic, Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Collins, Delap, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Etherington-c12941, Jones, Tuncay
SUBS: Sorensen, Higginbotham, Pennant, Fuller, Walters, Pugh, Whelan
Manchester United hosted an in-form Stoke City in this all important Premier League fixture. United were without the services of some of their vital players such as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rio-Ferdinand-c31173 and Edwin Van Der Sar. However, the Portuguese winger Nani was
back in the squad following his recovery from a hip injury.
The hosts held most of the possession in the first half and looked dangerous whenever on the attack. With the pace of Javier Hernandez and Nani too deceptive for the visitors, Stoke were almost left without any ideas to control the creativity of Man. Utd.
squad. Giggs had a wonderful chance to put the host side in front, but chose to dribble inside the box, which led to him foregoing possession.
United's hard work finally paid off in the 27th minute when Mexican striker Javier Hernandez found the opening goal of the match. The player was expertly played by Nani while Hernandez did extremely well with the inside of his foot to manage an exquisite
finish. This was Hernandez’s 6th goal in 14 appearances and the player has already made his mark on the Red Devils fans, who were heard singing praises for the 22-year-old. United looked stronger after the goal and showed the class of being the
current table tops.
The Red Devils completely dominated the entire first half, as the side managed 13 shots on goal, as opposed to Stoke’s 3. It was brave of Stoke manager http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Tony-c35440 Pullis to have two strikers in the form of Tuncay and Jones on the pitch but both did little to trouble
the United goalkeeper. Javier Hernandez then had the opportunity to double his side's lead when Giggs managed a nice pass to the Mexican, but he was denied the opportunity owing to some strong defending from Huth.
It was all good for United thanks to the Javier Hernandez goal in the first half. However, the side should look to add more to that tally in order to take the game completely away from the visitors.
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