Man. U 4 – Juventus 1
Two of the giants of world soccer met last night at Giants Stadium, with some of the finest players on the planet roaming the pitch. And in Manchester United’s 4-1 humbling of Juventus, Tim Howard looked every bit like he belonged.
It was a ringing endorsement for the young U.S. goalkeeper, and a stunning statement of the Red Devils’ prowess for this season. In front of 79,005 – the largest crowd to see a soccer match at Giants Stadium – Man U dismantled a club that made last season’s Champions League final.
Howard, a 24-year-old North Brunswick, N.J., product, got his first start for the Red Devils last night at the stadium where he had toiled for five-plus seasons with the Metro- Stars. After Man U purchased Howard for $3.7 million three weeks ago, he looked worth every penny in an 11-save debut.
“[Howard] was excellent,” said Man U manager Sir Alex Ferguson. “He’s very, very agile, he’s brave, he’s quick. That was a very good debut for him today. We were hoping the boy would have a good debut because it’s his hometown. It was a big night for him and he’s come through.”
Ferguson hasn’t named a starter for Sunday’s friendly in Philadelphia against Barcelona, much less for the season opener vs. Bolton Wanderers on Aug. 16. But Howard got the No. 1 jersey worn by out-of-favor holdover Fabien Barthez, and could be on the way to winning this four-man race.
“I’ll always remember that we got a win in my debut,” said Howard, who was handed the game ball by Champions World CEO Charlie Stillitano. “I always get the jitters; as a goalkeeper you can get hammered, you can’t hide on the field in front of 80,00 people.
“It’s only one game. I don’t want to read too much into it. It’s a step in the right direction, but there’s still miles to go. My ability is there, but I have things to learn position-wise, reading shooters. That will come; it’s just a matter of putting it all together.”
While Howard starred in goal, Man U put on an offensive display. After Marco DiVaio fouled Paul Scholes just outside the box, Ryan Giggs buried a 24th-minute free kick for a 1-0 lead that kept growing.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – who replaced the departed David Beckham in the Man U midfield – passed to Juan Veron, who laid the ball off to Scholes for a 60th-minute goal that trickled past backup Juventus GK Antonio Chimenti.
Three minutes later, Veron – who is rumored to be hammering out a $24 million transfer to Chelsea – played a ball to Ruud van Nistelrooy, who chested it down and drilled a world-class, one-timer top-shelf.
Juve manager Marcello Lippi had seen enough. Knowing he has the Italian Super Cup here Sunday against AC Milan, he brought on six new players – including superstars Pavel Nedved and Alessandro Del Piero – in the 67th minute, and put in two more just five minutes later.
Juve’s metamorphosis was immediate, as they pressured Man U and peppered Howard. He needed just two first-half saves, but made nine in the second half. Juve broke through when Nedved scored in the 70th.
Howard made a great, off-balance save on Nicola Legrottalie’s header; and Solksjaer put it away with a left-footed tally in the 79th minute.
That ended a horrid day for Juventus, which learned 74-year-old team chairman Vittorio Caissotti di Chiusano passed away yesterday in Turin.
