Ruud van Nistelrooy's classy goal was the highlight as Manchester United turned on the style in the second half to overcome Mexican outfit Club America 3-1 at the LA Coliseum.
After his superb goal in the win over Celtic on Tuesday, Van Nistelrooy was on target again as the Red Devils turned on the power after a tepid first-half to blitz their startled opponents. Turning onto a Diego Forlan flick-on, the Holland international's first touch took him away from the last Club America defender and he unleashed a devastating drive which Adolfo Rios had no chance of keeping out. Forlan himself added two further strikes to at least prove there is some back-up available should Van Nistelrooy ever need a rest. After the brilliance against Celtic in Seattle on Tuesday, the opening half of the second game of United's two-week US tour was a big let-down. Sir Alex Ferguson was always likely to play a waiting game in the LA heat, but Club America were happy to adopt the same approach/ By the end of the first 45 minutes, there had been only one meaningful save, Rios racing from his goal to deny Forlan after Veron had carved out the space for his fellow South American. Forlan was also involved in a minor scuffle with Jose Mendoza, which threatened to boil over when Juan Sebastian Veron came barging in. All that was forgotten by United's lightning start to the second half, in which Van Nistelrooy's value to the United side was emphasised once again. Forlan, meanwhile, had refused to let his head drop and gained his reward on United's next foray forward when Fortune, advancing down the flank with the menace of a winger, pulled an excellent cross back from the by-line which was met by a firm Uruguayan head. There was still more to come from Forlan, who took 27 games to break his Red Devils scoring duck, as he raced onto Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's flick-on from a long punt downfield from Ricardo and lashed home United's third. The Premiership champions might have been given a tougher challenge had Franky Oviedo's header not been foiled by Ricardo shortly after the opener or Ortiz not had a free-kick harshly ruled out for an infringement in the wall by Sergio Blanco. There was still time for Club America to grab a late consolation when Christian Patino was sent though by Oviedo and finished neatly. ________________________________________________________________________ Want to chat instantly with your online friends? Get the FREE Yahoo! Messenger http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com/ ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Free shipping on all inkjet cartridge & refill kit orders to US & Canada. Low prices up to 80% off. We have your brand: HP, Epson, Lexmark & more. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5510 http://us.click.yahoo.com/GHXcIA/n.WGAA/ySSFAA/tsUolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************** Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe from the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
