The Hindu : Sport / Football : Silvestre stars in Manchester United's win

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 22, 2004

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Sport - Football

Silvestre stars in Manchester United's win

MANCHESTER, SEPT. 22. Two headers from Mikael Silvestre handed Manchester United its first win in five games on Monday and gave Rio Ferdinand a winning return in a 2-1 victory over Liverpool.

A Premier League record crowd of 67,857 saw the French defender, the only United man to play in all 10 league and cup games this season, score his first two goals of the campaign.

His second came in the 66th minute after John O'Shea's own goal had given Liverpool an equaliser early in the second half.

The victory came after four ties in a row — three in the league and one in the Champions League — and lifted United five places to eighth. Liverpool slipped to 12th.

Badly needing a victory to spark their season into life, United's stars outplayed Liverpool in the first half and could have gone into half time 3-0 ahead.

In the 10th minute Cristiano Ronaldo went on an amazing circular run, beating three Liverpool men on the way and fired a 25-yard shot that beat 'keeper Jerzy Dudek and thudded against his right hand post.

A minute later United appealed for a penalty when Ruud van Nistelrooy turned Sami Hyypia and the Finnish defender appeared to pull him back by the shoulder to prevent him shooting.

But the home side went ahead in the 21st minute when Hyypia needlessly fouled Paul Scholes near the right touchline. Ryan Giggs curled in the free kick and Silvestre timed his run perfectly as he rose at the far post to head home powerfully.

United went close four more times before the interval.

Brian Clough passes away

Brian Clough, the charismatic coach who led Nottingham Forest to back-to-back European Cup titles in 1979 and 1980 but became known as the "best manager England never had," died on Monday at age 69, at Derby.

Clough, who won nine major trophies during his 18-year stint with Nottingham Forest, was one of the most accomplished, colourful and respected figures on the English football scene.

Clough played only twice for England, in 1959, as knee injuries ended his playing career at the age of 29. He scored 251 goals as a centre-forward for Middlesbrough and Sunderland. — Agencies

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