Source: Daily_Mail
Sunderland 1 Manchester Utd 2: United rocking with teen spirit as Macheda scores again
Federico Macheda has all the characteristics of a great striker: improvisation, ingenuity .... and an instinct to claim absolutely anything and everything!
Witness his reaction when he stuck a foot out to divert Michael Carrick's mis-hit shot from the edge of the area beyond Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon, setting off to celebrate with Cristiano Ronaldo and telling sceptical team-mates that his first touch was forward planning.
'He says he meant it, so we have to take his word for it,' chuckled Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, settling for Macheda's explanation without hesitation.
It has to be that way now that this young buck, all of 17, has twice come on as an impact substitute in the Premier League and gone on to become one of the mosttalked about teenagers in years.
There is something about the North East that is to the Italian teenager's liking, with a hat-trick against Newcastle's reserves 10 days ago his passport to the first team and this winner at the Stadium of Light on top of his goalscoring debut against Aston Villa.
Perhaps his arrival is just the lift United need, with his cheeky, outgoing nature appealing to some of his team-mates at a time when the world appears to be waiting for them to lose their nerve at home and abroad.
For a side this talented, not winning the Premier League seems unthinkable, such istheir majesty when in possession, arrowing passes to each other and now just seven games away from the crowning glory.
Paul Scholes watches his header fly in to put United in front early on
Although they remained way short of their tantalising best against Sunderland, they are doing just enough to stay one step ahead of Liverpool, rotating the team as theyenter the final phase of the season.
Wayne Rooney played left midfield, taking his medicine and responding by providing the opening goal for Paul Scholes, a delicious ball into the penalty area directedbeyond Sunderland's keeper in the 19th minute.
Ronaldo was left on the bench until the 69th minute, keeping Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra and Macheda company as Ferguson played a complex game of Champions League chess.
Even Edwin van der Sar was given the afternoon off, replaced by Ben Foster for his first Premier League start of the season, as United prepare to find a way of becomingthe first British team to win at Porto in the Champions League.
Scholes, scorer of United's opening goal, said: 'We did not play especially well, but lifting the three points was so important because Liverpool and Chelsea both won.
'We created quite a few chances and it was a great ball from Wayne for the first goal. It is always disappointing when we don't keep a clean sheet, but the most important thing at this stage of the season is to win.'
United remain a point clear of Liverpool, but their FA Cup semi-final commitment against Everton next weekend means they may be playing catch-up on the red half of Merseyside by the time Portsmouth visit Old Trafford on April 22.
By then the title race picture may be even clearer, just as the relegation issue should be for Sunderland and their manager Ricky Sbragia.
They entertain Hull next weekend, do-or-die perhaps for one of them.
'We've got to get something against Hull,' admitted Sbragia, looking every inch a man who could take the team who were sixth in September into the bottom three by the time they host Chelsea on May 24.
At least Sunderland, fresh from a good old-fashioned clear-the-air meeting between players and management last Tuesday, gave it a go, hustling United and making lifehard for the world champions.
Teemu Tainio was excellent in central midfield, succumbing to cramp five minutes from time but not before he had supplied the cross for Kenwyne Jones to bundle theequaliser beyond Foster.
'Our front two set the ball rolling with their work rate, but unfortunately we don't have anything to show for it,' added Sbragia.
'Compared to the way we lost against West Ham, our commitment was a lot better. The crowd were behind us and that will be important next weekend.'
