Premier League - Round 23
Attendance - 75,301
Old Trafford
Referee - Craig Pawson
Average Height
180.7 cm Manchester United 180.1 cm Cardiff City
Average Age
27.8 Manchester United 27.5 Cardiff City
Last Meeting - Premier League - 24 November 2013
Cardiff City 2 - 2 Manchester United
Final Result
Manchester United 2
Cardiff City 0
Today's Match saw to of United's big gun return, Wayne Rooney was reintroduced later into the game as he started on the bench. However Robin Van Persie who has scored 33 goals in 49 games for Manchester United was thrown straight back into the side. This was a risky choice to put him straight back in to the team, starting after on return from an injury, However this risk proved to pay off as Robin got the goal that gave Manchester United an early lead after only 6 minutes. Van Persie's goal was a little bit scruffy, but it is the build up that the team and the coach should take from this goal as it was much more like the Manchester United we know. This Goal started from a long pass from new boy Juan Mata up to Ashley Young. Ashley lets the ball bounce over him to Patrice Evra overlapping him, Patrice then plays in inside to Robin Van Persie who taps its straight back to Ashley Young before he runs back into the box waiting to get on the end of a cross. Young whips the ball in perfectly to Antonio Valencia's head, who then hits the bar with a strong header, as it comes back out Van Persie throws himself at the ball heading it at Cardiff keeper David Marshall who stops it. As it comes out the third time after the keeper saves Robin's header, Van Persie heads in again this time into the roof of the net, making it Manchester United 1, Cardiff City 0. After 22 minutes Craig Bellamy picks up a yellow card for kicking the ball away in anger due to his team conceding a free-kick. At 52 minute, Cardiff made a substitution, Jordan Mutch who didn't have a particularly good game was replaced by Bo Kyung Kim. At the 59th minute Manchester United took a 2-0 lead over the Blue Birds. This goal came from Ashley Young who played a big part in the first goal for United today. Ashley did very well individually in achieving this goal, he beat Cardiff City full back Kevin McNaughton, then beating Cardiff winger Craig Noone before cannoning it in the bottom right corner, no chance for Cardiff goalkeeper Marshall. At the 63rd minute, Manchester United made a substitution, Wayne Rooney made his first appearance since returning for injury replacing the other recently returned striker, Robin Van Persie. At the 69th minute Cardiff brought off Mark Hudson in centre back and brought on Ben Turner. At the 71st minute Tom Cleverly came on for Manchester United replacing Ryan Giggs. At the 78th minute, Mats Moller Daehli replaced Craig Noone. The last substitution of the game was made by Manchester United as they brought on 18-year-old superstar Adnan Januzaj in replacement for there recent record signing Juan Mata, this was made at the 84th minute. There was 4 minutes added time before Manchester United claimed their 2-0 victory over Cardiff City at Old Trafford. In summary i believe this is a fantastic result for Manchester United. The red devils actually had the smaller amount of possession in today's match however clearly were more clinical with their opportunities. I also think that this is more of the Manchester United we know even if they aren't dominating the match they are still winning, this is something that United fans will be happy to hear. However can United maintain this? Will they go on to get a place in the top 5? And will Cardiff improve and start to get more satisfying results? What do you think?
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