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Manchester United claim a 1-0 win
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While the goal itself was not pretty in Manchester United’s 1-0 victory away from home, it was a result they certainly deserved thanks to a game full of impressive possession.
Still missing Cristiano Ronaldo and his more vertical, pace-filled runs down the field, the Reds hounded Pompey out of possession in the midfield and let their backs run freely down the flanks while Carlos Tevez hung back and controlled possession above the box. Tevez looked strong on the ball in his first game of the season, although at times he was more content to dance around instead of making a hard cut and putting some more pressure on David James in goal.
Portsmouth is going to have a rough night of sleep, and their dreams are most likely going to include Wes Brown and Patrice Evra streaking down the wings with the ball…again…and again…and again.
It was Evra going down the left in the 32nd minute that gave United the lead when he crossed the ball into the middle. It appeared that Sol Campbell was the main reason the ball went into the net, but Darren Fletcher was given credit for the strike, as he was sliding in as well. Regardless, James was helplessly forced to watch the ball bounce away from him toward the right side of the net, where a defender tried to clear but succeeded only in smashing it into the roof of the net.
Pompey looked decent in the first half, and Peter Crouch almost had a chance near the goal, but Evra got to the bouncing ball just in time (although his poke might have been goal-bound had Edwin van der Sar not reacted quickly).
But United’s possession took over in the second half, particularly along the left where Evra and Tevez seemed to be toying with the defense at times. Evra must have been released down that side at least six or seven times during the game, and Portsmouth was unable to consistently stop those threats. United’s defense was its usual solid self, and although Pompey had a few free kicks near the end, there was not much drama on that end during the final 45 minutes.
A question heading into the game was how Wayne Rooney would play, and if he would heed his manager’s advice to waste less time upfield and more near the goal.
Rooney looked solid this game, and he was making the back-post run on Evra’s cross before Fletcher scored it. He also displayed a deft touch-and-turn in the second half while posted up at the top of the box and should have done better from straight-on (he curled it too far left). And while he didn’t come out with a goal, that was more the linesman’s fault, who called a clearly onside Rooney off when he slipped behind and had beaten James with a deft touch of the outside of his foot for a would-have-been goal.
Rooney had another opportunity in the first half that went right to James, and the performance as a whole was more threatening than the opener against Newcastle.
That said, United can certainly use a Berbatov up front, although it appears they might be paying a pretty penny….more to come on that later.
What did you think? Impressed by United? Did they deserve the victory? Do you think they need Berbatov to take the title after seeing today's game?
