Following a disappointing display midweek Manchester United struggled to get past a dogged and determined Sunderland side. They needed the magic touch of Federico Macheda, who scored the winner after being on the pitch for only 46 seconds. The story book tale continues.
Sunderland 1-2 Manchester UnitedHaving been knocked off the Premier League summit by Liverpool earlier this afternoon Manchester United travelled to Sunderland's Stadium of Light knowing that a win would take them back to the top of the league. Despite suffering back to back Premier League losses Manchester United have won 12 of their last 14 league outings and are undefeated in 13 top flight games against the Black Cats. Sunderland, for their part, need to start collecting points quickly if they are to avoid the drop.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was in an aggressive mood, fielding a front three of Dimitar Berbatov, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney. Cristiano Ronaldo was left to warm the bench alongside recently disappointing Patrice Evra.
The Champions were right at Sunderland from the outset. Rooney, playing on the left of the trident, picked the ball up on the edge of the Sunderland box and sent his curling effort just wide of keeper Craig Gordon's far post. There was barely a minute on the clock.
Sunderland won a free-kick a few minutes later, it was taken by Andy Reid and seemed to be a fairly routine catch for Ben Foster but the young England stopper spilled and was scrambling to recover. Luckily for United fans Foster managed to smother the ball before it crossed the line.
Just as Sunderland were starting to settle into the game the Champions took the lead. After having a Nemanja Vidic header cleared off the line minutes earlier Rooney found himself attacking down the right flank in the 19th minute. Wazza floated a sublime cross into the box for Paul Scholes, the veteran midfielder made contact and his glancing header flew into the top corner leaving Gordon with no chance.
The Red Devil's defence was looking far from solid despite the return of Vidic, the Serbian international got mixed up with Foster on a back pass and almost gifted Carlos Edwards a goal. Unfortunately for the Black Cats the Trinidad and Tobago man couldn't quite connect with the loose ball as it trickled agonisingly past the United goal.
Despite their league position the home side were showing a wealth of ambition, Anton Ferdinand sent in a cross for his defensive counterpart Calum Davenport whose header rolled inches wide of the United post. Minutes later and former Manchester United trainee Phil Bardsley drove down the right flank and found Kenwyne Jones with his low cross, the powerful forward could only direct his effort inches wide of the post.
Sunderland were all over the visitors, Djilbril Cisse controlled the ball on the edge of the box following a scramble in the area. The Frenchman smashed the ball goalwards and Foster did well to tip the ball over the bar.
Moments later and Edwards showed good footwork to beat his marker on the right and drilled in a low cross that catches a boot and rattles the inside of the far post. Foster was static and Sunderland were ruing the approaching half time whistle as they were dominating the game.
As the half drew to a close Park Ji-Sung drove in from the right and unleased a curling drive that only just missed the top left hand corner of the goal. It was a wonderful effort.
It remained one-nil to United at half time, the second half started with a fine strike from the outstanding Rooney. The ball broke to the England international on the edge of the box and striking the ball first time it rocketed just shy of the top right hand corner. Gordon was an observer.
Ironically, just as the Red Devils were looking comfortable Sunderland pulled level in the 55th minute. The equaliser was scored by Jones and it was a straight forward goal for the Black Cats. Teemu Taino nut-megged Gary Neville and drove to the byline, the Finn whipped in a lovely cross with his left foot and Jones rose high at the back post. Foster flapped at the effort and the rebound was rifled home by Jones. One-one at the Stadium of Light.
The equaliser invigorated the visitors, Tevez picked up the ball 30yards from goal and laid the ball off to the approaching Scholes who lashed the ball goalwards. The English maestro caught the ball wonderfully and it zipped towards Gordon's bottom right hand corner, Scholes had just cut across the ball and it swerved wide of the post at the last moment. Unlucky.
Tevez was involved again moments later as he was played through by a cute ball from Berbatov, the Argentinian rounded the keeper but Bardsley was in to block his first effort on goal and persisted in tracking the energetic forward to deny him a sniff with his second effort. Great defensive work from Sunderland.
Sunderland were still showing ambition, a throw in from the right was allowed to bounce by the United defence and Cisse attempted a wonderful overhead strike, the Frenchman caught it beautifully and rippled the side netting. Replays showed it was incredibly close to sneaking in the near post and Foster hadn't reacted at all.
United threw on Federico Macheda with 15minutes left to play and 46seconds later the young Italian gave the Red Devils the lead! Michael Carrick unleased an effort towards the bottom left hand corner from 20yards and Macheda was alert enough to redirect it towards the bottom right hand corner. It seemed to be deliberate and Gordon was left stranded, two-one to United. It was Macheda's first touch of the ball!!
It was a knock out blow for the Black Cats and they failed to muster any kind of threat after falling behind for a second time. Despite a spirited display Sunderland remain in a perilous position whilst Manchester United reclaim their place on the summit of the Premier League, defensive problems still plague the side.
