Saha marks return with goal
LOUIS SPOILS KEANO’S RETURN: Manchester United’s Louis Saha rising in between two Sunderland defenders to head in the only goal in United’s 1-0 win over Roy Keane’s men.
Injury-plagued Louis Saha made a goal-scoring return to action yesterday, with the only goal for Manchester United in a 1-0 win over Sunderland.
His return overshadowed Roy Keane’s sojourn back to the Theater of Dreams, while Norwegian hero Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who retired on Tuesday, was given a guard-of-honour prior to the match.
Sir Alex Ferguson gave new signing Anderson his first start, as the gaffer chose to rest Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs.
The first half was a dreary affair, with United’s Carlos Tevez and 21-year-old Chris Eagles having the best chances, testing Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon with their shots.
Possession was very much on United’s side, but they could not pose much of a threat to a well-organised Sunderland side.
The restart saw the return of Saha, who had been missing in action since midway last season – and he spurred United and the second half to life.
Five minutes into the second half, it was Tevez in with a chance after capitalising on a bad clearance by Danny Higginbotham, but his cleanly struck shot was held by Gordon.
Six minutes later, Gordon was in the thick of the action again as he blocked Saha’s first time volley, after the latter had chested down the ball brilliantly and making a turn.
From the resulting corner, United centreback Nemanja Vidic just volleyed over the bar.
United were not all secured at the back, with United keeper Edwin van der Sar having to come out and push away Rio Ferdinand’s backpass before Sunderland’s Kenwyne Jones could do anything.
Midway into the second half, Owen Hargreaves saw his blistering shot stopped and eventually held by Gordon.
In almost as similar a time as the previous match, United finally took the lead after Saha rose in between Dickson Etuhu and substitute Daryl Murphy to head in from Nani’s corner.
It was sheer elation for the Frenchman, who had been sidelined for prolonged periods because of his injury.
There was no stopping United from then on, as both Nani and Hargreaves launched their own assault on Sunderland’s goal.
Sunderland made a double switch towards the end, bringing on Liam Miller and Anthony Stokes for Etuhu and Ross Wallace respectively, but United had the final say as Tevez’s strike was punched away by Gordon.
United held on for the much needed second win, and they next play Everton with Cristiano Ronaldo all set to return after a three-match suspension.
Team line-up
ManU: van der Sar (gk), Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Hargreaves, Scholes, Nani (O’Shea, 83′), Anderson (Saha, HT), Eagles (Fletcher, 65′), Tevez
Sun: Gordon (gk), Collins, McShane, Nosworthy, Higginbotham, Wallace (Stokes, 82′), Leadbitter, Etuhu (Miller, 82′), Yorke, Chopra, Jones (Murphy, 69′)
