Chapter 399: Moyes
In this match, both managers made some adjustments to their starting lineups.
For Manchester United, De Gea remained the goalkeeper. The defense was composed of Valencia, Phil Jones, Rojo, and Blind. The midfield trio consisted of Mata, Kanté, and Carrick. Bruno was pushed forward to join Ibrahimović and Lingard in the attacking trident.
On the Sunderland side, manager David Moyes made changes from the lineup that had secured a 1-0 home win against Watford. The goalkeeper was Pickford, with Billy Jones, Kone, Djilobodji, and van Aanholt forming the backline. The midfield featured Ndong, Denayer, and Larsson, while Borini, Defoe, and Anichebe formed the attacking trio.
As the players took their positions, the stadium quieted slightly. After synchronizing watches with the fourth official, referee Martin Atkinson blew the whistle to start the match.
Sunderland took advantage of their kickoff to launch an attack. Swedish midfielder Sebastian Larsson broke through Blind on the right side and entered the penalty area. Drawing Rojo's attention, he neither crossed nor shot but instead passed back. Denayer received the ball and, facing the retreating Bruno, feinted a shot.
Bruno extended his foot to block but kept his weight balanced, wary of a fake. His caution was justified, but the slippery pitch betrayed him. As he planted his left foot to pivot, he slipped, allowing Denayer to bypass him and take a shot.
De Gea, having already committed to Denayer's initial fake, was helpless against the real shot. Fortunately, Kanté appeared just in time to block the ball out for a corner, averting the threat.
"Whoa! Sunderland almost scored right from the start! Bruno was easily bypassed, possibly due to the slippery field…" commented the announcer.
Sunderland's aggressive start, culminating in a corner, initially thrilled their fans. However, after failing to score from the corner, they reverted to a defensive stance, disappointing their supporters.
Since the start of the new season, Sunderland's football had been unremarkable and uninspiring, often leading to dull matches. Today seemed no different, as they retreated to defend after their initial surge.
This strategy was precisely Moyes' plan. Analyzing United's first 17 matches, he noted that United often scored early. Moyes instructed his players to defend resolutely for the first fifteen minutes to weather United's initial onslaught, much like a tactical retreat in battle.
"If we can keep it 0-0 by halftime, we have a great chance of winning this game," Moyes told his players. So, their task was to hold United at bay in the first half, even if their football was unexciting.
Manchester United responded to Sunderland's defensive approach with relentless pressure. Bruno sent a long pass to Mata on the flank. Mata, without advancing, crossed directly into the box, where Ibrahimović's header narrowly missed the post.
"Oh, what a shame! That was a beautifully simple and effective attack by United, but Ibrahimović just missed," lamented Lineker.
Ferdinand, co-commentating and a United legend, added, "Sunderland had a threatening start, but United quickly showed them who's in charge here at Old Trafford!"
Sunderland aimed to survive the first half without conceding, believing this would greatly increase their chances of getting a result. After their initial attack, they pulled back to defend, hoping to frustrate United.
In the 12th minute, Bruno launched a sudden run towards Sunderland's penalty area. Even the commentators expected a pass, but Bruno surprised everyone with a long-range shot from 25 meters, narrowly missing the target.
Although it didn't result in a goal, Bruno's shot rattled Sunderland's goalkeeper Pickford, who immediately berated his defenders for giving Bruno so much space.
As the match continued, United dominated possession, keeping Sunderland pinned in their own half. Bruno's attacking and defensive contributions were exemplary.
In the 21st minute, Bruno passed to Valencia, who feigned a breakthrough before cutting back and crossing with his left foot. Ibrahimović's shot was blocked by Kone, but the rebound fell to Bruno, whose follow-up was also blocked, this time by Ndong. Djilobodji cleared the danger, much to Pickford's relief, as the goalkeeper was out of position.
After the scare, Pickford thanked his defenders for their timely interventions, momentarily forgetting his earlier frustration with them.
The match saw brief moments of midfield contention, with Sunderland occasionally showing signs of counterattacking, only to be thwarted by United's defense. Young Belgian midfielder Denayer tried to push forward but was brought down by Kanté. Despite Denayer's protest for a card, referee Atkinson, known for his leniency, awarded only a free kick.
In the 35th minute, United earned a free kick of their own. Kanté, carrying the ball forward, was fouled by a retaliating Denayer, who finally received a yellow card.
Bruno took the free kick from 25 meters but sent it over the bar. Shortly after, Lingard received a pass from Bruno, dribbled forward under pressure, and managed to poke the ball to Mata. Mata's powerful shot from the edge of the box beat Pickford but was ruled out for a foul, disappointing the home crowd.
"Wait, what's this? A foul? From the referee's signal… Ah! He's ruled out the goal for a foul during the build-up," exclaimed Lineker, his initial excitement turning to dismay.
(End of Chapter)
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