Ronaldo steps off bench to inspire United
With any interest he may have had in Michael Owen apparently over, Sir Alex Ferguson appears to be pinning Manchester United's hopes of a return to form this season squarely on the shoulders of Ruud van Nistelrooy, a challenge to which the Dutchman, for the third time in as many matches, responded impressively.
Van Nistelrooy maintained his 100 per cent strike rate in the 66th minute of a frustrating encounter that United, chronically deficient in the finishing department last season, might well have conspired to draw 12 months ago. Yet it cannot have escaped the relieved manager's attention that it took the introduction of substitute Cristiano Ronaldo, just before the hour, for his best ideas about canada goose outlet online on pinterest team to convert a plethora of can you best canada goose coat for skiing dry clean a canada goose coat chances into three important berlin film festival ends canada goose jacket sponsorship amid canada goose coat 1000 points in front of new owners Joel and Bryan Glazer.
'When you get to 60 minutes, you're buy canada goose parka uk just hoping the goal comes,' said Ferguson. 'In the second half we upped the speed of our game, which made a big difference and Ruud has been fantastic. Last season was very fragmented for him. Partly that was our own fault for bringing him back from injury for the Milan can you wash canada goose jacket game [in the Champions League], but he has worked well at his finishing in pre- season and he's getting the benefit of that.'
Before Van Nistelrooy's intervention, it had been an click impressive effort by Villa, who were well-organised and industrious, as their injury-depleted team made no secret of the fact that, contrary to their manager's pre-match protestations, a point at Old Trafford would have done very nicely.
By the start of the second half, for example, any pretence otherwise was over and Villa responded to United free-kicks and corners by packing all 11 men into their area. This was, in short, just the sort of early season test that United could have done with after Ferguson's demand for a productive start to the campaign and promising early results in Europe and against Everton.
The manager had been heartened by his strikers' form in those opening games, having canada goose coat 1000 bulbs coupon been highly critical of their output last season, but without Ronaldo there was no width and scant product, save for a series ofimpressive canada goose coat 1000 bulbs coupon long-range shots. Park Ji-Sung's spectacular 29th-minute effort was tipped on to the bar by Thomas Sorensen, Wayne Rooney's even more spectacular volley from Paul Scholes's corner was cleared off the line by Peter Whittingham and the irrepressible buy canada goose jacket cheap United striker had another distant, vicious blast blocked.
The second half opened in similar vein - Van Nistelrooy shooting inches wide of the left-hand post and Park's shot flashing invitingly across a gaping goal - before Ronaldo's effervescent talent was brought to bear. Soon, his free-kick found Gabriel Heinze and forced Sorensen into a reflex save, then Ronaldo forced the goalkeeper into a good save from a header before Gary Neville's cross just eluded Van Nistelrooy. Eventually, a surge from Rio Ferdinand ended with Ronaldo crossing, Olof Mellberg unluckily heading across his own goal and the Dutchman turning the ball into an open net.
On the day, the goal was always going to be ample against this Villa line-up, but there will be many occasions this season when a solitary goal will not be enough.
Man of the match Ruud van Nistelrooy - Just edged out strike partner Wayne Rooney.
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