Carling Cup Third Round
Manchester United eased past one of their oldest rivals at a hostile Elland Road.
As expected United made wholesale changes compared to the line up that started in the 3-1 victory over Chelsea on Sunday. However where as in the past games like these would
have been used to give younger players a run out, there was an unusual XI fielded by Sir Alex. Including both youth and experience. Youth players such as Ben Amos and Ezekiel Fryers found themselves starting alongside the likes of Ryan Giggs, Michael Owen and Dimitar Berbatov. A line-up that not only shows the depth to United squad, but that they
are also taking the competition seriously.
Both sets of fans were in full voice, renewing a rivalry that even the recent lack of matches against each other, due to Leeds relegation, hasnt subdued. And it was the home side who got off to the better start when they had a a succesion of chances early on, when Berbatov had to clear off the line twice, first from a Tom Lees's header and then from a Ross McCormack's shot.
The match was understandably being played at a slower pace than Sunday's open game, and was much more scrappy in midfield. Leeds's chances of striking first did not last long, as after 15 minutes United''s out of favour striker Michael Owen, gave the away team the lead, with a scruffy but accurate shot into the bottom right of the Leeds goal. From that point on it was the United in red that dominated proceedings.
They struck again just after half an hour when Michael Owen doubled his and United's score, when he drilled home a fine shot from the edge of the area. The Leeds fans did not lose voice, but their players dropped their heads and rarely threatened again. Just before half time and the game, as a contest, was over, when Ryan Giggs showed his ageless brilliance again, making the score 0-3. A weaving run off the left wing by the Welshman saw him nutmegging Robert Snodgrass on route to firing a sublime shot past Andy Lonergan in the Leeds United goal.The second half saw Leeds battle bravely to keep the score at 0-3. During the second period we saw an impressive debut for Paul Pogba, United's 18 year old french midfielder, who is being dubbed the next big thing at United. His calmness on the ball and solid positional play certainly showed he has a potential future in red. Dimitar Berbatov saw himself finish the game in the centre of defence, after Fryers picked up an injury late in the second half after United, had used all 3 of their permitted substitutes. This aside United played out the rest of the game comfortably and were through to the fourth round of the Carling Cup.
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