Sunday, 24 July 2011

Match Review: Chicago Fire Vs. Manchester United

Last night Manchester United took on Chicago Fire, currently standing 8th in the Eastern Conference. The stadium was filled to the brim with over 60,000 fans watching on. Every United fan was eagerly anticipating the debuts of David de Gea and Phil Jones. In the 35'c heat the boys walked out onto the pitch covered blue and black.
1st Half: De Gea, Fabio, Smalling, Jones, Evra, Diouf, Carrick, Cleverley, Obertan, Welbeck, Berbatov.
United started brightly as Tom Cleverley created a good chance for Berbatov with a delightful chip through ball, however Berbatov failed to put us in front after some poor finishing. Welbeck also scuffed a good chance to put United up one. Missed chances had their consequences as Chicago continually pressed and in the 13th minute defender Cory Gibbs headed in a cross from a set-piece taken by Marco Pappa. Debutie Phil Jones possibly could have prevented the goal has he did not manage to clear the high cross, however De Gea was left faultless between his sticks. United didn't create any more clear chances in the second half and we were lucky to not be behind by a few more goals thanks to some excellent reaction saves. Danny Welbeck and Gabriel Obertan were sharp in in the first half; however 22 year old Tom Cleverley will have been disappointed with his rather lacklustre performance, despite flashes of brilliance. The half ended 0-1 to Chicago.
2nd Half: De Gea, Evans, Smalling, Jones, Evra, Obertan, Giggs, Anderson, Park, Rooney, Welbeck.
United started the half with a new set of midfield players, De Gea and Jones still survived SAF's team talk and played the second half. We started more brightly, however no side created a clear chances. De Gea handled well and also his distribution was culminating. Moreover, in the 66th minute, new substitute Rio Ferdinand sent a delightful through ball into the path of Wayne Rooney who then lobbed the ball over Chicago's keeper Conway. This goal upped United's tempo and seven minutes later Rooney, Nani and Rafael exchanged some great passes before with his first touch Rafael finished from a tight angle to make the score 1-2 to United. Macheda then held up the ball on the edge of the box and layed it to Luis Nani to Score his first goal for United of the tour with a delightful chip over the keeper.This made the score 1-3 and showed the true depth and courage of United's squad having come back from two goals down against Chicago Fire.
After the match SAF commented on new boys David de Gea and Phil Jones saying he was 'very pleased' with their performances:


'Obviously losing the first goal put us under a bit of pressure but I think they coped well. David made a couple of good saves after that and Phil settled in nicely. I'm pleased.'

De Gea then told Goal.com that he was satisfied with his United debut: 

"I'm still new to the team and league and it's an entirely different system than the one in Spain,” De Gea explained to Goal.com. “It was my first game and it's important I get a few more before the season starts."

Highlights of the match can be seen here: 





1 comment:

  1. Last nights game was awesome ;) you have written about it amazingly!

    ReplyDelete