Man Utd 2 Chicharito (26), Nani (62) v Stoke City 1 Whitehead (50)
4 JANUARY 2011, OLD TRAFFORD ATTENDANCE 73,401
Chicharito and Nani twice combined to devastating effect to give United a vital, hard-fought victory over Stoke City at Old Trafford.
The Mexican striker back-heeled home the Portuguese winger’s cross to open the scoring and, after Dean Whitehead had nodded the visitors level, the United pair swapped roles as Chicharito teed up Nani to blast home a left-footed winner.
The victory, which assures United of top spot regardless of the outcome of Wednesday’s meeting between Arsenal and Manchester City, was a fitting reward for a sweat-soaked denouement to the hectic festive period.
Stoke battled throughout, and had briefly looked like taking a share of the spoils back to the midlands after drawing exploiting United’s sloppy start to the second half. That 10-minute lull aside, the Reds controlled the flow of the game – despite dramatic alterations to the spine of the side which won narrowly at West Brom last Saturday.
Rio Ferdinand was rested ahead of Sunday's looming FA Cup clash with Liverpool, while Edwin van der Sar and Wayne Rooney missed out through illness and injury respectively. Midfield duo Michael Carrick and Anderson dropped to the bench after starting five successive games together.
Chris Smalling partnered Nemanja Vidic in central defence, ahead of Tomasz Kuszczak, while Hawthorns hero Chicharito replaced Rooney and Darren Fletcher reverted to a central midfield role with Darron Gibson.
Galvanised by their collective freshness, the hosts began brightly, popping passes around and dominating possession. Under five minutes had elapsed when Gibson chanced his arm with a trademark strike from distance, only skidding wide of the target by a yard.
Neat interplay between Fletcher and Giggs would have culminated in the release of Chicharito, but for a fine sliding challenge from Andy Wilkinson, before Gibson saw another powerful drive deflected over after fine approach play from Patrice Evra.
While Old Trafford adopted a nervous air whenever Stoke were given an opportunity to showcase their set-piece prowess, United still held the upper hand. The home support bellowed for a penalty when Giggs’ touch rebounded off Ryan Shawcross’ arm on the edge of the area, and the protests were still murmuring when Dimitar Berbatov poked just wide from deep inside the area.
The Bulgarian gained another sight of Asmir Begovic’s goal moments later but, while Robert Huth superbly blocked the striker’s shot, play was brought back by referee Mark Clattenburg for a foul on Nani. From the resulting free-kick, Giggs curled comfortably over Begovic’s bar.
As the weight of United’s pressure began to build, Stoke buckled – and it took a move of intricate precision to undo the Potters. Giggs’ pass released Nani on the right wing, and the Portuguese advanced into the box, slid a perfect cross through Danny Collins’ legs, and the onrushing Chicharito back-heeled a finish beautifully inside Begovic’s near post.
Either from the start or off the bench, the little Mexican is fast making a name for himself as a natural goalscorer of the highest calibre. Having snaffled all three points from Tony Pulis’ side with a double at the Britannia Stadium in October, he was once again proving the Potters’ bête noir. Within 10 minutes, he almost had a second.
Fletcher’s long ball again found Nani in behind Collins, and the winger’s nod back across the area was poked towards goal by Chicharito, only for Huth to make a vital interception and deflect the ball over the crossbar.
Although United ended the half in clear control, the second period began in utterly opposite fashion. Stoke stormed out of the blocks and began peppering the United box with crosses. Tuncay headed wastefully wide on 47 minutes, but the Turk soon made amends by assisting the visitors’ equaliser.
Having pulled Smalling out of position, Tuncay allowed Stoke to throw three players forward into the penalty area. Between Vidic and Evra, the advancing Whitehead found space to meet Tuncay’s cross and direct a header inside Kuszczak’s post.
The Potters’ first Premier League goal at Old Trafford predictably provoked delirious celebrations from the visiting supporters, but the home support used the goal as a cue to raise their own choral backing for United. The Reds shook off the sloppy opening to the half and began exerting pressure once more. Little more than 10 minutes later, the league leaders were back in front.
Excellent play from Rafael on the right flank culminated in a pass to Nani. The winger slipped a pass inside for Chicharito, who shimmied to shoot before returning the ball from whence it came. Nani needed only two touches; one with the right foot to fashion space, another to curl an unstoppable left-footed effort inside Begovic’s far post.
The winger’s penchant for the spectacular had been sorely missed during United’s trips to Birmingham and West Brom, and his first action of 2011 bore all the hallmarks of his successful 2010.
With United back into the lead, the game became something of a standoff, with neither side able to fully commit to nabbing another goal. Sir Alex Ferguson introduced Michael Owen - his first outing since early October – and Michael Carrick at the expense of Chicharito and Gibson, while Tony Pulis threw on Ricardo Fuller and Jonathan Walters in order to boost his side's firepower.
Neither manager's changes could alter the flow of the game and prompt a decisive strike. Giggs improvised a looping effort just wide of Begovic's post, while Vidic had to be alert to deflect Fuller's cross back to Kuszczak, but otherwise the game meandered towards a highly satisfying victory for United.
Before Christmas, Sir Alex had expressed his desire to bid Stoke farewell and find his side still atop the Premier League table. With 10 points taken from a possible 12, and games in hand, the Boss will consider himself highly satisfied with United's festive pickings.
Credit: Manchester United Ltd (www.manutd.com)
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