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Seattle Sounders were left awestruck as Wayne Rooney scored a 2nd half hattrick to help Manchester United register a resounding 7-0 victory over the MLS club. The 67,052 people who turned out to watch the match in a 67,000 capacity Century Link Field Stadium witnessed some brilliant individual as well as team play from United.
Manchester United Starting Lineup:Lindegaard, Rafael Da Silva , Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Anderson, Ryan Giggs , Ashley Yoúng, Macheda, Owen
Manchester United Bench:Ben Amos, Rooney, Park, Carrick, Fabio, Obertan, Evans, Diouf
Phil Jones, David de Gea, Danny Welbeck, Chris Smalling and Tom Cleverley (all back from recent international commitments) were deemed not fit enough to start while Dimitar Berbatov was unavailable for selection following an ankle injury.
Owen opened the floodgates
United made a slow start to the match and were made to work hard by the MLS side, much to the delight of the home fans. In fact Sounders’ fan favorite, Freddy Montero, twice attempted to chip past Reds goalkeeper Andres Lindegaard, only to be denied by the Danish international. However, it was Michael Owen who made the most of the chance he got in the 15th minute as he converted from a close range to take United 1-0 up. United new-boy Ashley Young, who seems to have fostered a great understanding with Patrice Evra on the left, passed the ball to the Frenchman on the overlap and the defender whipped in a pinpoint cross for Michael Owen who scored from a close range.
United didn’t look back from thereon as Young, Owen and Macheda forced fine saves from veteran goalkeeper Kasey Keller. Michael Owen should have scored in the 43rd minute, when the striker was one-on-one with Keller, but was denied by a feeble shot. The first half ended with United up 1-0, having missed a few opportunities to add to the scoreboard.
Sir Alex made four changes at the break. Ben Amos, Wayne Rooney, Mame Diuof and Park came on for Lindegaard, Owen, Macheda and Giggs.
And within two minutes of their introduction, first Diouf and then Rooney found the back of the net. Mame Biram Diouf, who spent the last season on loan at Blackburn Rovers, beautifully collected Nani’s chipped ball before rounding substitute goalkeeper Terry Boss and firing home from a tight angle to double United’s lead. Next, Nani did well on the right before sending the ball to a waiting Wayne Rooney, who blasted the ball into the roof of the net from eight yards out.
3-0 down, Seattle Sounders came close to scoring on two occasions. Ben Amos, on for Lindegaard, made a flying save to deny Mike Fucito and Pat Noonan clipped the bar with a volley as United made further changes to bring on Fabio and Evans for Evra and Vidic.
In the 69th minute, Rooney controlled a pass from Park and fired a shot from his left foot to make the score 4-0. Park added a 5th, two minutes later. Rooney completed his hattrick in the 72nd minute when he swept home Obertan’s cross. Obertan finished the proceedings by scoring with a clinical finish from 12 yards on 88 minutes to make the score 7-0.
United fly to Chicago later tonight ahead of Saturday’s clash with Chicago Fire at Soldier Field.
