Premier League - Macheda puts United top

Eurosport - Mon, 06 Apr 09:38:00 2009

A stunning injury-time strike by 17-year-old debutant Federico Macheda gave Manchester United a 3-2 home win over Aston Villa to restore the champions to the top of the Premier League.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Manchester United Man United-Aston Villa Macheda - 0

In the 92nd minute, the previously unknown Italian curled an unstoppable shot into the top right after leaving Luke Young for dead with a delightful backheel.

Villa had been leading through goals by John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor, with Cristiano Ronaldo adding an 80th-minute equaliser to his first-half opener.

The win got United's title defence back on track after consecutive league defeats against Liverpool and Fulham threatened to derail their bid.

Burly former Lazio schoolboy Macheda was introduced on the hour mark for the disappointing Nani and was only in the squad because United were missing seven first-team players through injury and suspension.

Rio Ferdinand, Dimitar Berbatov, Fabio Da Silva and Wes Brown are all out for varying time frames while Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney were serving bans for recent red cards.

The net effect was that United's defence looked shaky and a bench filled with teenagers could barely inspire confidence when Sir Alex Ferguson's side went behind.

Villa started brightly and they went close through a Carew header cleared off the line by Darren Fletcher on five minutes.

Agbonlahor was getting the better of Gary Neville as United looked unsure at the back without Ferdinand and Vidic.

But the hosts took the lead after a moment of madness saw James Milner touch the ball back to Brad Friedel with the American keeper already diving on to the ball.

It was a clear backpass inside the area and, after Milner was booked for encroachment, Ryan Giggs touched the indirect free-kick to Ronaldo, who smashed the ball across the face of goal and into the top right corner for 1-0 on 14 minutes.

United could have gone two up straight from kick off when a long ball played Giggs through, but Carlos Cuellar got back to block his finish.

Villa recovered from the shock of going behind and Ashley Young forced a smart stop from Edwin van der Sar with a free-kick on the edge of the United area.

They levelled on 29 minutes thanks to the endeavour and skill of Gareth Barry, who won a 50-50 ball on the right, nutmegged Patrice Evra and swung a perfect cross for 6'4" Norwegian Carew to divert a downward header into the left corner of the United goal.

Ronaldo was guilty of a glaring miss five minutes later when he sent a free header straight at Friedel, but it would have been harsh on Villa to trail at the break as, despite United having better possession, the visitors created more clear-cut chances.

The second half started in subdued fashion, with United looking nervous and uninspired while Villa were happy to sit back and use the counter attack.

It paid off for Martin O'Neill's men when, after Ronaldo gave the ball to Stiliyan Petrov in Villa's half, they countered down the left.

Neville stood back as Carew moved towards the area and the former Valencia striker duly picked out a cross that Agbonlahor rose to head past the stranded Van der Sar.

United's problems with injury and suspension were highlighted by the introduction of Macheda for anonymous Portugal winger Nani.

Jonny Evans headed a Giggs corner just over but United lacked a creative spark or inspirational figure to drive them on.

After a short spell camped on the edge of the Villa box, the ball broke to Ronaldo who took a touch before drilling a low left-foot shot through the legs of Petrov and past the unsighted Friedel into the bottom right.

The Portugal star's leveller heralded a final push by United that saw sub Danny Welbeck force a reflex stop from Friedel after he killed Ronaldo's cross with a good first touch.

The visitors looked like they were holding on for a point until Macheda's late moment of brilliance.

With his side camped on the edge of the Villa box, the reserve-team striker had his back to goal on the left-hand side of the box but left Luke Young trailing with an impudent flick that created the space for a right-foot curler that left Friedel no chance.

United's win put them one point clear of Liverpool with a game in hand.

Villa, meanwhile, stay fifth but are only one point ahead of Everton, who thrashed Wigan 4-0 earlier in the day.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 655 - 674 of 674

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  1. this guys got presence in the box. he has the skill of­ berba and torres coupled with the sense of van gol. the­ gr8est finisher in the game
    hala madrid. i'[m­ sure his dream club is real madrid

    From essienotobong, on Fri 10 Apr 10:23AM

  2. The Italians have an excellent coaching system where­ boys are trained by professional coaches. They can­ have an association with or sponsorship from a club,­ but they are not allowed to sign until they are 16. ­ This system has produced a number of The World's­ best players success on the international scene. ­ Taking a player from this system is wrong, because it­ not only seperates a family, but may destroy probably­ the best coaching system for young players in the­ world.
    To Manu fans?
    Manu or England?
    Manu or football?

    From tuscanvillan, on Thu 9 Apr 8:02AM

  3. It was an
    impressive match really,great thanks to a­ seventeen year old boy MACHEDA iam really greatfull for­ this boy and i hope he keeps itup because we have a lot­ to go
    and let the rest keep their mouth shut.

    From Yiga, on Wed 8 Apr 8:22PM

  4. Lets not put too much pressure on Federico Macheda, he­ is still a growing player and not a legend

    From dadevil4lyf, on Tue 7 Apr 1:32PM

  5. Yet again Yahoo Eurosport have missed the point. The­­ game was ruined by bad (biased)refereeing decisions­­ ManU et al(Le Big Four, The Media, The FA, The­­ Referees) are turning our game into a circus with no­­ sport involved. Liverpool v ManU is like Big Daddy v­­ Giant Haystacks a media event, which is all hype and­­ very little substance (All other teams are brushed­­ aside with no consequence or value, despite their true­­ abilities). In the words of Mourinho (rough­­ translation)"the press suffer from intelectual­­ prostitution in their search to keep the status­­ quo"

    From tuscanvillan, on Tue 7 Apr 7:41AM

  6. just a little comment for ALL the a**eholes who think­­ football is still a tribal game! ask yourselves how­­ many of your teams players come from the team's­­ local area, how many scousers in liverpool? how many­­ londoners in chelski and arsenal how many mancs at old­­ trafford?????? simple answer is and always has­­ been...if it's ok to have the highly paid­­ influential foreigner's playing for your team how­­ the hell can it not be ok for supporters from outside­­ that teams local area? grow up and see the game for­­ what it is! if it wasn't for the outsiders playing­­ for the clubs do you honestly think that any of our­­ teams would be anywhere in the world of football, i­­ doubt it. now i don't claim to be an expert on­­ footy but i do know that all our top teams have a­­ global following and rightly so, it's helped our­­ clubs no end financially and yes that includes the­ pool­ so for fuc*sake get over yourselves!!! glory­ glory Man­ Utd, (and yes i am from outside Manchester­ wot of­ it???)

    From geezadood, on Mon 6 Apr 6:20PM

  7. just a thought how come mufc's ladies team aint­ called womanchester united lol

    From geezadood, on Mon 6 Apr 5:43PM

  8. just a little comment for ALL the a**eholes who think­ football is still a tribal game! ask yourselves how­ many of your teams players come from the team's­ local area, how many scousers in liverpool? how many­ londoners in chelski and arsenal how many mancs at old­ trafford?????? simple answer is and always has­ been...if it's ok to have the highly paid­ influential foreigner's playing for your team how­ the hell can it not be ok for supporters from outside­ that teams local area? grow up and see the game for­ what it is! if it wasn't for the outsiders playing­ for the clubs do you honestly think that any of our­ teams would be anywhere in the world of football, i­ doubt it. now i don't claim to be an expert on­ footy but i do know that all our top teams have a­ global following and rightly so, it's helped our­ clubs no end financially and yes that includes the pool­ so for fuc*sake get over yourselves!!! glory glory Man­ Utd, (and yes i am from outside Manchester wot of­ it???)

    From geezadood, on Mon 6 Apr 5:39PM

  9. United kept at it and in the end they got their reward ­ , the winner well its stuff of legends i would not­ want it any other way

    From anthony h, on Mon 6 Apr 5:03PM

  10. No? A pox to the"odious" obnoxious Geordie­ git!

    From Colonel K, on Mon 6 Apr 4:03PM

  11. CAMERON W

    From Colonel K, on Mon 6 Apr 3:51PM

  12. cameron w

    From Colonel K, on Mon 6 Apr 3:50PM

  13. cameron w

    From Colonel K, on Mon 6 Apr 3:50PM

  14. Cameron W's quiet this afty inne??? Still not­ playing, hang on, I wonder if like the Candyman and­ Betelgeuse (or Biggy Smalls in South Park), whether­ he'll appear if I say his name into the monitor­ three times?!?!?!?! I wonder...

    From Colonel K, on Mon 6 Apr 3:49PM

  15. lfcthebest living in the past you need to get out more­ 1-4 and your happy its all about the trophies something­ you losers dont know about another year of no glory for­ you aint life a @#$% ha ha

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Mon 6 Apr 3:39PM

  16. lfcthebest living in the past you need to get out more­ 1-4 and your happy get some trophies like us then you­ can be happy ha ha

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Mon 6 Apr 3:37PM

  17. No Sam lol, last night, had some sleep, got up wrote a­ bit, went to see about a job, then came back - and here­ I am again lol. : P

    From Colonel K, on Mon 6 Apr 3:27PM

  18. Talk about 'squeaky bum time.' Before Ronaldo­ hit the equalizer I thought Villa were more likely to­ get a third. Talk about turning a game on it's­ head. This was surely a massive stroke of good fortune.­ Macheda looks a player though! Who needs Benzema?­ Liverpool fans must be gutted at this result. I am­ absolutely over the moon.

    From chriscunningham92, on Mon 6 Apr 2:58PM

  19. Ronaldo rules when it matters the most, games are won­ by putting the ball in the onion bag.With man U its not­ over until its over, ask bayern munich and arsenal they­ know better.United for the five trophies.

    From simon, on Mon 6 Apr 2:57PM

  20. im bbaaaaacccckkkkk!!! gi5 u been on all night? i cant­ be a.r.s.e.d going back through pages of messages

    From MUFCareligion, on Mon 6 Apr 2:41PM
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