Javier Hernandez completed the comeback
Wednesday October 24,2012
MANCHESTER UNITED persist in doing things the hard way despite all the vows to change.
While it is making life interesting for their fans, it is exasperating manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
For the eighth time in 12 games this season they conceded the first goal – after just 80 seconds this time. Not content with that, they handed Braga a second after 20 minutes.
Thanks to two goals from Javier Hernandez and one from defender Jonny Evans they stormed back to secure a third successive Champions League win – but they cannot keep giving teams head starts. Better teams than Braga will simply not let them back into the game
After last season’s shock of failing to qualify for the knockout stages, they are virtually through with three games to spare this time.
Ferguson will be pleased about that but furious about the constant sloppy starts that are leaving them with an uphill fight in just about every game
United went into the game with the message that their controversial America owners have no plans to sell despite plenty of interested parties.
The decision of the Glazer family to sell off 10 per cent of their shares in August had raised questions over their long-term involvement.
But United vice-chairman Ed Woodward said: “There is always interest in this business. It is a phenomenal brand and club but they [the Glazers] are not willing sellers at all, they won’t even engage, they are long-term investors.”
The Glazers may have thought about changing that view, however, had they been at Old Trafford to witness another nightmare start. Despite all the warnings from Ferguson about being on their toes from the kick-off, United were at it again. The goals raised serious questions over the wisdom of Ferguson’s decision to save the legs of experienced defenders Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra ahead of Sunday’s trip to Chelsea.
Their replacements, Michael Carrick and Alexander Buttner, were at fault for the goals.
For the first goal, Elderson played the ball back for former Newcastle forward Hugo Viana to launch a cross to the far post where Alan got in front of a slow-reacting Buttner to steer a header into the far corner.
Evans gave Buttner a look that suggested he felt the young Dutchman should have put in a far stronger challenge.
It got worse after 20 minutes when Carrick – pressed into action as a defender because of Ferdinand’s omission – was beaten out on the touchline by Eder who cut the ball back from the byline for Alan to despatch a clinical first-time shot. United’s defenders looked at each other in utter dismay. Even between the goals, Braga had underlined their threat on the counter-attack when Buttner got in the way of Evans and headed the ball straight into the path of Ruben Micael who fired a yard wide.
United badly needed to get a foothold in the game and after 25 minutes they pulled a goal back. Referee Milorad Mazic did well by waving play on after Robin van Persie was felled by Leandro Salino. It gave Shinji Kagawa the chance to cross to the far post where the unmarked Hernandez headed in, keeper Beto getting his hands to the ball but unable to keep it out.
Hernandez should have had a second moments later but Van Persie’s low cross spun off his toe as Beto came off his line.
Ferguson could barely contain his anger in his half-time TV interview. It wasn’t hard to guess he had given his players the hairdryer treatment as well as making a change to personnel and formation. He abandoned the midfield diamond and sent on Nani for Kagawa to give his team some width.
There was immediate improvement in tempo with Nani having something of a point to prove against a team from his native country. Beto beat away a vicious Van Persie free-kick as United set up camp in the Braga half and won a succession of corners. From one they equalised after 62 minutes with the two centre backs playing a big part.
Carrick flicked on Van Persie’s corner and having contrived an air shot with his first attempt, Evans scored with his second after the ball had bounced back to him in a crowded penalty area off Braga skipper Alan.
It was Evans’ second goal in three games having scored once in his first 131 appearances for United.
There looked only one winner now. Nani saw his shot brilliantly beaten away by Beto but United’s incessant pressure paid off in the 75th minute.
The Braga defence went missing as Tom Cleverley swung over a superb cross to the far post where the unmarked Hernandez powered a header past the helpless Beto.
Hernandez received a standing ovation when replaced by Ryan Giggs three minutes later as Ferguson looked to preserve the victory.
But they had to survive some nervy moments, although Van Persie fired a good chance over the bar when he should have put United in the comfort zone with a fourth goal.
Man Utd (4-3-1-2): De Gea; Rafael, Carrick, Evans, Buttner; Cleverley, Fletcher, Kagawa (Nani 46); Rooney; Hernandez (Giggs 79), Van Persie. Goals: Hernandez 25, 75, Evans 62.
Braga (4-2-3-1): Beto; Leandro Salino, Nuno Andre, Paulo Vinicius, Elderson; Custodio, Hugo Viana; Ruben Amorim (Barbosa 80), Alan (Mossoro 86), Ruben Micael (Ze Luis 88); Eder. Booked: Custodio, Elderson. Goals: Alan 2, 20.
Referee: M Mazic (Serbia).
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