VIDEO Manchester United 4-0 Wigan: Highlights; Debutants Powell and Buttner Help United to Victory
Alexander Buttner and Nick Powell capped their Manchester United debuts in fine style with a goal apiece to help their side to a 4-0 victory over Wigan at Old Trafford.
Wigan put up plenty of resistance after Javier Hernandez had missed an early penalty until Paul Scholes' close-range finish early in the second half. From there United quickly put the result beyond doubt with quick-fire strikes from Hernandez and Alexander Buttner. The highlight of the afternoon was saved for former Crewe youngster Powell, though, who came off the bench before providing an emphatic finish to add a resounding ring to the score line.
United's path to victory could have been made much simpler had Hernandez done better with his penalty just past the five minute mark. Danny Welbeck went down seemingly far too easily in the box after Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi had held back from making a challenge as the two raced to get to a through ball. Perhaps justice was done as Al-Habsi saved low to his left from Hernandez's tame penalty.
Welbeck was heavily involved in the early stages. After winning the penalty, the England striker volleyed inches wide from a neat chipped cross by Nani, before heading over from a difficult position.
Wigan were far more than mere spectators, however, and caused United ample problems at the other end in the opening period. Defender Ivan Ramis should have done better as he headed wide from inside the box and Emerson Boyce did well to find some space on the edge of the box before firing narrowly past the post.
The best chance, though, fell the way of Arouna Kone. A deflected cross from the left reached the Ivorian at the far post, but the former Levante forward couldn't set himself and put his shot tamely wide of the upright.
United survived and got the crucial breakthrough six minutes after the break. A short corner eventually came back to Nani on the right of the area and his dangerous low ball in to the box could only be parried by Al-Habsi, with Scholes on hand to provide the finishing touch from close range. It was the perfect way for the veteran midfielder to mark his 700th appearance for the club,
Just past the hour mark, United gave themselves a welcome two-goal cushion.
Southampton failed to clear their lines in the box allowing Ryan Giggs to feed the ball back to Alexander Buttner, whose low shot was touched home by poacher-supreme Hernandez to, at least in part, atone for his earlier miss from the spot.
Less than five minutes later Buttner capped a fine debut by getting a goal all for himself. The Dutchman showed plenty of tenacity to beat several, admittedly poor, Wigan challenges down the left before getting virtually to the byline and lashing in a shot that Al-Habsi was unable to keep out at his near post.
The second-half onslaught was complete eight minutes from the end.
Wigan gave the ball away cheaply after Welbeck tried to burst through the middle and Hernandez laid a simple ball off to 18-year-old Powell who struck a scintillating strike past Al-Habsi from 20 yards to immediately endear himself to the Old Trafford faithful.
Gol de Scholes vs Wigan
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Gol de Chicharito vs Wigan
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Golazo de Buttner vs Wigan
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Gol de Powell vs Wigan
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