CHINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Manchester United arrives in Hangzhou for final game of Asian tour

Record ID: 336353

  • Title: CHINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Manchester United arrives in Hangzhou for final game of Asian tour
  • Date: 26th July 2009
  • Summary: ZHANGZHOU, ZHEJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA (JULY 25, 2009) (REUTERS) MANCHESTER UNITED FANS GATHERED AT AIRPORT ARRIVALS AREA SIGN FOR INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS FANS CHEERING MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYERS COMING OUT OF ARRIVALS AREA PLAYERS WALKING PAST FANS CHEERING FANS CHEERING FOR MANCHESTER UNITED STRIKER MICHAEL OWEN MANCHESTER UNITED STRIKER WAYNE ROONEY CHATTING WITH DEF
  • Embargoed: 10th August 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA1EEZX4RH4DIRL2H20GGM0DPTE
  • Story Text: The Manchester United soccer team arrived at Hangzhou airport on Saturday (July 25) to crowds of screaming fans holding banners and wearing the jerseys of their favourite Red Devils players.
    More than a hundred fans crowded the international arrivals area of Hangzhou's main airport to catch a glimpse of their favourite players.
    And their fans were escastic to see the team arrive on Chinese soil.
    "I am very happy because I have been supporting Manchester United since high school. I started following them when they were not playing well until they won the European Cup. I have always been a big fan of the team. So to be able to see them today, I feel so happy," said 25-year-old Zhang Pan.
    "I am so thrilled. I feel so happy to have seen him smile. We came especially to watch the match and to see him (Michael Owen). After I have seen him in person today, I feel I have lived my life with no regrets," said 20-year-old Song Yiqing.
    The team is in good spirits for the final game of their pre-season Asian tour after they twice came from behind to beat FC Seoul 3-2 in the South Korean capital on Friday (July 24).
    Striker Dimitar Berbatov had scored the winner to maintain United's unbeaten record on their pre-season tour of Asia after goals from Wayne Rooney and Federico Macheda balanced a brace from FC Seoul's Montenegrin striker Dejan Damjanovic.
    The team is set to play local team Hangzhou Greentown on Sunday (July 26) night. They have beaten Malaysian opposition twice on the first leg of their tour but had to abandoned their visit to Indonesia after the deadly hotel blasts in Jakarta.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register