Manchester United beat Real Madrid 3-1 at the Big House Saturday. Photo/Brian Quintos
Glory, Manchester United, indeed.
The Red Devils prevailed, 3-1, over Real Madrid at Michigan Stadium on Saturday afternoon in front of 109, 318 fans, the largest crowd to witness a soccer match in the United States.
While a figure like Wayne Rooney had a hand in the triumph, it was a host of somewhat-maligned figures that did a great deal of the damage for Louis Van Gaal’s side.
A brilliant bit of offense triggered United’s first score in the 21st minute. An elabroate string of accurate passes eventually saw Rooney make an excellent back heel pass to Darren Fletcher near the fringes of the box. The Scottish midfielder found Danny Welbeck, and finally off to Ashley Young on the left side, who placed it to the near post well enough that goalkeeper Iker Casillas was unable to keep the shot out.
With much of its attack absent from play, Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale was forced to shoulder the brunt of the offense burden for his club, and did so to even the score in the 27th minute. Bale was crafty enough to goad young United defender Will Keane into bringing him down inside the left half of the box, with the official pointing to the spot for a chance to even the score. The former Tottenham winger calmly converted to the right side of the net past David De Gea to put Real Madrid on the board.
Young, though, would have the answer that earned him Man of the Match honors before the half. He secured his brace by playing a curling ball the left, outside the box. It wouldn’t have been dangerous, but Rooney’s ability to evade the marking of Sergio Ramos and nearly graze the teasing ball froze Casillas, allowing it to go untouched to the far post and in to put United ahead once again.
The narrative was certainly in Real’s favor to mount something special in the second half. Cristiano Ronaldo, who Ancelotti told reporters Friday afternoon would not be risked (knee injury) to suit up, was surprisingly brought in at the 73rd minute to the delight of the massive crowd on hand. However, he was mostly subdued, and it was instead United’s post-halftime substitute trio who finished the job.
Around the time of the Ronaldo insertion, United had several dangerous chances before finding its third. Recently acquired left back Luke Shaw made a pacey run up the left and dealt to Kagawa, who revolved and chipped a ball into Hernandez, but his shot was directed straight at Casillas. Minutes later, midfielder Jesse Lingard played a bouncing cross into Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, but his sliding volley careened wide left of the goalmouth at the 76′ mark.
Chicharito finally found his place on the score sheet in the 80th minute. United midfielder Shinji Kagawa put a well-placed cross to the far post, finding a darting Herandnez, whose header was directed past an advancing Casillas, assuring the squad of its place in the 2014 International Champions Cup Final.
“He came in the play and was involved in the play at once; that’s very good when you’re a substitute,” Van Gaal said. “We need that. And he scores a wonderful goal also. After that scene, he has to give it to Cleverly, and he gives it to Kagawa. He wants to thank Kagawa for the nice pass, but he needs to think [for the better of the team], it’s Cleverly.”
Bale had several other moments of near-brilliance that could have handed Real its second. Along with a free kick in the 55th minute that hit the near post, he tried a bicycle kick at point-blank range that would have certainly found net if not squarely directed to the center of De Gea’s positioning.
United will head to Sun Life Stadium in Miami, FL., set to meet Liverpool on Monday night in the title game.
“I think that’s very important that two teams from the Premier League are in the final,” Van Gaal said. “For them, it is also preparation time.”
The only casually of the match appeared to be United forward Danny Welbeck, who was taken out after 42 minutes for Wilfried Zaha.
“In the match he was feeling [his knee] again, so we have to see tomorrow how the reaction is, and we know maybe more,” Van Gaal said.
This story was originally published by our partners at Press Row Sports & Entertainment.
