Giggs Ikuti Jejak Moyes, MU Ditekuk Sunderland 1-0
Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss
Editor : Cahyani Harzi
Translator : Dhelia Gani
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Manchester (B2B) - Menekan dan mendominasi penguasaan bola sepanjang pertandingan, Manchester United yang sementara diasuh oleh Ryan Giggs harus takluk 0-1 dari tamunya Sunderland.
Tendangan keras Seb Larsson pada menit 30 yang memanfaatkan bola terusan dari Connor Wickham setelah sukses melewati hadangan Darren Fletcher, berhasil menjebol gawang United yang dijaga David de Gea.
Segera setelah gol ini United makin meningkatkan tempo permainannya dengan beberapa kali menciptakan peluang. Salah satu peluang terbaik United diciptakan Juan Mata namun tendangannya dari luar kotak penalti tepat jatuh ke pelukan kiper Sunderland Vito Mannonen, seperti dilansir BBC.
Memasuki babak kedua, United makin ofensif dengan melancarkan serangan dari kedua sisi dan tengah lapangan.
Lima menit dari awal babak kedua, sundulan Nemanja Vidic dari tengah kotak penalti yang menyambut umpan Phil Jones melebar ke sisi kanan gawang Sunderlan.
Lalu hanya dua menit sejak diturunkan menggantikan Nani, pemain muda Adnan Januzaj melepaskan tembakan dari sepakan kaki kannanya usai menerima kiriman bol dari Javier Hernández namun bola sukses dihalau barisan pertahanan Sunderland.
Setelah itu, Vidic kembali menciptakan peluang usai menerima umpan Juan Mata namun lagi-lagi bola diblok pemain lawan.
Setelah upaya gagal lainnya dari Phil Jones, Vidic kembali melepaskan sundulan yang lagi-lagi menghadapi tebalnya benteng pertahanan Sunderland.
United memasukkan Robin van Persie dan Danny Welbeck untuk masing-masing menggantikan Juan Mata dan Ashley Young pada pertengahan babak kedua.
Tapi Sunderland yang justru nyaris menggandakan keunggulannya setelah Emanuele Giaccherini yang meneriman umpan Jozy Altidore melepaskan tembakan terukur namun membentur tiang gawang United.
Setan Merah terus menyerang dan mengontrol permainan untuk kembali mengancam gawang Sunderland, diantaranya lewat Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandewz dan Robin van Persie.
Tapi sekali lagi yang justru tidak beruntung menciptakan gol adalah tim asuhan Gus Poyet ketika tembakan Fabio Borini nyaris menciptakan gol kedua Sunderland jika saja tidak membentur tiang gawang seperti dialami rekannya sebelumnya Giaccherini.
United masih berusaha mencoba peruntungannya, salah satunya dari Michael Carrick yang tendangannya dijinakkan Vito Mannone.
Namun kendati 63 persen mendominasi penguasaan bola dan 19 kali menciptakan peluang melawan 9 yang diciptakan Sunderland, dan melepaskan 8 tendangan penjuru, United harus tunduk kepada Sunderland.
Sampai babak kedua berakhir, Sunderland tetap unggul 1-0 sehingga untuk sementara keluar dari zona degradasi, sedangkan MU tertahan di posisi 7 dan sangat sulit mendapatkan peluang tampil di Liga Europa.
Manchester - Defeat brought interim United manager Ryan Giggs's winning start to an abrupt end, with Louis van Gaal rumoured to be on the verge of being given the job of rebuilding a club now virtually certain to miss out on European football next season.
Giggs made five changes to his starting line-up, which was lacking striker Wayne Rooney because of a combination of illness and injury, and selected two wingers.
Yet any hope of the performance being a throwback to thrilling days past soon stalled as Nani and Ashley Young made precious little headway.
Nani did fire a long-range effort over and Patrice Evra had a close-range header saved by Vito Mannone, who also kept out a speculative strike from Juan Mata.
But, even with John O'Shea's sliced clearance flashing over, it was a paltry return on their dominance of possession, particularly as Sunderland looked as though they could score every time they advanced.
Marcos Alonso smashed a volley wide before Larsson's opener, a goal which exposed the defensive failings United have struggled with this season.
Darren Fletcher should have prevented Connor Wickham's cross given he had the striker trapped by the corner flag. Then Michael Carrick lost Larsson completely as the Swede speared into the area before sweeping home an impressive finish.
United goalkeeper David De Gea then almost gifted Adam Johnson a chance to make it 2-0 with a mis-hit clearance.
Within five minutes of the restart, Giggs had introduced Adnan Januzaj for Nani, and midway through the second half Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck were on too.
Yet it was Sunderland who almost profited from the home side's commitment to attack.
Fletcher conceded possession too close to his own penalty area, and when Jozy Altidore crossed, fellow substitute Emanuele Giaccherini struck a post.
Welbeck drilled over as United searched for an equaliser, but the penetration required from midfield was lacking, and England boss Roy Hodgson had left by the time Carrick sent a pass intended to send Welbeck scampering free straight out of play.
A minute later, Javier Hernandez fired Evra's cross over.
Sensing the prize of safety was so close, Sunderland's commitment to remaining solid at the back shone through.
Though it was increasingly rare, they still retained a threat - and Fabio Borini became the latest Sunderland man to fire against the woodwork as the clocked ticked down to a famous victory.
