Young Selamatkan MU Raih Tiga Poin Jelang Akhir Laga
Young Pounces on Tim Krul`s Howler to Fire Home Dramatic Late Winner
Editor : Ismail Gani
Translator : Novita Cahyadi
Newcastle, Inggris (B2B) - Gol Ashley Young di menit-menit akhir laga membawa Manchester United unggul 1-0 atas Newcastle United dalam lanjutan Liga Utama Inggris di Stadion St James' Park, Kamis dini hari.
Raihan tiga poin ini cukup untuk membuat The Red Devils bertahan di posisi empat besar klasemen dengan koleksi 53 poin dari 28 pertandingan. Sementara Newcastle tetap menghuni peringkat 11 yang mengunmpulakn 35 poin hasil 28 pertandingan.
MU mendapatkan peluang pertama pada menit ke-14 lewat aksi Marouane Fellaini yang memanfaatkan umpang matang Wayne Rooney. Fellaini melesakkan tendangan keras dari luar kotak penalti meski bola masih bisa diatasi kiper Newcastle.
Menit ke-25 giliran Wayne Rooney mencoba peruntungannya. Pemain bernomor punggung 10 ini berhasil melepaskan sepakan keras dari dalam kotak penalti usai mendapat assist dari Ashley Young. Sayang, bola melebar ke sisi kiri gawang, seperti dilansir Yahoo Sports.
Tiga menit setelah babak kedua dimulai, Newcastle mendapat peluang emas. Kali ini lewat sepakan kaki kanan Emmanuel Riviere di depan mulut gawang. Tetapi upayanya berhasil dimentahkan David de Gea.
Menit ke-53, Marouane Fellaini lolos dari jebakan offside. Setelah menerima umpan silang dengan dadanya, mantan pemain Everton ini melepaskan tendangan keras tepat di depan gawang. Namun, Tim Krul dengan sigap mengamankan si kulit bundar.
Saat laga seperti akan berakhir imbang, MU akhirnya mencetak gol pada menit ke-89. Wayne Rooney yang memberi tekanan kepada Tim Krul, berujung pada kesalahan fatal sang kiper. Akibatnya, bola pun mengarah kepada Ashley Young. Dengan tenang, pemain berkepala plontos ini meluncurkan si kulit bundar ke gawang Newcastle.
Newcastle, England - Ashley Young capitalized on a dreadful error by Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul and scored an 89th-minute goal to earn Manchester United a 1-0 win in the Premier League on Wednesday, tightening his team's grip on fourth place.
Under pressure from Wayne Rooney, Krul mis-hit a hurried clearance along the ground and straight to Young, who steered in a finish inside the near post.
The goalkeeper played a starring role for the Netherlands in last year's World Cup under coach Louis van Gaal, who is now in charge of United.
United stayed a point behind third-place Arsenal in the race for Champions League qualification. Arsenal and fifth-place Liverpool also won on Wednesday.
The game was marred by an angry exchange between Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse and United defender Jonny Evans at the end of the first half, with television pictures appearing to show both players spat — although not necessarily at each other. Both managers said they didn't see the incident.
It was another disappointing match for Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria, who was substituted in the 58th minute — four days after being taken off at halftime in United's win over Sunderland. Another high-profile summer signing, Radamel Falcao, was on the bench and didn't come on — even though fellow striker Robin van Persie is still out injured.
Krul's late error overshadowed an otherwise impressive display by the goalkeeper, who produced a stunning double save to deny Marouane Fellaini and Young in the 54th minute.
At the other end, United goalkeeper David de Gea twice saved shots by Emmanuel Riviere and Cisse scuffed a shot wide on a counter-attack with only De Gea to beat.
