There’s a reason I’m a writer and not a rapper but in a variation of the Ice Cube hit, yesterday was a good day!
I, like everyone, had that sense of dread when Torres got up and nodded in after 5 minutes and the stream of expletives that followed would have made my mother blush had she been at home but order was restored when minutes late Javier Mascherano brought Antonio Valencia down to hand United a penalty.
Now from Rafa Benitez’s claims that Valencia dived (rich coming from a man who manages Cpt. Starfish) to people saying the actual foul occurred outside the box (didn’t hear anyone in uproar when the same thing happened with Craig Bellamy and Rafael in the Carling Cup) the penalty was given and Rooney tapped in after missing the spot kick. The goal marked another for Rooney in his race to equal/break Cristiano Ronaldo’s 42 dyring the 07/08 season but was just part of a hardworking performance reminding us that not only can he score, he also puts in a shift.
Prior to the game a massive deal was made of how Torres was back in form and was going to ruin Vidic again *rolls eyes* but Vidic must clearly have taken these words to heart as he put in a measured performance. Imperial in the air, keeping it simple with the ball at his feet he didn’t put a foot wrong although the crowd had to give him a few prompts when they sensed potential danger.
Again Park Ji Sung showed why he has become more than just a squad player with another energy filled display. Although he started slowly he got into the game as it progressed and capped his performance with the winning goal. That’s 3 goals this season with Arsenal and Milan being his previous victims lending more weight to the claims that he is a big game player. Also the ball Fletcher played for Park’s goal was perfect, right into the danger zone allowing Park to get ahead of Glen Johnson, not bad for a player described as a ‘destroyer’.
Finally karma is indeed a female dog. Before Wayne Rooney’s penalty in a display of petulance Fernando Torres scuffed the penalty spot and in the dying moments of the game with Liverpool chasing the game it was that same penalty spot that caused the ball to bobble up and rob Fernando of the chance of an equaliser.
At the final whistle I breathed a sigh of relief, the victory went some way to erasing the memory of last season but there is still some way to go.
Add to it that Chelsea dropped points against Blackburn and wahey advantage United.
