Match Report: Man United 1-2 Zenit St Petersburg
UEFA Cup winners Zenit St. Petersburg produced a shock result, typical of their successful campaign last season, but as was the case then, it was a well deserved victory, this time over the European Champions, as the Russian club won the UEFA Super Cup.
Manchester United looked sluggish, and at times lacking in real creativity - with a midfield of Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves and Ryan Giggs all unavailable, Sir Alex Ferguson once again called on Darren Fletcher and the jet-setting Anderson, who despite a typically competitive and industrious performance, was clearly showing signs of his around the world excursions in the last 7 days.
Zenit looked much the sharper in the early stages, producing a couple of surges down the right hand side. While their attacks weren't deadly, as such, they served as surprise warning signs for United. A defensive scramble seconds before half time proved vital, and possibly fatal to United's chances of winning the trophy. Pavel Pogrebnyak made amends for screwing a couple of earlier chances, and took advantage of slack defending in the box following a corner to head in on the line from a Denisov flick on.
The second half failed to spark the Red Devils into life, and £24m signing Danny showed why Zenit were prepared to splash the cash when he sealed the victory with a fine solo effort, making mugs, worringly, out of the United defence. Next game Rio and co are up against Fernando Torres who will be keen to atone for a couple of poor shows against the Reds last term - we can only hope any ring rustiness has been shaken off by then.
It wasn't looking much better up front - Nani was ineffectual on his return, and while Carlos Tevez was energetic and the most likely goal source, Wayne Rooney looked shockingly off-key - perhaps letting the media doubters get to him.
At 2-0 Zenit sat back and United produced a late surge - Nemanja Vidic converted Tevez's pull back to reduce the deficit, but an equaliser was never really on the cards. When Paul Scholes inexplicably punched in the "equaliser" with a minute or two on the clock, he not only was given a second yellow and ruled out of the opening Champions League group game, but he also ended any chances of United getting an improbable draw.
Sir Alex Ferguson will spend the rest of the transfer window trying to sign a striker - probably Berbatov - but there are a few signs of concern. Striker or no striker, the midfield did not look very creative, and the defence is at its bare bones of experience. Wes Brown will be thrown back into team for the Liverpool and Chelsea games and Fergie must be praying for an injury free international break, otherwise our chances of winning the Premier League could be on the rocks by the end of September.
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Source:(Yolkie)