Young Star Januzaj Inspires United Win
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Nadal, Djokovic City end set up mouth- Everton’s 17watering final 19unbeaten Streak SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2013 Afghanistan calls for support from cricket nations Page 16 LONDON: Manchester United’s Belgian midfielder Adnan Januzaj (center) celebrates after scoring a goal during the English Premier League football match against Sunderland. — AFP Young star Januzaj inspires United win Albania, had been spared the long mid-week trip to play Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine Sunderland 1 because he is not registered in the Champions League. A natural number 10, he started on the left, with Nani on the right, but the fact that Man United 2 both players shot narrowly wide from inside the D within the first 20 minutes showed they were quite happy to come inside. Januzaj spent more time infield than along the touch- SUNDERLAND: Two goals from 18-year-old line, leaving Patrice Evra to provide the width. Adnan Januzaj inspired a second-half come- Nani ought to have equalised when Evra’s back as Manchester United snatched a 2-1 deep cross cleared Valentin Roberge’s head, win at Sunderland in the Premier League yes- but he steered his volley wide. Bottom-of- terday. the-table Sunderland were the equal of the Trailing for 50 minutes to Craig Gardner’s away side in the first half, though, and early goal, United were facing a third consec- Giaccherini their best player. utive league defeat, something they have not David de Gea made a terrific right-handed experienced since 2001, until the young save when the 5ft 4in (163cm) wide man Belgian struck twice in the second half. found himself in a generous amount of space His telling contribution spared United from Adam Johnson’s cross and the Italian manager David Moyes from further scrutiny, also shot over in the 44th minute after in the wake of consecutive defeats by Johnson spread panic in the United defence. Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion, Keiren Westwood saved Rafael da Silva’s and lifted the defending champions into the powerful shot well in the 41st minute, but it top half of the table. Sunderland had opted was a rare moment of first-half action for the for an extra man in midfield and that, and Sunderland goalkeeper. Januzaj blotted his another change of central defensive partner- copybook in the 48th minute when he ship for United, proved decisive in the first flopped over the merest hint of an out- goal. stretched leg from John O’Shea. Instead of Ondrej Celustka beat Januzaj in a 50-50 getting a penalty, he was shown a yellow challenge just inside United’s half and when card. Emanuele Giaccherini crossed, Phil Jones hit But he soon made it up to the away fans. his clearance at Nemanja Vidic, who miscon- Ten minutes into the second half, he played a trolled. Gardner, playing as the extra man in one-two with Evra and finished calmly just midfield thanks to Celustka’s inclusion at inside the left-hand post. His goal gave the right-back, pounced, steering a good finish visitors confidence and seemed to drain it inside the far post to give the home side a from their hosts. fifth-minute lead. Four minutes later, Westwood had to make Jones and Vidic were the fifth central a good save after Robin Van Persie got on the defensive partnership that Moyes had tried in end of a cross from Evra. When Nani crossed as many games. Jones made a nervy start, from the right with the outside of his boot, caught in possession by Gardner in the ninth O’Shea’s clearing header was weak and minute, only to make an excellent recovering Januzaj volleyed it expertly into the net. With slide tackle in the penalty area. Vidic looked 29 minutes left, the game had been trans- unsettled throughout by Jozy Altidore’s formed. Rafael’s slightly weak left-footed shot strength. and Van Persie’s tame finish when played Januzaj’s selection was the most eye- through by Antonio Valencia apart, United catching of the visitors’ four changes. The offered little threat thereafter, but Januzaj teenager, who also qualifies to represent had broken Sunderland’s spirit. — AFP Late Bent winner lifts Fulham worst winless streaks at Craven Cottage going back to April and lifted the team out Fulham 1 of the relegation zone. Stoke had made most of the early run- ning dominating the first half with both Marko Arnautovic and Geoff Cameron miss- Stoke 0 ing early chances to take the lead. Stoke were denied a penalty when Philippe Senderos tackled Stephen Ireland. Back after the break Kieran Richardson had LONDON: A late goal from substitute Darren replaced captain Brede Hangeland in the Bent helped relieve some of the pressure on home line-up as Fulham pushed for an beleaguered manager Martin Jol with a valu- opener. Bulgarian Berbatov, brought down able 1-0 win over Stoke City yesterday. by Glenn Whelan, was then replaced by Bent, who was brought to Fulham by the Bent. Dutchman after falling out of favor at Aston The striker made the desired impact Villa, came on after 65 minutes in place of when he picked up a deflected Kasami shot injured Dimitar Berbatov. to cheer up Craven Cottage with his third And he scored what could be an impor- goal of the season. Stoke pushed for a late tant goal in keeping Jol in his job seven min- leveller with Erik Pieters and Arnautovic utes from time as he picked up a pass from both hitting wide, but Fulham held out for midfielder Patjim Kasami to fire past Bosnia just their second clean sheet in 18 home Asmir Begovic in the Stoke goal. matches. Both sides are two points above The goal put an end to one of Fulham’s the drop zone. — AFP.