Manchester United 2 Norwich 1
Alan Smith sparked Manchester United's season into life with a moment of
sublime skill at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Smith opened his Premiership account for his new club with a magnificent
left-foot strike in the 50th minute which proved just enough to see off
Norwich.
The former Leeds man chested down a Ryan Giggs cross in the box, turned and
volleyed past Robert Green into the corner of the net.
Smith's great strike ought to have put the game out of reach after David
Bellion's first-half opener.
But Norwich substitute Paul McVeigh seized a 70th minute chance to reduce the
deficit - and set up a thrilling finish in which the Canaries came close to
grabbing an unlikely share of the points.
City's late charge will not have pleased Sir Alex Ferguson who must have
thought Smith's strike had been enough for a comfortable win.
United had already ridden their luck in the first half with David Bentley only
a lick of paint away from giving the visitors the lead with an audacious 30-yard
strike.
Smith's strike ultimately served to see his side home and it will have eased
Ferguson's worries over the absence of so many top-class strikers.
With Ruud van Nistelrooy, Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all sidelined,
United desperately needed Smith to spark his Manchester United career into life
sooner rather than later.
Ferguson had endured what he called the worst pre-season build-up he had known
at Old Trafford and an opening day defeat at Chelsea had not helped matters.
His line-up included fringe players David Bellion and Eric Djemba-Djemba
while Cristiano Ronaldo only made the bench following his earlier-than-expected
return from Olympic duty with Portugal.
And that line-up clearly filled Nigel Worthington's Canaries with confidence
as they shaped up well after John O'Shea gave them a first-minute wake-up call
by shooting over the bar.
Tenacious in defence, the Canaries were slowly frustrating United's attempts
to get their season up and running.
Simon Charlton's clearance denied Ryan Giggs and O'Shea put a second chance
over the bar in the 15th minute.
Smith was the busiest presence up front for United but he skewed his first
chance well wide from Giggs' 19th-minute cross.
But Bellion was making the most impressive progress down the right flank while
Smith and Djemba-Djemba both spurned half-chances.
Bentley's stunning 32nd minute effort gave United a wake-up call after the
ball clattered the underside of the crossbar, bounced down on the line and away
to safety.
Within a minute United were ahead when Smith flicked on Giggs' cross from the
left and Bellion stole in at the far post to grab the lead.
The Canaries' bright start to the second half could have paid dividends with
Huckerby hitting a powerful shot over the bar.
But Smith's moment of quality appeared to put the game out of reach of the
visitors.
Giggs came close and Paul Scholes forced a magnificent point-blank save out of
Robert Green.
The visitors seized their chance to set up a grandstand finish with McVeigh
firing home from 12 yards after debutant Gary Doherty's initial effort was
blocked by Roy Keane.
Doherty - a midweek signing from Tottenham - injected plenty of hope into the
Norwich attacks as they pressed for the unlikeliest of equalisers.
Leon McKenzie shot into the side netting and McVeigh had another effort
blocked as United were forced to cling on.
Ferguson's late introduction of Ronaldo eased the tension somewhat down the
right flank.
Kieron Richardson came close from point-blank range and a fine Ronaldo cross
ended with Paul Scholes firing over the bar.
Worthington had plenty of reasons to be proud of his side at the final whistle
while a relieved Ferguson gave plenty of thanks to Smith.
Teams:
Man Utd Howard, Gary Neville (Phil Neville 73), Keane,
Silvestre, O'Shea, Bellion (Richardson 74),
Miller (Ronaldo 85), Djemba-Djemba, Giggs, Smith, Scholes.
Subs Not Used: Carroll, Eagles.
Goals: Bellion 32, Smith 50.
Norwich Green, Helveg, Fleming, Charlton, Drury,
Bentley (McKenzie 76), Francis, Holt, Jonson (McVeigh 45),
Huckerby, Svensson (Doherty 69).
Subs Not Used: Edworthy, Ward.
Booked: Helveg.
Goals: McVeigh 75.
Att: 67,812
Ref: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).
