Ding-Dong - United Edge Out Kaizer Chiefs

1-0 Win
By Chris O'Brien
July 25 2006

Dong Fangzhuo netted the only goal of the game eight minutes from time as a young Manchester United side secured a 1-0 win over the Kaizer Chiefs. The Red Devils were really tested by the South African outfit and faced a tough task to make it to wins from two on their pre-season tour.

Manchester United continued their pleasing start to pre-season with a 1-0 victory over the Kaizer Chiefs in Cape Town.

An 82nd-minute strike from Dong Fangzhuo was enough to give the tourists victory in a tight and testing game for a young United side. The Red Devils were given much more of a test that their South African tour opener against the Orlando Pirates, and are likely to meet the Chiefs again in the Vodacom Challenge final.

The Chiefs were organised and disciplined and United took sometime to settle. Chances for either side were at a premium, with Giuseppe Rossi perhaps going closest for the Reds and former Charlton striker Shaun Bartlett firing a shot over the bar for the native side.

United introduced Fangzhuo in the place of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the interval and the striker had a massive impact for United. Guesting from Royal Antwerp, the Chinese youngster went close on a handful of occasions before finally breaking the deadlock some eight minutes from time as he fired home a pass from the impressive Darren Fletcher.

The late striker came as massive relief to United who had been frustrated by a stubborn Chiefs defence for long periods of the game. Paul Scholes missed a gilt edge chance on 77 minutes, whilst Kieran Richardson's removal with an ankle injury was a disappointment. However, Sir Alex Ferguson will be pleased with the performance of a young side and can look forward to his team's final tour match on Saturday as they face the winner of a play-off between the Chiefs and the Pirates for the Vodacom Challenge Cup.

Full Time - Kaizer Chiefs 0-1 Manchester United

Kaizer Chiefs: Fernandez, Nzama, Bartlett, Tau, Obua, Zwane, Schalkwyk, Nkosi, Mototo, Ngobese, Mayo.
Substitutes: Mooki, Radebe, Mathebula, McCarthy, Nengomasha, Sibeko, Mkhonza, Khune, Motaung Jnr, Agyemang, Djiehoua.

Manchester United: Foster, Simpson, O'Shea, Brown, Evra, Fletcher, Scholes (D Jones, 77), Giggs, Richardson (Eagles, 61), Rossi (Gibson, 69), Solskjaer (Fangzhuo, 46).
Substitutes Not Used: Miller, Steele, Bardsley, Evans.