Manchester United 2 Wigan 0: Van Persie reminds everyone why it is he and not Rooney who has top billing at Old Trafford
By Ian Ladyman
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Manchester United’s best player of last season reminded people why it is he, and not Wayne Rooney, who enjoys star billing at Old Trafford these days.
Time waits for nobody in football and while Rooney spent last season fretting about his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson and indeed his place in the grand scheme of things, Robin van Persie appeared quickly on his shoulder and shot past.
Last season’s tally for Van Persie following his switch from Arsenal was 30 goals in 48 games.
VIDEO Scroll down for a post-match interview with Manchester United's Ryan Giggs
On form: Van Persie scored a double as Manchester United beat Wigan 2-0 at Wembley
First of many? David Moyes holds aloft the Community Shield - his first trophy at Manchester United
Winners: Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic raises the Community Shield after his side's 2-0 victory
MATCH FACTS
Man Utd: De Gea 6, Rafael 6 (Smalling 16 6), Jones 6, Vidic 6, Evra 7, Zaha 6 (Valencia 61 6), Carrick 7, Cleverley 6, Giggs 7 (Anderson 67 6), Welbeck 6 (Kagawa 83), Van Persie 7 (Januzaj 83).
Subs not used: Evans, Lindegaard.
Goals: Van Persie 6 59.
Booked: Cleverley.
Wigan: Carson 6, Boyce 6, Perch 6, Barnett 6, Crainey 6, McCarthy 6 (Dicko 86), Watson 6 (Espinoza 71 6), McArthur 6 (McCann 61 6), Maloney 7 (Gomez 71 6), Holt 6 (Fortune 61 6), McClean 6 (McManaman 62 6).
Subs not used: Nicholls.
Booked: McArthur, Espinoza.
Attendance: 80,235.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (County Durham).
After this contribution, the Holland international has now nudged that to 32 from 49 and would appear to be arriving at the start line for the 2013-14 season in perfect shape.
Just as well, too. While the brouhaha over Rooney’s attempt to bludgeon his way to Chelsea continues, United approach Saturday’s opening Barclays Premier League fixture at Swansea without him. As such, they will rely heavily on Van Persie until his team-mate gets his mind and body together.
It is interesting that although United’s squad have been together since the start of July, Van Persie did not join them until a week into their pre-season tour of Australia and the Far East.
Given extra time off after some international commitments, the 30-year-old has been playing catch-up ever since, but nobody would have known at Wembley.
Van Persie’s contribution — a goal in each half — brought a smidgeon of interest to what was, in essence, a pretty underwhelming afternoon.
Here to spray: Manchester United's players celebrate their success in the season's tradition curtain-raiser
Early blow: Robin van Persie headed Manchester United into the lead in the sixth minute
In action: Manchester United's Atonio Valencia takes the ball away from Wigan's Jordi Gomez
For this game to really come to life, it needed a brave, expansive display from Wigan. It probably needed an early goal from Owen Coyle’s Championship side, too.
Unfortunately, though Wigan competed ably enough, they didn’t manage to gather enough momentum to put United under pressure and, once Van Persie scored with a header in the seventh minute, last season’s FA Cup winners never looked remotely likely to record a third Wembley win in four months.
Some goal the first one was, mind. Van Persie has never been known as a prolific header, but the finish he applied to Patrice Evra’s early cross was one of which any battering-ram centre forward of yore would have been proud.
Van Persie played a full part in making the chance, too, dropping a full 20 yards out of the penalty area to play an angled pass towards Evra, who had advanced in typically forthright fashion down the left side.
With two team-mates ahead of him, Van Persie was subsequently able to ease into the danger area almost unnoticed — as strange as that may seem — and when Evra’s centre found his forehead, the United centre forward directed a perfect finish back across Wigan goalkeeper Scott Carson and in off the far post.
Ahead: The Dutchman arrived late in the penalty area to head Patrice Evra's cross into the bottom corner
Joy: United celebrate Van Persie's early goal at Wembley
New signings: United's Wilfried Zaha, (left) competes with Wigan Athletic's James McClean
An inch either side and Van Persie would have been denied either by Carson’s fingertips or the frame of the goal. As it was, the ball drifted between both and United’s season was off and running.
In the dugout, United manager David Moyes reacted to Van Persie’s goal with some gusto, even if it wasn’t quite enough to pull him from his seat.
After some indifferent pre-season form, Moyes needed an early setback here like he needs a transfer request from one of his best players.
As the game developed Wigan were never overwhelmed, but nor were they ever able to gain a proper foothold. Twice in the first half Wigan sniffed an opportunity but on both occasions they couldn’t find the necessary precision.
First James McClean judged a bouncing ball better than United substitute Chris Smalling — on for the injured Rafael — but could only shoot wastefully across goal.
Then Emmerson Boyce advanced to meet a free-kick at the far post only to head the ball back towards team-mates rather than aim for the top corners either side of United goalkeeper David de Gea.
Elusive: United's new winger Wilfried Zaha escapes the attention of Ben Watson
Vocal: David Moyes and Owen Coyle shout out instructions to their teams
For Coyle’s team, that was about as good as it got. Indeed, they never fashioned a shot on target.
United were not exactly carving out chances at will either — Danny Welbeck’s shot on the turn was saved comfortably by Carson in the 38th minute — but they did always look the more likely to score and just before the hour Van Persie sealed their victory.
Minutes earlier United midfielder Tom Cleverley had failed to apply an appropriate finish to the best move of the game after Wilfried Zaha and Welbeck had combined to set him up on the edge of the area.
That miss was rendered irrelevant, though, when Van Persie cut inside from the right and drove a left-foot shot towards goal that was deflected past the bemused Carson by defender James Perch.
Advantage doubled: Van Persie net's Manchester United's second goal just before the hour mark
Challenge: Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic comes under pressure from Shaun Maloney
Race: Chris Smalling (left) competes with McClean to reach the ball
‘It was unfortunate as the shot was going straight into Scott Carson’s hands,’ reflected Coyle afterwards. ‘The first goal was world class, but that was unlucky for us.’ Certainly nobody could argue with that assertion. Wigan, though, were pretty toothless in terms of a comeback and the final half-hour passed in a haze of sunshine and Mexican waves.
Afterwards, Moyes was quick to dedicate the victory to Sir Alex Ferguson, and that was only right.
Moyes’s priority is what happens on Saturday at the Liberty Stadium and this game represented a hurdle to overcome rather than a chance to experience anything approaching a blast of real glory.
It has not been an easy start for Moyes and there would still appear to be challenges ahead of the closing of the transfer window in three weeks. Yesterday at least gave him an opportunity to concentrate on matters on the field and Van Persie — among others — managed to remind us that some things at Old Trafford do not change.
The heat is on: Manchester United and Wigan walk out onto the pitch at Wembley
From the front: Manchester United manager Moyes leads his team out at Wembley
New toy: Fourth official Michael Oliver tests out the Goal Decision System before the match
Iconic walk: Fans make their way down Wembley Way for the Community Shield
MATCH ZONE by John Edwards
Flying high: RVP does a Denis
If David Moyes wasn’t out of his seat at Robin van Persie’s opener, it’s a fair bet that guest of honour Denis Law was, in the Royal Box. The penalty area used to be Denis’s domain, and his speciality was headers like the one Van Persie planted past Scott Carson.
The Lawman would have been proud of it. Penny for Wayne Rooney’s thoughts as Van Persie added a second, proving again that he is United’s main man.
Watches ready: Technology in debut
More than 47 years after that controversial Geoff Hurst goal against West Germany in the World Cup final, goalline technology aimed at ending such debates finally made its debut.
It wasn’t called into action, though the officials tested the new system before kick-off and wore their new watches which would alert them if the ball had crossed the line.
Spot the difference: Come in No 7
Would anyone put their shirt on Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford? David Moyes might. Despite Real Madrid’s insistence that Ronaldo is not for sale, Moyes left the winger’s old No 7 shirt without an owner after Antonio Valencia asked to be switched to 25. With no-one claiming a jersey made famous by George Best, Moyes must be hoping that Ronaldo might yet come back.
Above: Valencia's new number (25), below it his old one (7)
Stats amazing!
7 Number of goals that United striker Robin van Persie has scored against Wigan. In just six games.
104 Passes made by United midfielder Michael Carrick. And 99 of them arrived at their intended destination, showing that Carrick looks set to continue the superb form he showed last season.
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They beat Wigan big deal
- Sacha Toomie , London, United Kingdom, 12/8/2013 13:30
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