Manchester United vs Bursaspor Highlights: Champions League

Manchester United put the Wayne Rooney issue aside to record a crucial 1-0 victory over Bursaspor at Old Trafford. Their performance was nothing special once Nani had netted the sixth-minute goal that earned United a Champions League win over Bursaspor.
But after a traumatic view days, in which United’s world has been turned upside down by their talisman, the result was all-important. Sir Alex Ferguson knows far sterner tests lie ahead for his players, who must now respond to Rooney’s thinly disguised claim they are substandard. But at least they are able to face the future with some optimism.
As Rooney is looking at the exit doors and Antonio Valencia condemned to spend a long time recovering from a broken ankle, Nani is going to be a key man. It is a quite a turn around for a player who, 12 months ago, would have been ushered through the exit door with barely a second thought.
Yet his speed and trickery have now found new focus. And after he collected Darren Fletcher’s short pass and nipped inside a couple of static Bursaspor defenders, the Portugal winger spotted his opportunity, went for goal for 30 yards and duly saw his left-footed effort into the back of the net. A second goal could have calmed some nerves, considering the recent defensive blunders. In the end Red Devils held onto the slender lead and score a vital victory.

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Manchester United vs West Brom Highlights

Sir Alex Ferguson relegated Wayne Rooney to the bench, then saw his side throw away another two-goal lead against West Brom as Manchester United’s season lurches from one crisis to another. The Red Devils’ title challenge is in danger of disintegrating before the onset of winter after a calamitous mistake from experienced Edwin van der Sar allowed Somen Tchoyi to complete a staggering comeback for West Brom who had won against another tittle contenders Arsenal last week.

Javier Hernandez and Nani appeared to have put the hosts on the road to victory with their first-half strikes, only for Patrice Evra’s bizarre own goal to provide West Brom with a chance to battle back into the match. Rooney came on with 19 minutes left, though not as a central striker, although he did have United’s best chance of a winner, which was turned away by James Morrison.

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Sunderland vs Manchester United Highlights: EPL Highlights

Edwin van der Sar was Manchester United’s unsung hero as Sunderland boss Steve Bruce came close to breaking his losing record against Sir Alex Ferguson.

The veteran Dutchman produced a fine 16th-minute save to deny Steed Malbranque and then saw compatriot Bolo Zenden hit a post eight minutes before the break as the home side enjoyed the better of chances in the first half.

Half-time substitute Dimitar Berbatov had a 48th-minute strike ruled out for offside and after Nani had tested Simon Mignolet, fired inches wide ten minutes from time as United improved in the second half, but the Black Cats continued their fine home record and collected an important point in front of an appreciative crowd of 41,709.

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Valencia vs Manchester United Highlights

Manchester United new recruit Javier Hernandez chose the perfect time to net his first competitive goal for the Red Devils as his 85th-minute winner proved too good for Valencia.

Although United rarely looked like improving their previous record of three successive goalless draws in Spain, Sir Alex Ferguson will not care too much as his side emerged with three crucial points.

The mere fact that Hernandez’s goal, drilled expertly into the far corner after fellow substitute Federico Macheda had cut a cross back from the right, provided United with only their second victory in 19 attempts against Spanish opposition on Spanish soil proves how hard it is.

Instead of having ground to make up in the battle to reach the knockout phase, United can now face back-to-back clashes with Group C makeweights Bursaspor knowing six points will virtually secure their place in the last 16 of this season’s Champions League.

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