United travelled to the Stadium of Light for their 7th league game of the season 12th in the table and on the back of successive defeats in their last two Premier League games. Their opponents Sunderland were faring even worse, without a manager they lay bottom of the table with 1 point from their first 6 games. Both teams were in desperate need of the 3 points.
David Moyes handed a first league start to Adnan Januzaj, the 18-year-old Belgian who has been tipped as a future star at Old Trafford. Wayne Rooney returned to start up front with Robin Van Persie whilst Phil Jones partnered Nemanja Vidic in central defence.
Sunderland were quickest out of the traps and went ahead inside 5 minutes after a series of defensive errors from United. First Evra allowed Giaccherini to ease past him and put in a dangerous cross into the box from the right. The cross found Jones in the centre who cleared it but only as far as Vidic beside him in the box, United's captain then made a huge mistake as he failed to clear it properly and instead hit the ball against his standing leg. It then rolled right into the path of Gardner, who needed no invitation to strike it first time into the bottom left hand corner.
It was the perfect start for Sunderland who continued to press and almost got another opportunity 4 minutes later after another defensive error from Jones. He took too long to decide where to pass deep inside his own half and allowed Gardner to steal the ball off him and run into the United box. Sunderland had Altidore and Giaccherini waiting in the centre for the cross but this time it was Sunderland's man who took too long to decide what to do with the ball which gave Jones the time to make up the ground and win it back with a well-timed tackle in the penalty area.
It took United 17 minutes to create a decent chance as Januzaj did well to create space for himself on the edge of the box and took a shot that went wide of Westwood's right hand post. United went close again minutes later when Evra put in a good curling cross that fell perfectly for Nani unmarked near the far post. The Portuguese winger volleyed it with good technique but should have done much better as it missed and went wide.
Undeterred, Sunderland tried to get their second and would have on 34 minutes had De Gea not made a superb save. Johnson had crossed from the left and found Giaccherini in space in the box. The Italian headed the ball with great power and it looked set to fly into the top corner until De Gea somehow parried it away with his right hand to keep United in the game. It was a magnificent stop and was every bit as important as a goal for his team.
Right before half time Sunderland should have got another as Johnson wriggled his way through the defence, past Rafael and Nani and then Jones and Vidic who both slid in and missed him in the box. He then crossed for Giaccherini who should have found the target but instead blasted the ball over the bar. Sunderland will have felt their constant pressure warranted more than one goal but they will have been content to go into half time in a winning position. United, however, needed to sort out their worrying defence and find some way to get their attacking players more involved with Januzaj and Nani looking the most likely to create something.
Januzaj was involved immediately in the second half, first as he was rightly booked for a dive in the box and then 10 minutes in when he started and finished the move that gave United the equaliser. He shielded the ball well in midfield before he pinged it out wide to Evra who took it well on his chest, let the ball bounce twice and then hit it first time into the box where Januzaj waited having anticipated the return ball. The Belgian struck it sweetly with his right foot and saw it nestle in the corner of the net to put United back on terms.
Moments later Van Persie had a chance as Evra linked up well with Januzaj on the left and put in another good cross, but the striker hit it far too soft to trouble Westwood who saved it easily. United then tried their luck down the right with Nani who skipped past Ki and crossed with the outside of his foot. O'shea headed clear but only as far as Januzaj who, confident from his first goal 6 minutes earlier, hit a wonderful left-foot volley from just inside the box on the left that beat the outstretched hands of Westwood and found the bottom right hand corner. It was a devastating blow for Sunderland who were ahead and had looked comfortable for 55 minutes but United showed better intensity in the second half and Moyes was rewarded for showing his faith in a fearless teenager.
Van Persie should have sealed the win at the death when Valencia drifted through the midfield well and put in a through ball that left the Dutchman one-on-one with the keeper. With Sunderland supporters looking on nervously, he hit it with his left rather than his right and sent his shot wide. Sunderland forced a corner in extra time that had to be punched, and then kicked, away by De Gea but United saw out the win and will be extremely relieved to come away from the Stadium of Light with the 3 points after an early scare.
With the international period almost upon us, United now have time to review their performance and identify the defensive problems in time for their next game in just under 3 weeks time at Old Trafford against Stoke. It is a match in which United fans will be hoping for more of the same: 3 points and the chance to see Januzaj impress, this time in front of the home crowd.
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