Van Nistelrooy goal lights up United win over Juventus ( 2003-08-01 14:26) (Agencies)
Ruud van Nistelrooy lit up Manchester United's pre-season tour of the US with
another stunning goal as the English champions kept up their good form with a
4-1 friendly win over Juventus on Thursday.
Veron is reported to be on verge of a Chelsea transfer.
[Reuters]
Van Nistelrooy used his chest to
control a lofted pass from Juan Sebastian Veron in the 60th minute before
turning in one movement to hit a fierce right-foot volley past keeper Antonio
Chimenti and into the roof of the net.
The Dutchman's third goal of the tour put United 3-0 up at the Giants Stadium
on a night when Tim Howard, the US international, made a confident debut in goal
for Alex Ferguson's side.
With yellow cards for Paul Scholes and Roy Keane within two first-half
minutes, United's commitment for the friendly was never in doubt.
They took a deserved lead after 24 minutes when Ryan Giggs, assuming
set-piece duties following the sale of David Beckham to Real Madrid, stepped up
to curl a direct free-kick into the corner of the net from 25 metres.
EXCELLENT INTERPLAY
Scholes doubled the advantage 12 minutes after halftime, sliding home a low
shot after excellent interplay between Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Veron, the
Argentine again linked with a move to Chelsea this week.
Ruud van
Nistelrooy controls the ball.
[Reuters]
The Italian champions made 10 outfield
substitutions after 62 minutes and one of them -- Pavel Nedved -- reduced the
deficit eight minutes later with a crisp drive from 20 metres.
It spoiled a perfect debut for Howard, who saved well from Alessandro Del
Piero, David Trezeguet and Nicola Legrottalie.
United substitute Diego Forlan missed a clear opening moments later before
making amends on 79 minutes with a cross-field pass for Solskjaer, who had time
and space inside the area to beat Chimenti for United's fourth.
But that was as good as it got for Uruguayan Forlan. With Chimenti grounded a
minute from time, the striker was left with an open goal but inexplicably shot
wide from seven metres.
Forlan's personal nightmare could not spoil United's work. It was their third
win in three tour matches, in front of a crowd of 79,005, a record for a soccer
match at the Giants Stadium.
United face Barcelona in their final match in the US on Sunday while Juventus
meet AC Milan in the Italian Super Cup at the Giants Stadium the same day.