Wednesday 26 October 2011

Aldershot 0-3 Manchester United: Berbatov and Owen lead the way as Red Devils make winning response to derby defeat


The visitors ease through with plenty to spare as Ferguson's reserve side quickly put the ghost of the weekend loss to City to rest.

Carling Cup - Aldershot Town vs Manchester United,Antonio Valencia
Getty Images
Manchester United dispatched League Two's Aldershot 3-0 thanks to goals from Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia as the club progressed to the quarterfinals of the League Cup.

Berbatov opened the scoring in the 15th minute following a well-worked passage of play before Owen doubled the lead before halftime. Valencia added the gloss to the result three minutes into the second half with a wonder-striker from 25 yards as United eased into the next round.

United was the dominant team from the off, keeping possession among its defenders until one of the attackers dropped deep for the ball.

Nemanja Vidic would have been hoping for an altogether quieter night than last week's Champions League game against FC Otelul Galati where he received his marching orders.

However, the United captain was in the thick of it as he picked up a booking in the ninth minute for a foul on Alex Rodman, bringing down the midfielder as he looked set to go through on goal.

Tom Cleverley was back in the starting lineup after six weeks out through injury, and he began to pull the strings in midfield, whereas Ji-Sung Park was looking slightly more dodgy, giving away possession twice as he faced his own goal.

But any nerves United may have faced were eased in the 15th minute as Berbatov put the visitors one up.

It was a simple goal from the away side, given too much room by the Aldershot defense following a corner, as Cleverley, Mame Biram Diouf and Park combined well to find the Bulgarian who found the bottom corner.

The Shots were threatening on the break through Jermaine McGlashan, who fired a shot over from wide on the right, but found the defensive duo of Vidic and Phil Jones in imperious form with the ball in the air.
Owen dealt a hammer blow to Aldershot’s hopes five minutes from halftime as the striker picked up the ball on the halfway line before turning and firing a ball out wide to Berbatov.
The Bulgarian toyed with his marker, waiting for Owen to arrive, and he picked out his striker partner easily to fire home.
United coasted through to halftime and came out with a swagger as Valenica found the top corner with a fabulous drive from 25 yards just three minutes into the second half.

That goal took the sting out of the game, and United went about securing the win. Ferguson brought on his latest academy players to impress in the form of Paul Pogba, Ravel Morrison and Michael Keane.

But in truth the match was already over, and the visitors started bringing out their box of tricks. Berbatov had a late free kick well stopped by Ross Worner after Park stumbled towards goal, but any real attacking intent was extinguished with Valencia's goal.

A late storm from Aldershot was not enough for a goal as Luke Guttridge produced two fine efforts that zipped past the post, the second via a fine Ben Amos save.

United ultimately advanced to the quarter-finals with ease, as its class showed despite Aldershot's best efforts.

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