Manchester United 2 v 1 Newcastle

Old Trafford, Manchester
24th April 2005

Manchester United breezed past Souness' Newcastle United for the third time this season! But they had to put in an impressive second half performance to seal the victory.

The game was a lot closer fought than when the two sides met last weekend in the FA Cup - when United embarrassingly beat the Magpies 4-1! Indeed, Newcastle even took the lead at Old Trafford: When the defence were under pressure from the Newcastle attackers, Phil Neville passed the ball back to United keeper Tim Howard. Unfortunately, Howard mis-hit his clearance straight to a Newcastle player, and, within a matter of a few seconds, the ball was nestling in the back of Howards net.

After Gabriel Heinze went off injured after the half-hour mark (For something that looked serious), Ronaldo entered the fray.

Ronny was pleasing on the eye, with plenty of neat tricks and turns up his sleeve. On one occasion, he managed to get the ball past three Newcastle players!

United equalised through a sensational Wayne Rooney volley. The ball fell invitingly in front of Rooney, and he used his natural goalscoring instincts to volley the ball into the top left-hand corner of the goal from 30 yards! It was a phenomenal goal, and Old Trafford stadium went crazy!

With Newcastle's spirit broken, they could only try and hang on for a draw. But it was only a matter of time before United scored again. This time it was Wes Brown who rose highest at a Corner to head the ball home for his first ever United goal!

And with fifteen minutes left, United had already bagged the three points - so much so that the United fans starting chanting "Ea-sy, Ea-sy" to the ever-vocal Geordie fans!

Newcastle could have made this game a bit harder for United if Shearer had been on his game - but the talisman is waning. His legs are gone, and he struggled to find space today - he was practically in Rio Ferdinand's pocket! It said it all that he was substituted off!

Man Utd: Howard, Phil Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Heinze (Ronaldo 37), Fletcher (Kleberson 61), Keane (Silvestre 76), Fortune, Giggs, Rooney, Smith.

Subs Not Used: Carroll, O'Shea.
Booked: Rooney.
Goals: Rooney 57, Brown 75.

Newcastle: Given, Carr, Boumsong, Andrew O'Brien, Elliott, Milner, Ambrose, Ramage (Robert 82), N'Zogbia, Shearer (Kluivert 66), Ameobi.

Subs Not Used: Harper, Brittain, McClen.
Booked: Carr.
Goals: Ambrose 27.

Att: 67,845.
Ref: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).