Everton stun Manchester United on van Persie debut

Posted on August 21, 2012 by SoccerPunter

Robin van Persie‘s Manchester United debut ended in disappointment as Marouane Fellaini gave Everton a 1-0 win at Goodison Park on Monday.

Van Persie came off the bench for the last 22 minutes as United searched for an equaliser after Belgian midfielder Fellaini headed Everton into a second half lead.

But the Dutch forward, signed from Arsenal for £24 million last week, was unable to make an immediate impact for his new club and Everton held on for a well deserved win in their opening Premier League game of the season.

“It was a great result. It’s not very often you beat Manchester United, so we will enjoy it,” Everton boss David Moyes said.

“There was a lot of attention on United before the game, but I think a lot of people forgot that Everton are a good team as well.

“We had some really good chances and their goalkeeper made some good saves.

“Fellaini was excellent, we know he is capable of that. He caused them some problems.”

United goalkeeper David de Gea endured some difficult moments last season, but the young Spaniard made a series of superb saves to deny Steven Pienaar, Leighton Baines and Leon Osman in the first half.

Moyes’s side also hit the woodwork through Fellaini and Osman, but Everton’s pressure finally paid off in the 57th minute.

With Rio Ferdinand ruled out with a groin injury suffered at the weekend and fellow defenders Phil Jones and Chris Smalling already sidelined, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was forced to play midfielder Michael Carrick out of position in central defence.

And Fellaini took full advantage of Carrick’s lack of aerial power as he rose above the United star to thump a close-range header past de Gea from Darron Gibson’s corner.

Ferguson’s team were denied an equaliser when Phil Jagielka cleared Tom Cleverley’s shot off the line and, although van Persie replaced Danny Welbeck in the 68th minute, there was no way back for United.