USA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Frederico Macheda, scores two goals Iin Manchester United's 4-1 win over the New England Revolution in the opening match of their American pre-season tour.

Record ID: 336366

  • Title: USA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Frederico Macheda, scores two goals Iin Manchester United's 4-1 win over the New England Revolution in the opening match of their American pre-season tour.
  • Date: 15th July 2011
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAUL GREEN, UNITED FAN FROM IRELAND SAYING: "Rooney and little Pete, and a soccer match, all three!" [REPORTER ASKING: What do you think will happen tonight?] "Tom Brady's going to go out and just go . . .[cheers with mates]"
  • Embargoed: 30th July 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVABP7BEGRRCLR6VGIJTOABGB95J
  • Story Text: Manchester United eased into their pre-season tour of the U.S. with a 4-1 thrashing of the MLS' New England Revolution on Wednesday (July 13).
    Michael Owen started the ball rolling for the Red Devils in the second half, before Italian striker Frederico Marcheda netted a brace of goals. Park Ji-Sung wrapped up the scoring with a classy give-and-go with Ryan Giggs in the box.
    "It's always nice to get the first one out of the way. I think it's a bit early in the season, first ever game, I think it's the earliest that I've ever had a pre-season game. So, I think everyone's a bit apprehensive at first, but we loosened up towards the second half, hence the goals," explained veteran defender, Rio Ferdinand.
    Manager Alex Ferguson agreed with Ferdinands assessment.
    "We managed to get most of the players some game time, which is the main reason for the having pre-season games - to make sure that everyone by the end of it has had enough game time has his rhythm and tempo back in," Sir Alex said afterwards.
    "I thought in the second half when we speeded up passing in the last third [of the field] we scored some very good goals through that. So I am satisfied," the Scot added.
    With strikes from Owen and Macheda, and a slow opening half from starting strikers Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, while goal-scorer Mexican Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez has yet to join the team for the tour, Ferguson will face another tough choice up front this season.
    "I think the problem for Michael [Owen] last year, and the same is applied to other strikers and Berbatov in particular, was that the form of Chicharito was just too good. You couldn't leave him out. And that's going to be heading for me, because having Mame-Diouf back and Macheda back, you know, I'm going to be picking from six strikers, which is not a bad thing. But sometimes it can be a confusing aspect of the team choice," said Ferguson.
    "You saw Macheda's finishes today -- they were first class. He's something special, only 19-years of age, I still have great hopes for him. And of course, Chicharito with a season behind him of English football, we could be talking about anything, you know."
    Before the match, United fans flooded the parking lot of Gillette Stadium hours before kick-off, for a match that was for them never in doubt.
    "Well, New England's probably going to get spanked. I'm not going to lie, so I mean I'm just trying to go with the crowd, I guess, try and blend in a little bit," said T.J., a New England Revolution fan who turned up in a United Jersey.
    Paul Green, a United fan travelling with friends from Ireland, got his sports confused when he came to the home stadium of the NFL's New England Patriots.
    "Tom Brady's going to go out and just go . .." before demonstrating a pass from the Pro-Bowl quarterback of the Patriots.
    Green and other loyal United fans will follow the team across the U.S. on their tour that takes them next to Seattle for a week of training before playing the Sounders of the MLS.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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