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Manchester United 3 - 1 Aston Villa
Saturday 16th January 2007
Old Trafford, Manchester
A record crowd Old Trafford witnessed a clinical United see off Aston Villa for a third time in as many weeks as the irrepressible Reds continued a run of form that has gleaned 44 points from a possible 51 in the last 17 matches.
Sir Alex recalled Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic and Paul Scholes at the expense of Tomasz Kuszczak, Wes Brown and Ryan Giggs. The Reds boss stuck with the strike-partnership of Wayne Rooney and Henrik Larsson which showed more than a glimmer of potential in the 2-1 cup victory at Old Trafford.
The Reds immediately looked for a route through. Gary Neville and Patrice Evra attacked whenever possible. And it was the United skipper who almost instigated an opening goal. Larsson met Neville’s brilliant cross from the right and forced a magnificent save from Sorensen after five minutes of play.
The breakthrough didn’t take long, 16 minutes in fact, and came courtesy of one of United’s most tenacious players. Neville’s cross was poorly dealt with, and when Gary Cahill fluffed his clearance, Ji-sung Park smacked home the his first goal this season at the second attempt.
The Korean midfielder becomes United’s 16th different goalscorer this season. The seventeenth followed two minutes later, when Michael Carrick grabbed his first ever goal for the club. Park attacked Wilfred Bouma from the right flank, before pulling the ball back to the edge of the area, where Carrick took a touch before volleying in United’s second. Villa looked in disarray, the Reds appeared composed and in control.
And with ten minutes of the half remaining, after a period of possession play, United grabbed a third to all but end the contest. Park again played a part. Gavin McCann dallied long enough to be dispossessed by the Reds winger. Then Carrick took over and curled a precision cross to the far post, where Ronaldo, December’s Premiership Player of the Month, headed home his 13th goal of the season – all of which have come in the league.
Larsson showed great intelligence in his movement and touch up front, while Rooney was heavily involved in United’s attacks. In one move involving Larsson, Carrick, Scholes and the 21-year-old striker, Rooney was again denied by Sorensen, who raced out to block his shot from 12 yards. Rooney moved to the left wing shortly after as Saha came on for Park to partner Larsson up front. And the Frenchman was denied a swift goal when Cahill cleared his shot off the line.
United: Van der Sar; Neville (c), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Park (Saha, 65), Carrick (O’Shea, 80), Scholes, Ronaldo; Rooney, Larsson (Solskjaer, 80).
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Giggs.
Aston Villa: Sorensen; Mellberg, Cahill, Ridgewell, Bouma (Samuel, 46); Barry, Hughes (Davis, 46), Osbourne, McCann, Barry; Agbonlahor, Baros.
Subs not used: Taylor (GK), Hendrie, Angel.
Attendance: 76,078 (United record)
Source: ManUtd.com
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