Goals
Highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3259vf7hmE
The Manchester United striker may go through painful months of
injury and find himself in the stands far more often than he would
like. But give him a ball near a goal and it is only heading one
way.
Many would have had second thoughts on their playing career
after just 15 starts in two seasons. And surely at 31 he would have
preferred to drop down from the Premier League so he can play more
football in the twilight of his career.
Not Owen. He has been determined to stick it out and make his
mark as a United player since his surprise signing as a free agent
in July 2009.
To be fair, 16 goals from just 16 starts and 33 games as
substitute is not a bad return.
Even if he had called it a day at Old Trafford at the end of
last season he would always be remembered for his winner in the
derby two seasons ago when United beat City 4-3.
But when at the end of last season boss Alex Ferguson told Owen
he wanted him to stay for another year that was enough for
him.
He was going to get more chances to prove he could still do it
at the highest level. They might be few and far between but he will
take them — and relish them. A back injury did not help him at the
start of this season and he has had to be patient for 37 days
before getting his first run out.
In last night's potentially tricky Carling Cup third-round clash
at Elland Road he got it — and how he took it.
No matter how long you keep him away from the goal he never
forgets where it is and what a classic Owen brace it was to
effectively finish this game inside 32 minutes.
He might admit the burst of pace that marked him out as Boy
Wonder over a decade ago is not there anymore, but this guy is
hardly slow.
And his speed of mind certainly has not gone. His opener on 15
minutes proved that. Dimitar Berbatov fed Ji-Sung Park who slid
Owen in.
There was still plenty to do with two Leeds defenders closing
him down.
The only option seemed a right-foot shot to a gap in the bottom
left corner but keeper Andy Lonergan was already moving to
anticipate that.
So Owen used his unfavoured left to scuff the ball back the
other way through the legs of Tom Lees and past the wrong-footed
Lonergan.
That was clever, his next on 32 minutes was
spectacular.
The cross came low and hard from Mame Biram Diouf. Owen killed
it with the outside of his right and then launched it with the same
foot into the top corner.
It was so good, there was even a smattering of applause came
from some Leeds fans. In the final minute of the first half the
game was over, as a player who is even beyond veteran status did it
again.
Ryan Giggs, 37, had been getting plenty of stick from fans in
the Don Revie Stand which United were attacking.
He silenced them all with another piece of brilliance.
Last Wednesday he was doing it in Lisbon with a cracking drive
from inside the 'D'. Last night he played a short corner to Park,
got the return and then set off on a narrow angle towards
goal.
He nutmegged Aidan White then fired a curling drive with the
outside of his left boot in at the near post.
Giggs cupped his ear to his detractors and there was nothing in
reply. Nor on the pitch either.
Leeds had fielded a strong side with nine starters from their
weekend victory over Bristol City.
Lees had a shot cleared off the line early on and Adam Clayton's
powerful shot was well held by Ben Amos, 21.
The tackles were flying and the atmosphere was intense as Leeds
eyed a repeat of their shock third-round FA Cup win at Old Trafford
two years ago.
It was not to be because no matter how many changes Ferguson
seems to make — last night it was the whole team — the football
stays the same.
It's seven wins and a draw in all competitions including the
Community Shield. Not bad for notoriously slow starters.
