Manchester United 5 - 1 Fulham
Sunday 20th August 2006
Old Trafford, Manchester
The summer had seemed drab for Manchester United fans, with the only notable signing that of Michael Carick, who was injured today, which meant that an unchanged side started proceedings at Old Trafford. United have actually made a profit from their transfer dealings this summer, which is almost unthinkable to us fans considering the Glazers had supposedly put money up to buy players with.
Rio and Wes Brown were joined by Neville and Evra in defence, O'Shea and Giggs led the heart of the midfield, helped by Scholes and Ronaldo, whilst Fergie's preferred strike-partnership of last season - Rooney and Saha - led the line.
Whilst the United fans in the new record attendance were hopeful of a good result from United, typically slow starters, they didn't expect the game to be effectively over within 20 minutes!
Such was the quality of the pass and move football, and the finishing, United were 4-0 up after just 19 minutes, with all four relying on crosses from out wide.
Giggs' cross was met by Saha's head on 7 minutes, Evra crossed in for Rooney to score only for a defender to poke the ball home instead after just 16 minutes. A free-kick was headed down by Saha and rebounded for an easy finish to Rooney on 17 minutes, and the purple-patch was finished by a Rooney cross to Cristiano at the back post, who was able to half-volley home brilliantly.
Fulham struggled to cope with the Red's superior pace and passing, and were lucky to get a deflected goal just before half-time.
Rooney grabbed his second on the hour, and United played the game out, with Solskjaer, Park and Silvestre entering the fray.
A good result. Now for Charlton on Wednesday.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville (Silvestre 45), Ferdinand, Brown, Evra, Ronaldo, O'Shea, Scholes, Giggs (Park 60), Rooney, Saha (Solskjaer 61).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Fletcher.
Booked: Giggs.
Goals: Saha 7, Pearce 15 og, Rooney 16, Ronaldo 19, Rooney 64.
Fulham: Niemi, Rosenior, Christanval, Pearce, Queudrue, Brown (Radzinski 61), Diop, Bullard, Boa Morte, John (McBride 64), Helguson.
