On target:Javier Hernandez completes the Manchester
United goalfest against the MLS All-Stars
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The 'Little Pea' was a big hit on his first appearance
for Manchester
United as Javier Hernandez came off the
bench to steal the show at Houston's Reliant Stadium.
Sir Alex Ferguson has been talking up his £7m signing from
Chivas on United's tour of North America and the young man they
call 'Chicharito' lived up to expectations when he was sent on for
Nani in the 63rd minute to the biggest cheer of the night from a
largely Hispanic crowd.
The Mexico striker has played no football since the World Cup
and only met his new teammates for the first time on Monday, but
you would never have known it from the way he settled in to the
game.
No stopping that one: Nick Rimando is beaten by
Darron Gibson's free-kick
Hernandez had already seen one effort saved by All-Stars
substitute goalkeeper Nick Rimando and earned the free-kick that
enabled Darron Gibson to restore United's two-goal lead with a
wonderful free-kick, when he struck in the 84th
minute.
Paul Scholes' throughball invited the man who was officially the
fastest player at this summer's World Cup in South Africa to race
clear, and Hernandez showed not the slightest hint of nerves as he
lobbed the ball first time over the advancing Rimando. It was an
instinctive goal from a 22-year-old clearly high on confidence, and
Ferguson was delighted.
'The one thing defenders worry about is players with speed, who
get into the space behind them,' said the United boss.
'When you see his goal it is an indication of that speed. The
timing of his run, coming towards the ball spinning, he is going to
be a threat to defenders, no question.'
Ferguson's insistence that his new generation guarantee a bright
future at Old Trafford was rewarded with two first-half goals from
Federico Macheda - the first after just 22 seconds - Gibson's
strike, and a superbly taken goal from Tom Cleverley as United
cruised through what the manager thought would be their toughest
test in the United States.
In truth, the All-Stars had never played together before, and
that much was evident straight from the kick-off when defender
Kevin Alston attempted a square pass to Jamison Olave. But he
placed it wide of his teammate who did not seem to be expecting the
ball and Macheda was onto it in a flash, racing clear into the box
to beat Donovan Ricketts.
Ferguson added: 'We always think about Macheda that going
through on the goalkeeper he is probably the best we have.
First of many this season? Manchester United
skipper Ryan Giggs holds aloft the holds up the MLS All-Star
Trophy
'He is outstanding in those positions. You always feel
very confident.
'When he went through I expected him to score. It was a
well-taken goal.'
More poor defending allowed Macheda to score his second in the
12th minute when he was left unmarked on the edge of the six-yard
box to meet Nani's corner from the right with a well-placed
header.
He could even have had a first-half hat-trick when Guillermo
Barros Schelotto allowed the ball to run past him and into
Macheda's path in the 36th minute, but this time Ricketts was able
to get a touch to the youngster's effort and deflect it just past
the post.
Darren Fletcher also went close to a third goal for United when
Cleverley's perfect return pass set the Scotland midfielder free on
goal just before half-time but his fierce effort came back off the
underside of the bar.
The All-Stars made six changes at the interval, and two more
later in the second half underlined the problems they faced.
Former Everton
midfielder Landon Donovan and Dwayne De Rosario had both played the
full 90 minutes in CONCACAF Champions League ties for the LA Galaxy
and Houston 24 hours earlier but were called into action by coach
Bruce Arena.
The All-Stars still managed a reply in the 64th minute,
ironically as Hernandez was making his long-awaited appearance off
the bench.
Back in the game: Brian Ching celebrates with
teammate Wilman Conde after netting against Manchester
United
The Mexican had only just taken up position as United
defended a free-kick on the left and David Ferreira's cross picked
out Brian Ching who took got in ahead of Fabio and Edwin van der
Sar to head home.
Gibson hit back with a curling 25-yard free-kick and Cleverley
scored an even better goal, skilfully lifting the ball over two
defenders before beating Rimando from close-range with a
side-footed volley.
Then came Hernandez's big moment and there was still time for De
Roasrio to pull back another goal and Brad Davis to hit the post in
a lively finale.
It was entertaining stuff for the fans at the Reliant Stadium, a
superb roofed arena which offered welcome respite from the
oppressive heat and humidity of a Texas summer.
An official crowd of 70,728 was the fourth largest for an
All-Star Game in any major US sport, even though the number of
empty seats suggested it was in fact some way short of that.
But this was not an occasion to find fault. Not with Major
League Soccer's showpiece game, and certainly not with
Hernandez.
