Manchester United defeated Norwich City 2-0, with goals from youngsters, to hold on to their top position at the Premier League table.
Winning is to Manchester United just as flying is to birds. Talking about birds, the Canaries proved stubborn in the Saturday afternoon game but the Red devils put them in their cage.
United was willing to bounce back from the previous draw-filled week.
They had tied with Stoke City 1-1 at the Britannia Stadium and settled 3-3 with Basel in the Champions League at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s team had to wake up from that slumber and the return of Wayne Rooney helped matters.
Manchester United has had a terrific record this season before its encounter at the Britannia Stadium.
With a 3-0 defeat against Tottenham, 8-2 against the Gunners, 5-0 shutout at Bolton and 3-1 victory over Chelsea, why do small teams give the champions trouble?
Rooney, who has scored in almost every Manchester United game, including back-to-back hat tricks, had the first shot on goal in the third minute.
But the Englishman had no goal to his name in that fixture.
It was Midfielder Oliveira Anderson and Forward Danny Welbeck that made sure United secured three more points.
Javier Hernandez went off for Welbeck and Luis Nani got substituted for Ryan Giggs.
The 64th minute substitutes were important in United’s two-goal win.
It took three headers for first goal to get past the keeper.
Giggs crossed an outswinging corner kick that bounced off Phil Jones head onto Rooney’s.
Anderson headed a close-range goal in to give the Red devils the advantage.
Of course Rooney, an outstanding play maker, was there to give the final assist the 68th minute opener.
The Canaries actually created multiple chances especially from counter attacks.
Anthony Pilkington’s shot came close to leveling the score but was deflected by Anderson into the hands of Goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard.
Then four minutes later, Rooney tries his luck from deep inside the area but it was a wasted effort.
Norwich pushed players forward as a tactic to create opportunities and eventually a goal.
But instead, that technique impaired the Canaries’ defense, giving the Red devils an opportunity which they took advantage of gratefully.
It wasn’t until the 88th minute that Welbeck finally sealed United’s Victory.
Center Midfielder Ji Sung Park tapped the ball to the forward who tucked in the winner with ease.
United had six minutes to defend a 2-0 lead.
Poor Norwich played a great game considering the fact that it played the best team in the country.
Manchester United will travel to Liverpool on Oct. 15 for the next Premiership match, then FC Otelul Galati for a Champions League group stage match.
