FULL TIME
A.VILLA 2-3 MAN UNITED
It was a another dramatic night for Man united come from behind and secure the winning against A.Villa, thanks go to super sub Chacharito aftre come from the bench
#MATCH PREVIEW
Andreas Weimann completed
sweeping counterattacking moves
either side of half-time to send Paul
Lambert's side into a shock two-goal
lead.
But Chicharito, who had replaced
Ashley Young at the break, made all
the difference. The Mexican pulled
United back into the game after 58
minutes before another of his shots
deflected off Ron Vlaar to level the
score.
And the clinical striker finally made
United's pressure pay when he
headed home Robin van Persie's free-
kick in the final minutes at Villa Park.
Enda Stevens made his first Premier
League start at left-back for the hosts
in place of Joe Bennett, who was
injured in the 1-0 victory over
Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Sir Alex Ferguson made two changes
to the side that beat Arsenal 2-1 the
previous weekend. Chris Smalling
made his league return in defence in
place of Jonny Evans, who had a groin
injury, while Tom Cleverley dropped
to the bench to be replaced by Paul
Scholes in central midfield.
Former Villan Young was involved and
shot narrowly wide as United
controlled the early exchanges.
However, Weimann was left ruing his
own indecision when he failed to pick
out either Christian Benteke or
Stephen Ireland at the end of a three-
on-two counterattack.
For most of the first half, the
possession statistics showed United
enjoying around 70 per cent of the
ball but Villa, led by Vlaar in central
defence, continued to stand up to the
test and the visitors' frustration grew.
On the stroke of half-time, Lambert's
team made their excellent rearguard
resistance count. Agbonlahor initiated
a break down the left flank that was
continued by Benteke. The Belgian
showed tremendous pace and power
to shake off the challenge of Chris
Smalling before rolling the ball into
the path of Weimann , who slammed
a shot from 18 yards into the roof of
the net.
Ferguson did not hesitate to make a
change. Young, who had faded as the
half wore on, was withdrawn at the
break for Chicharito. The sloppy play
which had plagued them - for which
Scholes was unusually culpable -
persisted, though, into the second 45
minutes.
Villa were not as devastatingly quick
when they moved upfield after the
veteran had misplaced a pass as they
had been for their opening goal, but
again it was Benteke that played a
significant role in exposing the United
defence. His dummy created the
space in which Ireland was able to
pick out Agbonlahor, whose low cross
from the left was swept home by
Weimann.
Scholes went some way to making
amends by playing the pass that
brought United back into the game
just before the hour mark. Chicharito
did superbly to control the
midfielder's chipped ball and shake
off Ciaran Clark before steering a low
finish through the legs of Guzan.
Within five minutes, United were level.
Agbonlahor failed to track the run of
Rafael on the right flank and when the
Brazilian crossed to the far post,
Chicharito was on hand to pounce
with the help of a deflection off Vlaar .
Weimann almost had a hat-trick when
he was denied by De Gea from close
range but for the majority of the final
20 minutes, Benteke was the only Villa
player not stationed behind the ball.
When Van Persie struck the crossbar
twice in quick succession, the signs
were ominous.
And just as Villa seemed to have
weathered the worst of the storm,
Chicharito headed home from the
Dutchman's inswinging free-kick to
strengthen the Red Devils' grip on top
spot in dramatic style.
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