Manchester United Vs. Stoke City Match Report

United’s class shone through with a masterclass of a performance that yielded five goals in the Reds’ biggest win of the season.

Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice from free-kicks, while Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov and Danny Welbeck chipped in with the other goals. Stoke were well and truly beaten: outplayed and outclassed.

United were without Wayne Rooney, who has been suffering with a chest infection all week, and Rio Ferdinand – a major loss when you consider the aerial threat Stoke pose. No doubt with that in mind, Sir Alex selected height in his team. John O’Shea lined up at right-back alongside Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick in midfield all over 6ft.

It was a good job as Stoke’s play favours the aerially adept. The first five minutes was more like a game of head tennis. But while much of the pre-match talk was devoted to the main weapon in Rory Delap’s armoury, people seemed to have forgotten all about Cristiano Ronaldo’s speciality – the dipping, swerving free-kick.

Five minutes in, Abdoulaye Faye’s foul on Carlos Tevez gave Ronaldo the chance to showcase his talents. The foul was 30 yards from goal in line with the edge of the penalty area, and Ronaldo’s trademark run-up and unique style of striking the ball yielded the desired result: a shot that shifted so wickedly that Thomas Sorensen lost track of its flight and the ball crashed into the roof of the net. It was the Portuguese winger’s 100th United goal, and one to savour.

It took until the 12th minute for Stoke to get a throw-in deep in United’s half. A delay in taking the throw added an almost pantomime feel; Stoke cheering in fevered anticipation and United fans in the Stretford End booing. The embanked touchlines at Old Trafford don’t favour the throw-in expert, but the delivery was still dangerous, flicked on at the front post with Edwin van der Sar clawing it away from goal.

Stoke’s fans were certainly giddy – “stand up if you beat Arsenal” they sang, before endlessly taunting Ronald. But their supporters are enjoying their time in the top flight as much as the team, so it’s difficult to begrudge them –annoying though United fans may have found them – particularly as they’re one of the more vocal away followings to have visited Old Trafford recently.

Ji-sung Park went close for the Reds two minutes before the break. A nice passing move across the edge of the area led to Carrick slipping a ball through to Park. The Korean controlled the ball and turned sharply in one movement, but his shot was too high and went over the bar.

United’s first half performance was steady, if not always penetrative. But just as it looked like the Reds would not add to the scoreline before the break, Carrick spliced open the Stoke defence again, this time with an unstoppable shot past Sorensen. Ronaldo did well out wide and slipped a pass to Carrick, whose powerful left-footed drive found a route through a crowd of yellow shirts into the top corner.

The Reds began the second half with renewed intent. Tevez’s lofted pass played Berbatov almost immediately after the restart. But the Bulgarian front man was eventually crowded out. Minutes later the same combination led to United’s third goal. Berbatov controlled Tevez’s cross before turning and drilling the ball past Sorensen.

The United fans in the old scoreboard end should be credited with one of the chants of the season: “You’ve only come to see your throw-in”, such was the excitement in the away end whenever the ball went out of play.

The constant banter with the Stoke fans created a buzz inside Old Trafford which added to the game as a spectacle. And United continued to plough forward. Ronaldo left Sorensen completed befuddled with another thundering free kick, while Tevez hungrily chased a goal.

Such was United’s comfort that Sir Alex brought on Danny Welbeck and Darron Gibson in place of Park and the outstanding Darren Fletcher. Welbeck’s late cameo brought another flourish in a game of goals to savour. Picking up the ball 35 yards from goal, the 17-year-old striker pressed forward before unleashing a screamer of a shot into the top corner – talk about making your mark, it was arguably the pick of the bunch.

Stoke may have learned many lessons on the biggest Premier League stage, one their fans may like to remember, mocking Ronaldo usually only leads to one outcome, and he delivered it with a second free-kick, this time from 20 yards and arrowed into the bottom corner.

Stoke are clearly an effective team – their results against Aston Villa, Arsenal and Liverpool this season illustrate that point – but as long as United matched their endeavour, the Reds’ sheer quality was bound to win through, which it did in all its glory.

Team Line-ups

United: Van der Sar; O'Shea, Vidic, Evans, Evra; Ronaldo, Fletcher (Gibson 63), Carrick, Park (Welbeck 63); Tevez (Manucho 75), Berbatov.
Subs not used: Foster, Anderson, Nani, Rafael.
Booked: Evra

Stoke City: Sorensen; Griffin (Wilkinson 78), Shawcross Ab.Faye, Higgingbothom; Olofinjana (Cresswell 32), Diao, Am.Faye, Delap; Sidibe, Fuller (Kitson 69).
Subs not used: Simonsen, Cort, Whelan, Tonge.
Booked: Fuller, Delap