The Match: Win On Wearside

Here’s our detailed take on United's Premier League clash with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light...

The Match: After a shocking start in a noisy Stadium of Light against pumped-up opponents, United steadied themselves and took a deep breath to ride out the storm. David De Gea’s wonderful save to deny Emanuele Giaccherini kept the Reds within touching distance, and the Sunderland striker’s wastefulness just ahead of the break proved to be a tipping point. Adnan Januzaj took his chances superbly, and once ahead United rarely looked troubled.

Goals: For his first trick, the teenager found Evra then clinically despatched the return ball past a flat-footed Keiren Westwood. For seconds, the Belgian latched on to John O’Shea’s headed clearance from a cleaver ball over from Nani to lash the ball beyond the Black Cats keeper. Right foot, left foot, simple.

Star man: Adnan Januzaj’s performance announced a special talent to a wider world. In addition to his goals, the 18-year-old posed problems down both flanks and had served notice of his goal threat when he rifled a shot just wide in the first half. He blotted his copy book with a booking for diving, but he will deserve all the plaudits that will come his way for that performance. Elsewhere, United’s midfield helped establish a foothold after the shock of the early goal, and David De Gea’s magnificent effort to keep the score at 0-1 in the first half was crucial.

Subplot: Once news of Januzaj’s selection form the start filtered out, the questions over whether he was up to the task were asked straight away. The final outcome answered them perfectly, but

Opposition: Sunderland made a superb start and could have been even further ahead by half-time, but their efforts before the break seemed to take a lot out of Kevin Ball’s side. Once United had gone ahead, the home side had nothing left in the tank and they failed to consistently worry the Reds.

Move of the match Januzaj’s cute turn and pass to Evra gave the Belgian enough time and space to pick up the return before burying the ball past Westwood. A defining moment in the match, and what a way for a young player to mark his first start in the Premier League.


In the stands : The early goal pumped up the volume in the Stadium of Light and spurred the home side on in the first half. The United contingent had a grandstand view of De Gea’s pivotal save and both of Januzaj’s magnificent strikes, which will have been the topic of conversation on their return journeys from Wearside.