USA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Michael Owen's winner exacts small revenge for Manchester United who finish U.S. tour with 2-1 win over Barcelona

Record ID: 336305

  • Title: USA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Michael Owen's winner exacts small revenge for Manchester United who finish U.S. tour with 2-1 win over Barcelona
  • Date: 1st August 2011
  • Summary: LANDOVER, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES (JULY 30, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING INTO FEDEX FIELD (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANU UNITED FAN TARA KENGARLOO SAYING: "Whatever the outcome its payback time and you know whatever the outcome it's a good game and I'm just glad to be here and experience it." FANS ENTERING THE STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) BARCA FAN GEOFFRE
  • Embargoed: 16th August 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA16UZFR5LZC86PPNOJ90ESLZEZ
  • Story Text: Manchester United exacted a small amount of revenge for their Champions League final loss with a 2-1 win over Barcelona in a preseason friendly in Washington, DC on Saturday (July 30).
    Playing before the packed stadium of more than 80,000 at Fedex Field outside the city, Michael Owen scored a 76th minute winner on a breakaway to seal the win for the Red Devils. Nani opened the scoring for United in the first half, but the Catalan side found the equalizer in the second half through a right-footed strike from distance by Thiago.
    "So we're happy winning the match and we move on now to back home and hopefully we keep good form," explained Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.
    The Scot has been pleased with his side's performance in their two-week U.S tour which saw five wins in five matches, as he moved players around and worked with different formations trying to replace the key losses of midfielder Paul Scholes and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, and figure out which of his six strikers to play.
    "With Paul Scholes retiring and Darren Fletcher still recovering from his virus it's in area in which we have to find a solution for but that's why we played Cleverley today. Cleverley physically is not the strongest lad, but he's wiry, he has a great idea of the game,: said Ferguson. "I thought he was the best player."
    "Obviously, replacing van der Sar shoes is very difficult. He's a great goal keeper but the benefit we got with De Gea is he's twenty years of age. He's a young man," he added.
    On the opposite bench, Pep Guardiola was also happy with his teams performance in their first match in the U.S. following a win in the Audi Cup in Germany last week.
    "We're so, so happy about our performance and try to recover as quickly as possible Xavi, Gerard and the rest of the players and try to play every time a little bit better in Miami and Dallas."
    Barcelona will play Mexican sides Chivas de Guadalajara and Club America before returning to Spain to start their season.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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