MOTD- Manchester United 3-0 Olympiakos

By on March 19, 2014

Manchester United fans had waited so long to remember the feeling of satisfaction that prior to tonight’s action that there were even rumors that David Moyes’ “Chosen One” sign in the stands at Old Trafford was set to be taken down. But now, after the scenes of great jubilation for United following the season changing win in which Moyes saluted the crowd to a response of much cheering, it seems ironic that mere hours previously Moyes had been some sort of cult figure among some 76,000 fans in Manchester. It was equivalent to the change in attitude that was seen among Red Devils following their historic 1999 Champions League comeback. United sacrificed so much for it, Antonio Valencia’s eyebrow, most worryingly perhaps Robin van Persie’s calf, and a heck a lot of fingernails, but it was undoubtedly worth it for such momentous win.

Wins like that of tonight might even have the ability to change Moyes’ entire career, but if he doesn’t capitalize upon the club’s new-found momentum quickly, it is likely to dissipate within weeks. However, before worrying about tomorrow, Moyes can spare at least one night celebrating his first great comeback victory in char of United.

At least a 3-0 win was needed for the English champions side to keep their Champions League hopes alive after their 2-0 loss to Olympiakos in the first leg, and the home side certainly started the second leg knowing they needed something special with a zippy opening. Although they nearly fell behind fifteen minutes in when Hernan Perez skied a great chance over the crossbar from six yards, Wayne Rooney came inches away from putting Moyes & Co. in front soon after.  The forward connected on Ryan Giggs’ diagonal cross from the left, only to see his near post header bounce back out into the mixer off the inside of the post.  However, United were not ruing the miss for long as Jose Holebas bundled over Robin van Persie on the right side of the box to earn Moyes’ side a penalty.

There were plenty of nerves around the stadium, with some thoughts undoubtedly cast back to the penalty Van Persie missed against Real Sociedad in the group stages, but the Dutchman delivered at the crucial moment, curling an unstoppable effort into the right corner of the net.  From then on it was all United.  Olympiakos goalkeeper Roberto Gago somehow managed to keep his side from going down by two in the thirty-fourth minute, with the Spaniard just barely clawing Patrice Evra’s flicked header at the near post from lodging right into the top corner of the net.  David De Gea then endured quite a scare to kick away David Fuster’s header and poke out Alejandro Dominguez follow up volley at the far post, but saw his team respond in the best possible of ways.  That, of course, would be scoring a second, which came right before the halftime whistle, with Rooney slicing a low cross from the right side of the box into the run of Van Persie, who coolly tucked the through ball into the bottom corner via a neat first-time effort inches outside of the six box.

The 30-year-old forward wasn’t even done yet, and found his hat-trick seven minutes into the second half when Wayne Rooney dummied over a United free-kick twenty yards out from goal to make Van Persie’s following curler wrong-foot Roberto and dip into the bottom left corner.  However, one goal from Olympiakos would still flip the tie on it’s head, leading for a nervy finale.  Perez made United hearts skip a beat as he somehow managed to glance a six yard header wide, before Fuster and Dominquez forced De Gea into smart stops to parry to two efforts away.  Five whole minutes of stoppage time was then added onto the match, but United held onto their three goal advantage to see them into the Champions League quarterfinals.  For now, Manchester is red.
Man of the Match: Robin van Persie

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.