Played at Venue: Old Trafford Date: Tuesday, 23 February 2010
The day before one Manchester legend celebrates his 70th birthday, another United great provided the virtuoso performance for Sir Alex Ferguson's team as they comfortably beat West Ham United 3-0.Manchester United v West Ham Match Report
While that great United goalscorer Denis Law reaches his milestone birthday tomorrow, Wayne Rooney continued his remarkable season with two more goals.
Law still holds the club record of 46 goals in a season, 1963-64, as Rooney took his tally to 27 for the current campaign.
Both men have worn the number 10 shirt for United with pride.
Rooney may have had an off day at Goodison Park on Saturday, but he was back to his best against the Hammers at Old Trafford. Headed goals were once a rarity for the England star, but his brace against the Londoners both came with his head.
Rooney gave United a 38th minute lead. A superb move involving Nemanja Vidic, Ji-Sung Park and Dimitar Berbatov ended with the Bulgarian's gloriously measured cross to Antonio Valencia on the right edge of the West Ham box.
Valencia crossed to the far post where the unmarked Rooney stooped to head home from seven yards.
Rooney made it 2-0 10 minutes after the interval. Berbatov's clever pass sent Valencia racing down the right and his cross from the edge of the box was headed in by Rooney from seven yards out.
Berbatov and Rooney were replaced by Michael Owen and Mame Biram Diouf with 12 minutes left and Owen completed the scoring two minutes later.
Paul Scholes' intelligent pass picked out Owen on the left side of the Hammers penalty area and he curled his right-foot shot beyond Robert Green and into the far corner of the net from six yards.
United could easily have doubled their lead but a mixture of Green and wasteful finishing kept the score to three.
Green was beaten when another Valencia cross found Park 12 yards out and his shot hit the Hammers bar.
West Ham came closest to scoring when Alessandro Diamanti's 25-yard shot in the 21st minute took a wicked deflection off Gary Neville's heel and was stopped on the line by United goalkeeper Ben Foster.
The result puts United a point behind Premier League leaders Chelsea, having played a game more, and they now turn their attention to Sunday's Carling Cup final against Aston Villa at Wembley.
Manchester United v West Ham Highlights Video
37:45 GOAL - Wayne Rooney:Man Utd 1 - 0 West Ham
ROONEY breaks the deadlock, finishing off an excellent team move - he heads in a perfect volleyed cross from Valencia.
54:05 GOAL - Wayne Rooney:Man Utd 2 - 0 West Ham
ROONEY scores his 19th goal in his last 19 appearances, again combining with Valencia to head past Green.
79:52 GOAL - Michael Owen:Man Utd 3 - 0 West Ham
OWEN wastes no time in making an impression, tucking home his team's third from a Scholes pass.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson:
"We had to win and we did that. In the second half, especially, we played some really good football and it could have been more.
"But we're happy with the three points. Wayne Rooney was magnificent again. They were two excellent headers, although there was also some good play from Antonio Valencia.
"Now there will be changes on Sunday (for the cup final). I have done that all along in the competition and I will have to look at the situation to make sure we have a fresh team."
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola:
"We played some good football and looked like we were in the game for most of the first half, but after that we did not play as well.
"Manchester United are a fantastic team and we could not live with them. We probably played them at the wrong time after their defeat on Saturday and, in Rooney, they have a player who turns everything to gold. He is one of the most complete strikers in the world.
"Still, I was not happy that the referee allowed them to play on when Noble was down injured. That third goal could have been avoided.
"Now we look ahead to the game against Bolton, which is absolutely massive for us."
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