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Lee Du Maurier posted on April 14, 2009 18:53
Week 2 of the du Maurier UK tour took us to The Stadium of Light, to see yet another "Title Chaser v Relegation Fodder" clash.
My mate Rob who got us the tickets said "You'll enjoy it, you're right next to the Man Utd fans"....he wasn't wrong....3 yards away from the Red Army, separated by a cop sitting down without a care in the world, but with the heavy mob placed at the bottom of the stairs. Thomas was in his element!
Firstly, the atmosphere was terrific...the United supporters stood the whole time and sung non-stop....the Sunderland supporters weren't bad either, giving as good as the got. In short, the place was pumping, as opposed to the week earlier which resembled a morgue I'm sad to say.
Ronaldo started on the bench and Ben Foster started in goal.....Fergie saving his big guns for the battle in Portugal. From the get go, Utd ripped into it. Scholes, Berbatov and the fantastic Rooney, made mincemeat out of the Black Cats.
Sunderland survived some early scares, but the inevitable occured in the 17th minute, when Rooney clipped in an exquisite ball for Scholes to glance into the far corner. "Champions of England....Champions of Europe" bellowed out from beside us.
Their supporters arrogantly sneered at the Mackems....."I'd love to see Sunderland get a goal back" my brother whispered to me......well going a goal down galvanised the home side and they started to give Utd a good run for their money. Bardsley got behind Evans a couple of times, which almost got a goal for Cisse, then Sunderland were denied by the post, Evans again at fault.
Half time....Utd in front, but they knew they were in a game.
The 2nd started as the first finished....United all class, but unable to break down the defensive wall, Sunderland dangerous on the break and from set pieces.
With 25 left on the clock, the Championship was blown wide open....Foster flapped at a cross, Kenwyn Jones got his head to it, then poked it over the line, before Vidic could clear.......pandemonium......1-1...the famous Roker Roar blew into action....Liverpool were in the driving seat and Newcastle were very nervous.
Fergie then made his move....Ronaldo and more tellingly "Kiko" Macheda entered the fray.....Boys Own was about to be re-written.
15 to go, Rooney and Ronaldo interchanged before feeding Michaell Carrick 25 yards out....his effort was sturdy but non threatening, however, Macheda stuck out a leg and diverted it right in front of us, past a helpless Craig Gordon into the bottom corner. Jammy little ******.
Cruel luck for the home side....glee on the faces of the travelling supporters and you just couldn't help but think: Cantona 1996 - Macheda 2009....getting the right goals at the right time.
Utd then controlled the remainder of the game.....Sunderland never got a sniff of the ball. It was a treat to see the runs, workrate and skill of Wayne Rooney. He was sensational! The guy has got one helluva an engine.
The final whistle blew on a cracking contest.....what Sunderland lacked in class they made up in heart, unlike Newcastle the week prior.
Next week, the final instalment...a trip to the COM Stadium, to see the ever erratic Man City take on more relegation fodder, WBA.