GN Soccer Magazine August 2014 Edition | страница 8

8

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney scored two minutes apart in
the second half, and Manchester United rallied to longtime rivals Liverpool 3-1 for the
International Champions Cup title on Monday night. Jesse Lingard added a goal in the
88th minute for United, who remained unbeaten under new manager Louis van Gaal
.Rooney scored in the 55th minute, volleying home a long cross from Javier
"Chicharito" Hernandez. Mata got the go-ahead goal shortly afterward, and United
held on to capture the eight-team event. Steven Gerrard scored on a penalty in the
14th minute for Liverpool, who topped United twice last season in Premier League
play. It was only a preseason game, but there is certainly no such thing as a true
"friendly" between these clubs -- who have combined for 38 English championships
and well over 100 trophies worldwide. And when Rooney got the equaliser, it was
clear this was no meaningless match for him, either. Hernandez sent a ball from the
right wing to the far post, with Rooney timing his run perfectly to knock the volley into
the far side of the net -- then leaping and punching the air. Moments later, Luke Shaw
found Mata at the top of the penalty box, and Mata's quick blast deflected past Simon
Mingolet for a 2-1 lead. After Lingard added the insurance goal, Rooney stood still for
a few moments, his arms outstretched in celebration.
The scoring opened in the 14th minute, on a play that Manchester United argued to
no avail. Liverpool's Raheem Sterling chased down a ball on the left side of the box
near the goal line, as Manchester United's Phil Jones scurried over to defend. Jones
went for a slide tackle and while replays showed he appeared to make contact with
the ball, the play also sent Sterling to the grass -- and referee Mark Geiger immediately signaled for a penalty kick. Gerrard went one way, Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea guessed the other, and just like that Liverpool had a 1-0 lead.