TWO goals in the last three minutes from Christiano Ronaldo and David Jones livened up a sleepy Old Trafford friendly as United saw off UEFA Cup winners Seville.
Louis Saha had given the Reds a 63rd minute lead by getting in front of Javi Navarro to slot Ronaldo's low right wing cross past keeper Andres Palop from 15 yards.
The Portuguese winger then looked to have had the final say two minutes from the end when his driven free kick from the left flew between Palop and the near post thanks to a slight touch from Dirnei Renato.
But there was still time for substitute Jones to latch on to Kieran Richardson's through ball and lashed a left footed shot that squirmed under Palop.
Relieved
United went into their final pre-season friendly without six first teams regulars, and manager Sir Alex Ferguson would have been relieved just to get through the match without any more injuries to his squad.
It looked as though there might be a third pre-season red card when left back Gabriel Heinze slapped Luis Fabiano after an altercation with Brazilian wing back Daniel Alves seven minutes before the break, but he escaped with a yellow.
Before that, the most exciting moment had come midway through the first half, when Ryan Giggs darted past Alves to drive in a low cross which Ji-Sung Park just failed to turn in on the far post.
New signing Tomasz Kuszczak came on for Edwin van der Sar at half time, and looked solid on his debut, although the keeper was rarely troubled.
But one of the loudest cheers of the afternoon from the crowd of 40,134 came when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appeared as a second half substitute, the latest step on his road to recovery after nearly three years out with knee injuries.
Did you got to the game? Tell us what you thought.
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CRISTIANO RONALDO ROCKS !!!
WE DONT NEED BECKHAM OR RUUD VAN NISTELROY!
WE HAVE CRISTIANO RONALDO! FUTURE IS HERE AND NOW... SEEMS THIS SEASON WILL BE THE SEASON ! RONALDO AND ROONEY UPFRONT WHOS GONNA BEAT US THE REDS !!!!
It was a great result for us with such a weakened squad,i really think it's time for some young talent to shine now, as it's been a while.Ronaldo silenced he's critics again (i pray he stays with rooney and devotes he's life to old trafford.
40,134?
Finally, the fans are showing the club what they think of their summer of PR lies and spin.
There are no big name signings coming to OT, as promised to this newspaper by Gill in May, and there never were!
Forget the 3-0 scoreline. Man United deserved to win but the result is somewhat flattering. IMO this match gave some indicators, like: Solskjaer's place is, at most, on the bench; Giggsy still sparkles for the odd minute or two but the rest of the time he just fumbles simple passes or just vanishes altogether - again he should only be used as a sub for 30 minutes at most; Heinze is still a long way from his best and Evra, on today's showing, deserves to start vs Fulham. Saha promises to make us soon all forget about what's his name. My man of the match was Park for his industry and skiill and he deserves a starting place in the First XI.
same old problem total lack of effective midfield.scholes a bit off today o'shea always poor in m/f.Defence unsure but lot of injuries so ok. Midfield needs to be strenghened with more than Carrick.
Darren Brackley, Rathfriland. I think it might be a better idea to judge attendance figures when the season starts next week. Big name and big money signings do not guarantee winning matches.
Boring fist half, but it got more interesting in the second half. Patrice Evra played really well tonight and seems to have settled over the summer
oy
ronaldo sucks, i hope we sell him.. he is just a show ponny.. get rid of him. buy torres and a good def midfielder(senna, gattuso, h??tad) then we win the league
Darren, are you Eeyore in disguise?!!
Darren Brackley, Rathfriland we'll see come the Fulham match and Aug 31st when the transfer window shuts if your statements are true. Too much talk on here is far too premature. Would be alot better if people who wanted to complain did so on facts!
Darren, Rathfriland - Easy tiger. + 40k to a meaningless friendly - most clubs would kill for that. It has been a very frustrating offseason I agree - but I don't think you can draw a line through the crowd number and get the conclusion you did. On the game - I like the thought of Ronaldo in a more advanced role this season though...
We've seen it before with Giggsy, Becks and Eric. Why boo some boring player nobody cares about? I smell fear, and the blues, be it City or Chelski, hate anyone that makes them look like bad. I predict to you that Ronaldo & Rooney will rock the premiership this year. History and talent is on our side. Old Bestie is watching over our young ones. The Force is strong with us. Darth Abramovitch and his pile of money does not stand a chance against our passion and dedication! Stand up if you love our Red Devils!!! UNITED!!
Darren. Shut up. Always complaining. It's a preseason game against Sevilla for god's sake. Do you think Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool would get 40K against that team.
If you don't like it, then get lost!
ROoney and ROnaldo are enough. They are great to team up with other MU's youngsters and seniors alike.
if Ronaldo signed for LIFE
that would be better than any so called super summer signing.. ROONEY N RON FOREVER...
Dont play him in the middle, Scolari did that at the world cup and we really missed him at the wings. The problem is not Ronaldo not being able of playing there but you dont find wingers as good as him...note that Portugal had Simao and figo but we still missed him when he was playing as a striker....his second half was much better because SAF realized that.
Now, MU didnt look good and still have the same problem as last year at the middle.
Goalkeper: no problem, defense: no problem, midfield: not good enough.
Wingers: Park, CR, Gigs, Richardsson (ok)
Strikers: you will need another top one because Saha will not be fit for all matches.
Darren, there were 'only' 40,000 at the game because sections of the stadium were closed. Ignoramus - you obviously didn't go to the game.
Yes it was a good win, I went to OT to watch (cheap tickets). Ronaldo and Park and yes even Evra, were the bright sparks in a gamewhere both teams although trying did not play all that well. I have to say though, Iv always had serious reservatons about John O shea, and watching him up close yesterday did nothing to dispel my fears. He looked Rubbish, cant pass, cant control the ball, and generaly looks like hes flying by the seat of his pants. There is no confidence or assuredlness inhis game- probably cos he knows hes rubbish. At one point he missed a header which almost led to a shot on goal from Seville, and when Kuscak colected the ball for him he turned to the crowd and made a "phew that was close type face" He clearly does not know what he is doing. Must get more midfielders in. Either he sorts him self out, or he becomes the next Phil Neville, who by comparison is pretty damn good. Still though, United won, Ronny, Louis and Jonsey scored. C'mon you Reds!!! Bring on Fulham!!!!!
Hey Darren Brackley, 40,000 fans to watch the grass grow? Your glass must be forever half empty mate...
United should take a look at Mido.
Ole, Ole Ole Ole, Ole Ole.
I don't care how old or beaten
up his body is, the sight of Ole
on the pitch is a postive sign
for United, and for all our
young players.
Up the Reds
The game was meaningless. The problem we have is strength in depth in midfield and now attack. Watched the Comunity Shield yesterday, and the strength in depth Chel$ki have is amazing, whilst we have Fletcher and O'Shea. The season has not even started and SAF is already looking at playing players out of position. We had all summer to strengthen the squad, (in fact three years to strenghten midfied), and we have one midfield signing (and another keeper) to show for it. Sad.
Forty odd thousand fans!! Enough said!!!!