Manchester United cruised past Aalborg BK to secure a comfortable 3-0 victory at the Energi Nord Arena in Denmark.In an end-to-end first half, Dimitar Berbatov missed a glorious opportunity to hand United an early lead. However, Wayne Rooney was able to slot the visitors ahead (22) after being played through on goal by substitute Ryan Giggs as the reigning European champions assumed control of the game.
A shocking error from Thomas Augustinussen allowed Berbatov to volley home his first United goal after the break (55) before the Bulgarian tucked home his second from Cristiano Ronaldo’s cross (79) to seal the three points. United could have scored more than three in what was a comfortable evening for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.
Team News
On-loan from Southampton, Polish international Marek Saganowski was selected to play as a lone striker for Aalborg, who fielded a five-man midfield as they looked to snuff out United’s creative threats.
18-year-old Brazilian Rafael Da Silva was handed a surprise first European start for United at right-back. The starlet was preferred over Wesley Brown, with Gary Neville left at home with fitness concerns. Portuguese internationals Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani were named on either wing for United in a 4-4-2 formation, with Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney leading the line up-front. John O’Shea was preferred to Darren Fletcher in midfield.
First Half
In a lively opening ten minutes, it was the visitors who wasted an excellent opportunity to make an early breakthrough. Aalborg goalkeeper Karim Zaza took too long to clear the ball and Ronaldo got a touch to his scrambled clearance. The ball scooped upwards and landed at the feet of Berbatov, who could only volley wide from eight yards with the goal gaping.
Paul Scholes had to be replaced by Ryan Giggs in the 15th minute after a clumsy challenge from Thomas Augustinussen, before Rafael surged forward at pace and had a shot well saved by Zaza.
The opening goal came on 22 minutes. After good work from Nani, he played the ball to Giggs, who found himself in space in the centre of the pitch. The Welshman slotted a superb pass through to Rooney, the England international in oceans of space due to the lacklustre Aalborg defensive coverage, and the former Everton man comfortably slotted past the onrushing Zaza into the left corner of the net.
Kasper Bogelund was set free after Ronaldo lost the home full-back moments later, but was denied the opportunity to shoot by an excellent Rio Ferdinand tackle. Nonetheless, United were warned to stay on task.
Ronaldo had a deflected effort spilled by Zaza in the 33rd minute before the Danes cleared, but the Aalborg players, particularly Michael Jakobsen, were furious with the winger for playing on while defender Michael Beauchamp lay injured in the penalty box.
The lively Rafael received a booking for a miss-timed challenge, before testing Zaza with an audacious left footed chip as he approached his first European start with great endeavour.
Jeppe Curth struck narrowly over the bar just before the break, but it was United who went into the half-time break with the advantage after comfortably having the better of the first period in what was an entertaining first 45 minutes.
Second Half
It didn’t take long for United to snuff out any threat of a home comeback after the break. Just ten minutes into the second half, Berbatov struck to score his first goal for the club. Augustinussen miss-controlled the ball to give the Bulgaria international a chance just as easy as the one he somehow missed just minutes into the game. The defender’s touch scooped up into the air and allowed the striker to volley home past an out of position Zaza from the edge of the box.
Giggs hit the side netting from a tight angle as United continued to control proceedings. Curth then struck wide with his left foot for the home side after a surging run forward by Andreas Johansson.
Johansson flashed a shot across the face of goal for Aalborg before substitute Carlos Tevez superbly beat three players for United before squaring the ball unsuccessfully for Ronaldo, when it would probably have been better to shoot.
The Argentinean then struck narrowly over after a purposeful run with fifteen minutes left on the clock. Kasper Risgard shot straight at Edwin van der Sar but it was soon to be 3-0 to the visitors.
Giggs passed to Tevez, who in turn found Ronaldo wide on the right. Ronaldo flicked the ball over Pedersen and aimed his cross at Berbatov. The striker then showed great technique to guide the bouncing ball home.
Berbatov attempted to return the favour to the Portuguese winger by sending the former Sporting Lisbon star through on goal, but he was unable to beat Zaza to add a fourth.
United had to settle for three in the end and they will be hoping this win kick-starts their season as they sit on top of Group E.
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