United were too classy for Kaizer Chiefs in the Vodacom Challenge final, as the Reds cruised to a 4-0 victory.
Goals from Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Tom Cleverley and Fraizer Campbell settled a game in which the Reds only fully took control in the second half.
The Chiefs set much of the early pace, as the English champions took time to find their groove. The heat and altitude in Pretoria may have played its part, likewise United’s unfamiliar team selection.
That was understandable, however. With the Reds due to face Portsmouth in Nigeria little more than 24 hours after this clash, Sir Alex called on the club’s youth. Youngsters Craig Cathcart and Rodrigo Possebon (both yet to make competitive first-team appearances) both started, as did Danny Simpson and Lee Martin.
Possebon’s first two touches oozed confidence and class, as the young Brazilian slotted easily into his central midfield role. Later, when he sprayed a pass 40 yards out to Martin on the left wing, it was just like watching Paul Scholes.
But it was the familiar face of Wayne Rooney who engineered the game’s first spark. Collecting the ball on the right side of the Chiefs’ box, Rooney shaped to blast the ball goalwards. Instead, he orchestrated a cheeky chip that had goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune scrambling back towards goal before breathing a sigh of relief as the ball dropped onto the roof of the net.
As was the case in Cape Town last Saturday, Kaizer Chiefs weren’t intimidated by United. Tricky winger Siphiwe Tshabalalawas particularly direct, running at Simpson at every opportunity. Tshabalala, in his bright red boots and dreadlocked hair, makes Chief tick. Speedy and skilful, he also possesses an assured first touch and exquisite vision.
After a period of United dominance, in which Rooney saw two shots saved by Khune, the South Africans almost took the lead. They were first denied a penalty when Tomasz Kuszczak raced out to reach Cathcart’s header and Mthembu went to ground. Then Tshabalala flashed a free-kick inches wide of the post.
When the next chance of the match fell to Ryan Giggs on 40 minutes, the Welshman made no mistake, lashing Lee Martin’s cross back past Khune and into the roof of the net. Giggs’ right-foot rocket not only put United in the driving seat, it also raised R100,000 for the tournament’s Goals For Miracles campaign. By the time the final whistle went, the charity was R400,000 better off.
Giggs was denied a second shortly after the interval by a fine save from Khune, and Wayne Rooney blasted the follow-up into the side-netting. United’s record appearance maker was again involved on 53 minutes, his curling cross finding Cathcart at the back post. Despite the time and space he was afforded, the young Northern Irishman could only plant his header wide.
The Reds did add a second on 57 minutes as Wayne Rooney beat the offside trap to sprint clear and finish under the onrushing Khune. It was the sort of composure in front of goal strikers sometimes lack during pre-season, and yet Rooney has now found the net in two of his last three starts.
He turned provider five minutes later, nodding down Danny Simpson’s cross at the back post for substitute Tom Cleverley to fire home from six yards. Cleverley, a constant fixture in the Reds’ second string last season, was engulfed by team-mates as they celebrated his strike.
The Chiefs’ early energy had faded and United’s final goal arrived courtesy of another substitute, Fraizer Campbell.
Again, the Chiefs’ offside trap failed. Chris Eagles laid the ball into Campbell’s path and the 21-year-old showed the kind of form that netted him 15 goals during his loan spell at Hull City last season.
In truth, the result was never important; United’s time in South Africa was all about improving fitness levels. Still, it’s always nice to see the Reds win some silverware.
Team Line-ups
United: Kuszczak; Simpson, Vidic (Evans 63), Cathcart, O’Shea; Fletcher (Gibson 63), Possebon (Cleverley 46), Carrick (Scholes 63), Martin (Eagles 46); Rooney (Tevez 66), Giggs (Campbell 66)
Subs not used: Amos, Neville, Silvestre
Kaizer Chiefs: Khune; Tau, Bhasera, Nahayo (Tsotetsi 66), Quartey; Nengomashe, Zwane, Letsholonyane (Schalkwyk 46), Tshabalala (Nkambule 46); Mthembu (Motaung 38, Lebese 71), Torrealba (Bulu 66)
Subs not used: Baron, Mathebula, Sibeko
