Macheda and Owen score as United secure Malaysia double
TWO in TWO!
By Chris,
July 21 2009
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils secured a double over the Malaysian XI with a comfortable 2-0 victory on Monday. Michael Owen made it two from two as he and Federico Macheda hit the target in a routine pre-season friendly win for the Premier League champions.
United's Asia Tour continued on Monday and the Reds eased to a two-nil victory thanks to early strikes from Macheda and Owen.
Prior to the game, a minute's silence was observed for the lives lost in Friday's bombing in Indonesia. United were supposed to play their second tour match on Indonesian soil before a series of blasts forced the game's postponement. A second match against the Malaysian XI was horridly organised following the cancellation.
Sir Alex Ferguson made plenty of changes from the starting XI that won 3-2 earlier in the week - with Owen handed his first start in the red jersey after entering a fray as a substitute last time around.
Bright prospect Macheda opened the scoring after eleven minutes as he converted a Darren Fletcher cross and the lead was doubled moments later as the Malaysian outfit failed to deal with a Zoran Tosic cross and Owen was on hand to prod the ball into an empty net from close range.
United dominated the game for long periods; but a determined display from the hosts stopped Fergie's men extending their lead.
Full Time - Malaysian XI 0-2 Manchester United
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Gk Foster - 6/10 - Barely had a save to make.
RB Neville - 5/10 - Some wayward crossing, and caught out of position a couple of times. Will probably be 3rd/4th choice rightback this season.
CB Brown - 8/10 - Excellent game, made some great one on one tackles and looked fit and raring to go.
CB Evans - 7/10 - Not much to do.
LB Fabio - 6/10 - Got forward well but seems to get injured very easily.
RM Fletcher - 7/10 - Great range of passing and drive, even playing out of position.
CM Carrick - 6/10 - Sat deep and controlled the midfield effectively.
CM Giggs - 9/10 - Backheels, flicks, tricks and got the crowd on their feet when dribbling past 4/5 Malaysian players. Brilliant, the years just rolled back.
LM Tosic - 7/10 - A very dangerous left foot, whipped some killer crosses into the box. Very small though, and could be outmuscled in the EPL.
ST Owen - 7/10 - Looked lively, good goal, tracked back.
ST Macheda - 5/10 - Good goal and had some nice moments but his passing was woeful at times. Still has much to learn.
Subs:
Kuszczak - 5/10 - Not much to do.
O'Shea - 6/10 - Solid.
Ferdinand - 6/10 - Solid
Evra - 6/10 - Got forward well.
Anderson - 7/10 - Brought some momentum into the middle and missed a sitter, that even he found funny. Will never score.
Gibson - 6/10 - No problems.
Scholes - 5/10 - Came on, made some good passes, made a dreadful tackle. Same old.
Nani - 5/10 - Not much to do.
Berbatov- 6/10 - Sat very deep but had some lovely touches.
Rooney - 3/10 - Came on, missed 2/3 sitters - got very angry.
Goals: Macheda 11, Owen 13