ALTHOUGH THE majority of Manchester United’s supporters would probably have rather seen him on the field, Edwin van der Sar took a seat in the directors’ box at Old Trafford last night, looking down on two goalkeepers – one of them his exact 40-year-old contemporary, the other precisely half his age.
At one end stood Brad Friedel, a much admired veteran making his 427th appearance in the English league since joining Liverpool in 1997.
At the other, 20-year-old David de Gea, the designated heir to Harry Gregg, Alex Stepney, Peter Schmeichel and Van der Sar, who is under special scrutiny after making a hash of Edin Dzeko’s 25-yard effort in the Community Shield and allowing Shane Long’s shot to squirm under his body at the Hawthorns in his first Premier League match.
Friedel was the first to come under direct threat, when Ashley Young raced through in the inside-left position in the eighth minute before squaring the ball to Tom Cleverley, whose sidefoot shot from 22 yards was close enough to the goalkeeper to allow the American to turn it round the post.
Tame shots and easy saves were the routine for most of the remainder of the first period, but United resumed as though their manager had connected them to the mains and flicked the switch. Now De Gea was a virtual spectator as his team-mates surged forward, requiring Friedel to summon all his experience and solidity.
An intricate build-up that crisscrossed the face of the Tottenham area ended with Rooney squaring the ball to Young, whose powerful shot from 25 yards brought a diving save from the American. Then came a double parry as he knocked away Anderson’s 22-yard drive and sprang to his feet to repel Rooney’s effort from the rebound.
Friedel was left helpless when Danny Welbeck rose in front of Michael Dawson to meet Cleverley’s diagonal cross from the right with a glancing header. Rooney’s free-kick was turned around the post and then came a double save, this time from Nani and Young. Further saves from Welbeck and Jonny Evans were routine by comparison but he was left naked once again by Welbeck and Rooney.
Up at the other end a much younger man – who fumbled a late cross, allowing Jermain Defoe to volley against the post – could only stand and admire something close to a masterclass given in defeat.
GuardianService
