Man Utd finally break down stubborn Stoke with late goal
Stoke City 0 Manchester United 1
LONDON : The newly crowned club champions of the world returned to the Premier League yesterday, and were welcomed by Stoke with a hot-blooded English contest.
Manchester United left with the three points after a 1-0 win, courtesy of Carlos Tevez's second League goal of this campaign, after Stoke were reduced to 10 men.
But not before being subject to fierce resistance from a limited but unflinching hosts, who were roared on by a tremendous din from their fans at the Britannia Stadium.
And while the eventual result means a perfect return to domestic action for a jet-lagged United after they beat LDU Quito in Japan on Sunday to lift the Club World Cup, there could be further repercussions if the Football Association decide to clamp down on some less than sportsmanlike conduct from two Red Devils.
Wayne Rooney threw out an elbow at Abdoulaye Faye in a touchline clash, and Cristiano Ronaldo aimed a retaliatory kick at Stoke defender Andy Wilkinson after a strong challenge.
The fact that Ronaldo went unpunished by the referee may have been playing on Wilkinson's mind when he stupidly clattered into the back of the European Player of the Year in the 72nd minute and was deservedly sent off with his second yellow.
Stoke were firmly on the back foot after that, and United broke the deadlock with seven minutes left.
Substitute Dimitar Berbatov did well to beat a defender to Gary Neville's ball but then miscued his shot from eight metres. Fortunately for United it flew straight to Tevez, who slammed it into the net from close range.
They simply played out the last few minutes by passing the ball deep inside their own half, in stark contrast to the beginning of the game.
United were forced to make a late change with Jonny Evans replacing Rio Ferdinand who injured his back in the warm-up, and they struggled to get their game together.
Stoke made the brighter start and striker Ricardo Fuller got on the end of a ball from Rory Delap, but Paul Scholes took the ball off his toes as he was about to shoot.
Delap then delivered an inswinging cross after 13 minutes that was deflected to safety by Evans.
United again found themselves on the back foot two minutes later when Delap picked out Fuller, but goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar got a vital touch.
West Ham came from a goal behind to win 4-1 away to Portsmouth as they put distance between themselves and their fellow strugglers.
Pompey took the lead through Nadir Belhadj before Jack Collison equalised.
Before half-time Pompey missed a penalty when former West Ham forward Jermain Defoe shot wide and, after the break, the Hammers pulled away thanks to a goal from Carlton Cole and two from Craig Bellamy.
Elsewhere, London rivals Tottenham and Fulham played out a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane.
