Manchester United 3 - 0 Fulham
Wayne Rooney scored twice in the 3-0 win
Also In The News
|
By Darren Estwick. |  |
Sunday, 14, Mar 2010 03:42
By inthenews.co.uk staff
Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Fulham at Old Trafford.
The home side dominated the match throughout but had to wait until 30 seconds into the second half to take the lead with Wayne Rooney netting the first of his two goals.
The seemingly unstoppable Rooney scored again with six minutes remaining before Dimitar Berbatov sealed an impressive individual display with United's third in the final stages of the game.
United had begun the game in impressive fashion and created the first chance of the tie after a neat interchange on the edge of the box between Darren Fletcher and Berbatov saw the midfielder pull the ball back for Rooney but a combination of Brede Hangeland and Mark Schwarzer eventually saw off the danger.
Fulham mounted something of a response soon after through the returning Clint Dempsey but the American midfielder sent a 25 yard shot just over Edwin Van Der Sar's bar.
Midway through the half, United came close to opening the scoring in a move started and almost finished by Berbatov. The Bulgarian held off challenges midway in the Fulham half, before passing to Fletcher; the ball then found Nani on the left who delivered the perfect cross for Berbatov but the United front man could only head over from ten yards.
Moments later, the in-form Rooney nearly added another goal to his ever-growing tally, but Schwarzer was equal to his effort, keeping out a stinging drive from the edge of the box.
Fulham continued to probe United's defence but struggled to impose themselves against the returning central partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. The visiting side did, however, create another opening which saw Bobby Zamora get behind the defensive pair, but the striker's lob was over-hit and looped into the stand behind the goal.
That rare opportunity for Fulham didn't halt United's dominance though and just before half-time Rooney tried his luck from 30 yards, his curling shot drifted inches past Schwarzer's right hand post.
A minute after the break, Rooney finally got his name on the scoresheet when Berbatov and Nani combined to allow the England striker to coolly slot home from ten yards to put his team in the driving seat.
The home side continued to pin Fulham back into their own half, with Nani fired straight at Schwarzer from the edge of the area, and Rooney being unfortunate in seeing his efforts in a goalmouth scramble not come to fruition.
Ferdinand was the next United player to come close to doubling their advantage when he produced a superb instinctive volley from a corner that only just went over the bar.
United's failure to see off Fulham nearly came back to haunt them when Zamora was played through on goal, but the forward wanted too much time to set up his shot and Vidic got back to block the shot.
That scare didn't stop United pushing forward and only the fingertips of Schwarzer prevented Fletcher from making it 2-0.
Sir Alex Ferguson's men did, however, double their lead with seven minutes remaining through Rooney's second of the match. Berbatov - who was arguably having one of his finest matches in a United shirt - brought the ball down and manoeuvred himself past Nicky Shorey before pulling the ball back to the penalty spot for Rooney to fire low past Schwarzer into the far corner.
With two minutes left, Berbatov finally got the goal he deserved when Rooney turned provider to cross from the right for Berbatov to head home from close range to cap an emphatic victory that sees the champions regain their place at the top of the Premier League.