Manchester United have spent the week promising to put on a show and after a 5-1 victory over the inaugural Foxtel A-League All Stars side there is no doubt a packed out ANZ Stadium enjoyed every minute of it.
David Moyes has tasted victory for the first time as Manchester United manager as his side crushed the Foxtel A-League All Stars 5-1 at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
After their shock defeat to a Thailand All Stars side a week ago, the Red Devils weren’t going to be caught cold twice and gave more than 83,000 fans in Sydney something to remember with some wonderful goals.
And they might also have unearthed a new superstar with 20-year-old Jesse Lingard scoring twice, including a 20-metre stunner in the second half.
Danny Welbeck also finished with a brace, while Besart Berisha scored the All Stars’ only goal early in the second half after United led 2-0 at the break.
Star striker Robin van Persie played the final 30 minutes and capped his cameo with an assist and a late goal of his own with a powerful low drive.
It capped a superb night for the Red Devils who seem to be warming up nicely for the new English Premier League season under the new manager.
And Moyes, who took over from Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of the last season, will be happy to have got more game time into some of his stars but will also relieved to get that first win under his belt .
United started full of purpose and they tested Ante Covic twice inside the first seven minutes.
First the All Stars keeper was well-placed to save Phil Jones’ header before using his body to keep out Welbeck’s low drive after he was put through by Lingard.
But on 11 minutes the visitors got their breakthrough, with Giggs winning the ball in midfield before passing to Welbeck who cleverly let the ball go through his legs and into the path of Lingard.
The young attacker took a touch before placing it well past a despairing Covic from just inside the box.
The All Stars almost hit back immediately when Thomas Broich was found by club-mate Berisha but his 25-metre strike flew just over Anders Lindegaard’s crossbar.
It led to the home side finally starting to get a good spell of possession but United were still dangerous, especially from corners with skipper Patrice Evra heading wide on two separate occasions.
Pedj Bojic finally forced Lindegaard into a save on 27 minutes after combining well with Broich but soon after United doubled their lead.
Lingard was the architect this time, running at the All Stars defence before finding Giggs who brilliantly played Welbeck into the box and the striker buried his shot into the corner of the net.
Welbeck should have had his second soon after when he broke through and rounded Covic but Michael Beauchamp got back to clear the goal-bound effort away to safety.
And the Englishman went even closer just before the break but again hit the ball straight at Covic before it rolled just wide of the far post.
It was the All Stars who came out firing after the resumption with Berisha pulling a goal back on 52 minutes.
The Brisbane frontman spun past his defender before his shot from the edge of the box beat Lindegaard at his near post.
But United’s response was swift and thrilling as Lingard got his second with the goal of the night.
Receiving the ball on the left-hand corner of the box, the youngster came back onto his right-foot before riffling an unstoppable shot into the far top corner.
Van Persie came on soon after and almost immediately had an assist, with his corner met perfectly by Welbeck whose glancing header gave Michael Theo no chance.
But the Red Devils weren’t done there with van Persie’s late strike putting the icing on the cake of a five-star performance.
A-League All Stars 1 (Berisha 52)
Manchester United 5 (Lingard 11, 55, Welbeck 34, 70, van Persie 87)
Crowd: 83,127 @ ANZ Stadium
