Iňigo Martínez's second-minute own goal proved the
difference, enabling the Premier League side to pull a point clear at the top
of Group A.
Manchester United FC put their indifferent domestic form
behind them as they moved top of Group A with a comfortable 1-0 victory over
Real Sociedad de Fútbol.
Iňigo Martínez's early own goal was the difference
between the sides and secured a second UEFA Champions League home victory for a
United side who had failed to win their last two Old Trafford outings in the
Premier League. The result is United moved a point clear at the Group A summit
with seven points, while Real remain bottom without a point.
This was a night of plenty of noise at Old Trafford, with
a trial singing section in place, and the home supporters had something to sing
about after two minutes. The goal came after Carlos Vela lost the ball to
Patrice Evra on United's left side and Wayne Rooney took over, taking out a
couple of defenders on a jinking run into the box and then curling a shot
against the far post. Iñigo Martínez got to the rebound ahead of Javier
Hernández – starting in place of the absent Ruud van Nistelrooy – but could
only divert the ball clumsily into his own net.
For a Real side lacking European experience it was the
worst possible start and for the next half-hour United kept them pinned back,
with man of the match Rooney to the fore. The England forward drew a low save
from Claudio Bravo with a volley while Hernández was flagged offside after
heading in Ryan Giggs's dinked cross. Giggs rolled back the years with one
swaying run cut short by a foul – not bad for a player four years older, at 39,
than Real coach Jagoba Arrasate.
After half an hour the 6,000 Real fans up in the East
Stand had a glimmer of hope as Haris Seferovic forced a tip-over save from
David de Gea. The visitors came even closer two minutes before half-time when
Antoine Griezmann curled an excellent left-foot free-kick over the United wall
and against the post.
La Real maintained their improvement after the restart,
flashing a couple of dangerous balls across the United goal and striking the
goalframe a second time when Alberto de la Bella’s cross-shot nearly caught out
De Gea.
Yet as the game opened up, United began finding gaps in
the visiting defence. Phil Jones had a header beaten away by Bravo, then Rooney
slipped the ball through to Antonio Valencia down the right but he shot against
the far post. United came again and Shinji Kagawa looked certain to score only
for Carlos Martínez's brilliant block to deny him. Rooney and substitute Ashley
Young went close too but United had the points.
Culled from uefa
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