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Electronic Telegraph


Thursday August18 1997
Issue 846


Spirited United stroll along path of least resistance
By Henry Winter in Kosice


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   FC Kosice (0) 0 Man Utd (1) 3
   
   DISCIPLINED and determined, Manchester United made the ideal
   start to their Champions' League campaign last night, defeating
   Slovakia's modest best and registering three goals and no bookings in
   the Lok Stadium.
   
   United used a Christmas tree formation to good effect. Alex Ferguson's
   tactics worked a treat, his players worked like Trojans and the team
   nature of this routine success was encapsulated by the identities of
   the first two goalscorers.
   
   Two defenders, Denis Irwin and Henning Berg, reflected the reality
   that Ferguson expects each of his footballers to contribute to attack
   and defence. Even Ferguson's split-attack forward line helped out with
   the harrying of Kosice. Andy Cole, who ran hungrily all night, found
   real reward - and compensation for earlier profligacy - with a late
   finish.
   
   United's next Group B examination comes on Oct 1 when Juventus, the
   favourites who conquered Feyenoord last night, visit Old Trafford. The
   Italians overcame the cream of England twice last season but United
   will take confidence and their improving form over the two games,
   particularly in the second half of the second meeting. And Ryan Giggs,
   a vibrant figure during that promising period, should be back.
   
   Ferguson reacted to Giggs' absence here by lining up with Paul Scholes
   and Karel Poborsky operating behind Cole, the epitome of front-running
   movement and industry. This 4-3-2-1 tactic, an approach occasionally
   favoured by Terry Venables, placed great emphasis on the full-backs
   supplying width. Gary Neville continually sought openings down the
   right while Irwin, whose experience saw him chosen ahead of Philip
   Neville, also ventured forth cleverly.
   
   Perhaps inevitably, given the absence of Giggs and the need to adjust
   to a new shape, United took time to find their stride and rhythm.
   Worryingly, the visitors' defence looked slightly vulnerable,
   particularly when the bullish Jozef Kozlej began turning Gary
   Pallister and Berg. Kosice's target man confirmed his local-hero
   reputation after 10 minutes, sliding in ahead of Berg to bring a low
   save from Peter Schmeichel.
   
   The Slovakian supporters, whose only exposure to English opposition
   was an InterToto Cup meeting with Wimbledon, voiced their approval and
   waved their banners, a bizarre collection including Hooligans, Girls,
   Allez Kosice and even a Diana Forever.
   
   But United are well-versed in the art of quietening away crowds. As
   the forwards ran busily in space-creating dashes, Ferguson's midfield
   trio of Roy Keane, Nicky Butt and David Beckham began holding on to
   the ball, changing the game's pace to suit them. The build-ups began.
   Smart thinking and quick actions by Cole and Keane conjured a headed
   opportunity for Scholes, which the England international misjudged, a
   surprising aberration given his recent successes.
   
   No matter. Kosice, novices at this level, were clearly there for the
   taking. On the half-hour, Scholes threaded a neat pass down the
   inside-left channel towards Cole. Ignoring the close attentions of his
   marker, United's lone striker turned and rewarded Irwin's overlapping
   run with another accurate delivery. The angle seemed so tight but
   Irwin kept his composure, steadied his aim and slipped the ball past
   Ladislav Molnar.
   
   United survived a scare early in the second half when the Swedish
   referee, Leif Sundell, missed Pallister's shirt-pulling offence on
   Albert Rusnak as the half-time substitute raced menacingly across the
   penalty area.
   
   With Keane proving an effective bulwark in front of the back-four,
   United were largely secure. Poborsky, allowed time and space as the
   game opened up, became increasingly involved and delivered a
   50th-minute cross which Scholes turned against a post.
   
   A straightforward tap-in awaited Cole but, with the ball rising, he
   shot wide. Cole, set up by Poborsky and Beckham, was on target five
   minutes later, denied only by a stretching save from Molnar.
   
   United were getting closer, sensing the weaknesses in Kosice's
   defence. On the hour, Ferguson's disciplined side gained their second
   goal. Beckham's free-kick from the right curled awkwardly in front of
   Molnar, who fumbled under pressure from Cole. Berg was left with a
   routine finish from close range.
   
   Two minutes from time Cole added a fine third, placing his shot well
   from 15 yards.
   
   FC Kosice (0) 0 Man Utd (1) 3
   Berg 60, Cole 88, Irwin 29.

   FC Kosice: Molnar, Spilar, Telek, Kozak, Janocko, Lubarskij (Rusnak
   46), Kozlej (Faktor 76), Semenik, Zvara, Sovic, Kral. Subs Not Used:
   Benko, Bochnovic, Lapsansky, Cvirk, Majoros.

   Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Pallister, Beckham (McClair
   75), Butt, Cole, Poborsky, Keane, Scholes, Berg. Subs Not Used: Van
   Der Gouw, Sheringham, P. Neville, Clegg, Thornley, Mulryne.

   Ref: L Sundell (Sweden).

      _______________________________________________________________
   
     Manchester United ease past Kosice 3-0
     
     By Jan Krcmar
     KOSICE, Slovakia, Sept 17 (Reuter) - Manchester United eased past
     European Champions' League newcomers FC Kosice 3-0 in their opening
     Group B match on Wednesday.

     Denis Irwin, Henning Berg and Andy Cole scored for United to
     deflate the home side's dreams of an upset victory.

     "This was a good result for us and a good start in the
     competition," said United manager Alex Ferguson. "We played a very
     strong first half and showed some good passing."

     "This was a cruel result for us," said Jan Bodnar. Only hours
     before the game, Bodnar had been called in to replace veteran
     Kosice manager Jan Kozak who resigned for "health reasons".

     "We started out with too much respect and that led us to make
     mistakes that we do not make even in the easiest league matches,"
     Bodnar said.

     Kosice started ambitiously and unnerved the United defence early on
     but United quickly tightened up and took command.

     In the 30th minute United pressure paid off. Left back Irwin found
     a hole in the defence, took a pass on the left of the penalty area
     from striker Cole and slid the ball under the body of goalkeeper
     Ladislav Molnar.

     Kosice pressed hard at the start of the second half but United
     goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel was rarely tested, and it was no
     surprise when Berg put United 2-0 up after 61 minutes.

     A David Beckham free-kick from the right landed at the feet of the
     Norwegian who reacted more quickly than a static Kosice defence.

     A mistake by Molnar in the 88th minute allowed Cole to make up for
     two earlier wasted opportunities, one in front of an open goal.

     Cole, who had been a doubtful starter due to injury, hit a sweet
     right-footer past Molnar to wrap up a satisfying victory for
     Ferguson.

     "Cole finally got his chance and got the third goal which has given
     him a good boost," Ferguson said.

     "In the second half Kosice were better and Karel Poborsky got the
     job of stopping the attack which he did. The second goal, I think,
     definitely killed them."
   

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