Football Update: English Premier League- Manchester United 2 Sunderland 0
The unbeaten Manchester United so far this season, maintained their winning streak on the ground beating Sunderland by 2 goals to 0, thanks to Dimitar Berbatov’s double at Old Traford. This victory has taken the Manchester United well ahead of their traditional
rivals Arsenal and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 who met at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night.
Manchester United is now two points clear to Manchester City with two games in hand at Boxing Day, leading the table after 17 matches. Manchester City, having a win over Newcastle at Boxing Day, have also secured their second place just following their neighbours.
It should also be kept under consideration that Manchester City have played two games more in the season so far than Manchester United.
Manchester United had most of the possession during the play closing the game with ease and sending out a message of their intent, to defend the title. On the other hand, Sunderland had nine clean sheets by far, but were always likely to struggle lacking
seven first-team regulars. This was indeed heavy pressure to the side giving them no chance to regroup till defeat.
The Bulgarian star, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dimitar-Berbatov-c11254 is now on 14 goals making him the top scorer in the Barclay’s Premier League and for Manchester United so far this season.
The other key for Manchester United was http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wayne-Rooney-c36736, who made no mistake passing forth to Berbatov and gaining the maximum,
a goal to his name.
During the match, the Bulgarian headed just a few minutes after starting the match on Wayne Ronney’s cross giving the lead to United. This probably was the lead that dominated through out the match till the end. United created several more opportunities
to enhance their lead as Berbatov hit the post missing narrow and so did Anderson.
Sunderland managed to prove their first meaningful attempt to equalize, right after returning from half time when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Asamoah-Gyan-c6791 stroke from an angle towards the goal, but it was yet in vain. It was not the return of the Sunderland’s to the game instead the
United’s hit back with a second goal when Berbatov struck again. He successfully made it 2-0 from inside the box from a deflected shot which lead the United to a comfortable victory over the Sunderland over-all.
Another attack was mustered by the duo, Giggs and Rooney at the heart of it, but United was unable to double their lead this time. Rooney raced into the opponent side with a superb chip but ironically it flew pass Berbatov. His fierce effort was vigilant
in his shot but by the end, could not keep it inside the net and the ball cannoned back off the post.
After this, Anderson came into the action, cracking a drive against the bar and Ronney failing to properly receive the ball, handed over wide to Berbatov hitting the effort into the side netting. Gigg’s shot to the Sunderland’s post was blocked well by the
keeper http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Craig-Gordon-c9476 and Anderson, latter, was again unable to keep the ball intact and fired wide of the post.
Berbatov was in full glory aiming his hat-trick, as he pushed to the limits testing Sunderland’s goal keeper, Anton Ferdinand’s skills. Not only would this third goal get him his hat-trick in the game, but also the 15th to his name in the season.
Just 12 minutes remaining to the game, Sunderland managed to get the strike to the goal but was intercepted by the keeper Edwin van derSar.
Both the managers had their view of the match and commenting Sir Alex Ferguson said, “Dimitar could have scored four or five. He had some terrific opportunities. I was disappointed with the score at half-time. We hit the bar and the post. Their keeper
has made a couple of good saves and we played some really good football. It was exciting stuff but then we just seemed to go into third gear."
"I have heard it said that United are not playing that well. Well, they are unbeaten for six months, so that is not a bad statistic is it? Maybe we were a bit naive. Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say you were well beaten. But I wouldn't
bet against them, that's for sure." Said Sunderland’s manager Steve Bruce.
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