July 28, 2010 OUT-MANNED(UNITED) MLS all-stars routed by ManU, 5-2
Federico Macheda staked Man U to a 2-0 lead in the first 12 minutes of Wednesday night's MLS All-Star Game. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
HOUSTON -- Maybe playing Manchester United in the all-star game wasn't such a great idea after all.
Despite having less than a full squad and only in the pre-season, Man United struck for two goals in the opening 12 minutes, including the first about 20 seconds into the match, en route to a 5-2 victory over the MLS all-stars at Reliant Stadium Wednesday night.
It was the first time the MLS all-stars went down to defeat in regulation in this format against international club competition, which was started in 2003. The MLS all-stars fell to 5-1-1. While last year's result -- a 1-1 draw with Everton and a loss in the penalty-kick shootout -- is officially a draw, it is considered a loss in American sports parlance.
Federico Macheda struck for the first two goals of the match before a crowd of more than 70,000, his initial tally only seconds after the opening kickoff.
Macheda was named the MVP of the match.
"We were well prepared," he told Rob Stone on ESPN2 immediately afterwards. "We had a great game. We played very well."
Asked how he could separate himself from the pack on United and break in as a regular in the starting lineup, Macheda replied, "I just need to work hard. Then the man [manager Sir Alex Ferguson] has to make a choice. I will be well prepared for it."
In contrast, MLS defender Kevin Alston was not well prepared for the start of the match. He placed a weak back pass to a teammate that Macheda intercepted and beat goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts of the L.A. Galaxy for a rather improbable 1-0 lead.
Macheda doubled the visitors' advantage with a header in the 12th minute.
United left several players in England, including forward Wayne Rooney. So, Ferguson used a younger team vs. the all-stars.
"They had the platform tonight to produce the skills I know they got and I thought they did it," ManU captain and veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs said.
Red Bulls captain and striker Juan Pablo Angel, who had never beaten United when he played with Aston Villa in England and who had maybe a Carling Cup goal against the English Premier League rivals, nearly cut the lead in half in the 15th minute when goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar parried his 25-yard free kick over the crossbar.
Angel had a close encounter right in front of the net in the 25th minute, but a United defender managed to clear the ball out of harm's way for a corner kick. Angel came out of the match at halftime as he was replaced by Brian Ching.
Scottish international Darren Fletcher almost made it 3-0 in the 41st minute as he rattled a shot off the crossbar.
Omar Gonzalez nearly found the back of the net for MLS in the 60th minute as his floating shot from the right side nearly eluded van der Sar, who managed to catch it in the nick of time.
Javier Hernandez, the first Mexican signed by United, made his ManU debut in the 62nd minute, replacing Nani.
Hometown hero Ching gave the crowd a reason to cheer as he struck in the 63rd minute, heading home David Ferreira's free kick from point-blanked range, slicing the MLS deficit in half.
Hernandez had a close shot saved by goalkeeper Nick Rimando in the 67th minute.
Darren Gibson restored United's two-goal cushion in the 70th minute, rifling home a 24-yard free kick to the near post.
Only three minutes later, ManU struck yet again, as Tom Cleverley beat the MLS defense and then Rimando from six yards for a 4-1 bulge.
U.S. World Cup hero Landon Donovan, fresh off the L.A. Galaxy's 4-1 CONCACAF Champions League loss to the Puerto Rico Islanders on Tuesday night, replaced Heath Pearce in the 74th minute.
Hernandez made the Houston crowd happy by scoring in the 84th minute, chipping Rimando from just outside the penalty area for a 5-1 advantage.
"It was a pefect start to score the goal," Giggs told ESPN2. "It's not just the goal, it's his all-around movement."
Former Dynamo star Dwayne DeRosario closed out the scoring in the 90th minute.
