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Rooney celebrates new contract with a win against Crystal palace

Published

11 years ago

February 23, 2014

Wayne Rooney celebrated his new deal with Manchester
United by helping David Moyes’ men to a 2-0 win over
Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The England international pledged his long-term future to the
Old Trafford club by agreeing a new five-and-a-half-year deal
on Friday, and he showed his value to the Barclays Premier
League champions with his 12th goal of the season in all
competitions 24 hours later as Man Utd ended their three-match
winless run.
After Robin van Persie had opened the scoring from the spot after
62 minutes, Rooney hit a delightful effort from inside the area that
left Julian Speroni helpless.
The win moves Man Utd into sixth while for Tony Pulis’
Palace, the defeat ends their run of three straight top-flight wins
at home.
Adnan Januzaj – part of a forward four that also included
Rooney, Van Persie and Juan Mata – threatened early on for
the visitors, dragging a shot wide of Speroni’s left-hand post.
Man Utd enjoyed the better of the opening 15 minutes, keeping the
ball well but failing to get in behind Palace until Januzaj jinked
past Joel Ward before firing home a strike that was ruled out by
referee Michael Oliver.
Despite their array of attacking talent, Moyes’ side struggled to
break down a Palace side that came into the game unbeaten at
home in the league this year.
Rooney saw his delivery cleared off the line by Damien Delaney
before Nemanja Vidic’s follow-up flew over the crossbar.
At the other end, David De Gea was called into action just
before the half-hour mark, getting down to his right to save
Ward’s deflected header.
Marouane Fellaini, making his first appearance since December,
spurned an opportunity to hand Moyes’ men a half-time lead but
he curled his effort over the crossbar after a burst into the penalty
area.
Jason Puncheon could have done better with Glenn Murray’s
knockdown after the break – with the former Southampton man
only managing a tame effort that De Gea easily smothered.
Murray then went close with an acrobatic effort just before the
hour, but when Van Persie coolly fired home from the spot after
62 minutes – it took the wind out of Palace’s sails.
The Dutchman swept home his spot-kick, after Marouane
Chamakh had taken out Patrice Evra in the area, before Rooney
doubled United’s lead with 22 minutes remaining.
After Evra’s cross sat up nicely for him, Rooney cut across the
ball, diverting it past Speroni and into the Argentinian’s top left-
hand corner.
Rooney’s goal put the gloss on the Man Utd victory and sets
Moyes’ men up nicely for their UEFA Champions League clash
with Olympiacos on Tuesday.
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