FA Barclays Premiership
Old Trafford, Sat 10 February
MANCHESTER UNITED 2
Park (24), Fletcher (82)
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 0
The Reds won this match without ever really over-exerting themselves against Charlton at Old Trafford.
The performance perhaps didn't follow suit after 4-0 victories over Watford and Tottenham in recent weeks, but goals from the impressive pair Ji-sung Park and Darren Fletcher gave Sir Alex’s men another three valuable points in the race for the title.
Cristiano Ronaldo had been suffering from a cold in the week and was rested, as was Michael Carrick, recovering from a slight groin injury. Darren Fletcher partnered Paul Scholes in midfield. Edwin van der Sar missed out due to the broken nose he received against Tottenham last time out for the Reds. Tomasz Kuszczak again deputised for the Dutchman.
There was a recall for Louis Saha up front alongside Wayne Rooney. The Frenchman has been infrequently involved in recent weeks due to a minor knee injury. But he returned to face Charlton for his first start since Newcastle on New Year’s Day.
United were positive from the first whistle, with Charlton’s tactics of Marcus Bent up front on his own merely inviting pressure.
Ji-sung Park was first to test Addicks goalkeeper Scott Carson after five minutes, latching on to a poor headed clearance from Ben Thatcher, before forcing a full-stretch save with a powerful right-footed shot. The on-loan Liverpool keeper was called upon again a minute later. Ryan Giggs, who typified United’s first-half performance with explosive bursts forward, turned past Thatcher on the right flank and crossed for Saha, whose header on the turn was saved low and to Carson’s left.
Charlton then exerted a spell of pressure themselves. An excellent cross on the right from Osei Sankofa was met by a powerful header from Darren Ambrose. Kuszczak had to scramble across goal and tip the ball round the post. Ambrose had another attempt on goal on 23 minutes, this time a shot on the bounce from 25 yards which Kuszczak did well hold onto on an uneven goalmouth surface.
It certainly hadn’t been a beautiful game, and so it was no surprise that the cross that brought about the opening goal was the result of a deflection. Giggs and Patrice Evra linked up well on the left and the Frenchman’s cross ricocheted off Sankofa. Surprisingly, it was Park who rose above Thatcher to skilfully head United into the lead.
The Reds almost had a second with seven minutes of the half remaining after some sublime skill from Rooney. The 21-year-old forward controlled Giggs’ lofted pass in mid-air, then flicked the ball over Diawara and Thatcher before shooting narrowly wide. It would have been one of his finest goals for United.
With Charlton offering little in the way of penetrative attacking football, United appeared content with the 1-0 win after the break. There was a patience to the play, lacking United’s usual speed. Rooney and Giggs both had shots from the edge of the area, but 15 minutes into the second half there had been few clear-cut opportunities.
Sir Alex, keen not to rest on such a slender lead, replaced Giggs with Henrik Larsson. The Swedish forward played on the right flank, Park switching to the left.
A sense of urgency seemed missing from United’s play and the Reds were given a scare on 78 minutes when Marcus Bent flicked on Dennis Rommedahl’s free kick just past Kuszczak’s left post. The fans clearly recognised the fragility of a 1-0 lead and urged the team on for a second. Charlton’s fans sensed an opportunity of their own.
Rooney and Saha almost combined to find a second for Sir Alex’s side. On the counter, the Frenchman fed the ball to Rooney, whose first-time, lofted pass put Saha through. But, under close attention from two Charlton defenders, couldn’t get enough power behind his shot and Carson saved.
However, a second finally arrived with just over eight minutes remaining. Good link-up play between Larsson and Rooney allowed the latter to get a shot on target, which Carson saved with his legs. But the ball came back out to Rooney, whose cross found Fletcher for a simple header to wrap up the points.
Team Line-ups
United: Kuszczak; Neville (c), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Park, Scholes, Fletcher, Giggs (Larsson, 63); Rooney, Saha (Richardson, 81).
Subs not used: Brown, Silvestre, Heaton (GK).
Charlton: Carson; Sankofa, Bougherra, Diawara, Thatcher; Rommedahl, Song, Holland (c) (Hughes, 73), Faye (Zhi, 40), Ambrose (Lisbie, 73); Bent.
Subs not used: Hasselbaink, Randolph (GK).
from man utd.com
