Javier Hernandez snatches injury time winner to settle seven goal classic to win it for 4-3 for Manchester United over Newcastle United in a thriller at Old Trafford played in driving rain on Wednesday. With this vital win The Reds extended their lead at the top of the table by 7 points over their Manchester rivals after City’s 1-0 defeat at Sunderland.
Manchester United pips Newcastle United in a seven goal thriller
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side trailed three times at home before Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra and Robin van Persie all equalized for United after strikes from James Perch and Papiss Cisse plus an own goal from Evans that had put Newcastle in front. But a goal from Javier Hernandez who poked home just in the nick of the time ensured comeback for the 19 time champions to win the Boxing Day cracker 4-3.
Sir Alex made five changes to the side which drew at Swansea. Most noted absentee was neither ill nor injured Wayne Rooney and winger Ashley Young. Chicharito, Phil Jones, Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs all returned to the starting line-up.
The visitors shocked the loud home fans in the 4th minute when Perch tapped home his first league goal after keeper David de Gea weakly parried Demba Ba’s angled shot.
With the rain sodded pitch, De Gea could be given the benefit of the doubt but United fought back and were level against the run of play when Evans slotted into an empty net after Hernandez was denied by visiting keeper Tim Krul in the 25th minute much the similar way as Perch scored.
Three minutes later, Evans went from hero to villain when he put Danny Simpson’s low cross-shot into his own net and although the linesman had flagged Cisse offside, the goal was allowed to stand due to the Senegal striker’s non-active role.
Newcastle were on top at the beginning of the second period, too, but were again pegged back in the 58th minute as Evra drilled in an angled shot from the edge of the box from 20 yards that Tim Krul got a hand to but could not stop from creeping in.
The visitors refused to give up and again took the lead again when Cisse smashed a brilliant first-time shot and blazed it past De Gea from substitute Gabriel Obertan’s cross from the left flank in the 68th minute.
Magpies’ joy was short-lived as United were straight back in it amazingly two minutes later when Van Persie placed his shot past the cross line after the keeper had saved the Dutchman’s initial shot.
Minutes before the final whistle Hernandez, who had been misfiring throughout timed his run to perfection and poked the ball into the net to guide home Michael Carrick’s inch-perfect cross in the 91st minute to settle the goal-studded thriller and give United a crucial victory in a nail biting encounter.
Meanwhile put a cherry on top Christmas Manchester City lost 1-0 to a struggling Sunderland side which means City will still stay at the second position but now 7 points behind Manchester United.
Reds will play their next match against West Bromwich who have surprised all this season with their performance on 29th December.
Tags: English Premier League, EPL, Football, Javier Hernandez, Manchester United, Newcastle, Newcastle United, Premier League, The Reds
