Subject :MANCHESTER, England -- While Manchester United stumbles along in the Premier League, Europe is provi
MANCHESTER, England -- While Manchester United stumbles along in the Premier League, Europe is proving to be a very welcome distraction for the English champions. Tedric Thompson Seahawks Jersey . United cemented top spot in Group A of the Champions League on Wednesday with a 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad, secured through the earliest goal in this seasons competition. Only 69 seconds had elapsed when Inigo Martinez clumsily booted the ball into his own net after a shot by Wayne Rooney, the matchs standout player by a distance, came back off the post following the strikers mazy run past three defenders. United couldnt grab the second goal its overall display deserved, with Antonio Valencia driving a shot against the post and Phil Jones having a header saved from point-blank range. But it still took a one-point lead in the group over Bayer Leverkusen and a big step toward qualification. "We should have won the game by three, four or five goals," Rooney said. "But Im happy we got the win, which was the most important (thing). We played some great stuff and defended well." Sociedad slipped to a third straight loss and only stayed alive in the match through Uniteds profligacy. The Spaniards did, though, hit the goal frame twice -- through Antoine Griezmanns free kick and Alberto de la Bellas mis-hit cross -- to guarantee a nervy finish at Old Trafford. "We need to get a bit more ruthless. We have to score more," said United manager David Moyes, whose team is languishing in eight points behind Premier League leader Arsenal after eight games. Moyes was without striker Robin van Persie because of toe and groin problems, but Rooney more than made up for the absence of the prolific Dutchman. Sharp and full of energy, Rooney is seemingly back to his very best form. He was at the heart of all Uniteds attacks and often at the end of them, volleying straight at goalkeeper Claudio Bravo in the 14th minute and then sending a scissor-kick over the bar soon after. "I was going to say it was back to the old Wayne Rooney," Moyes said, purring over the England striker. "But I think its better to say its the new Wayne Rooney." There was more noise than usual inside Old Trafford as United was trialing a special "singing section" in one corner of the stadium, in an unusual experiment undertaken to generate a better atmosphere at home games. Odes to many of the clubs greats -- Roy Keane, Matt Busby, George Best, Cristiano Ronaldo, among others -- were belted out one after the other on a chilly evening in northwest England. Barely a minute after kickoff, it was Rooneys name on their lips. After dancing around three would-be tacklers, Rooney curled in a shot from the angle that struck the post and rebounded out. Under pressure from Javier Hernandez, Martinez only succeeded in planting the ball into the corner of his own net from eight yards (meters) out. "It was a disastrous goal to concede," Sociedad coach Jagoba Arrasate said through a translator. "We never recovered from it." United has had a tendency to surrender the initiative in games this season and it happened again here, with Sociedad finding some joy toward the end of the first half. Haris Seferovic had a fierce long-range shot tipped over before Griezmann curled a free kick against the post three minutes before halftime. An increasingly concerned Moyes stepped out of his technical area to voice his displeasure. Sociedad resumed control after the break, overpowering a lightweight United midfield containing a 39-year-old Ryan Giggs, who nevertheless lasted the whole game. De la Bello sounded another warning by firing a cross against the top of David de Geas bar. United still looked dangerous, though. Jones should have increased the lead when he headed straight at Claudio Bravo from inside the six-yard box before Valencia drove a low shot against the base of the post. Rooney also had chances to kill the game off -- and claim a goal his performance merited -- but United had to settle for a narrow win. Amara Darboh Jersey .C. - Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says Danny Granger, Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem are still not ready to play and will miss Wednesday nights game against the Charlotte Hornets. Shaquill Griffin Womens Jersey .com) - Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was named the National League Player of the Month for April.TORONTO - A good day for the Ottawa Redblacks and the CFL, but a painful one for the other eight teams. "Theres no doubt," Toronto Argonaut GM Jim Barker said after Mondays expansion draft. "Everybody in the league lost players they didnt necessarily want to lose. "Its not a fun deal. You spend time and you develop (talent) but for the league its a great exciting time. And I thought (GM) Marcel (Desjardins) and (coach) Rick (Campbell) and those guys did a fantastic job in piecing together their picks." The Argos lost Canadian offensive lineman Joe Eppele and linebacker Jason Pottinger and import defensive end Jonathan Williams to the Redblacks. Barker tried to prepare his squad for the coming changes. "I sent all the players a letter over the weekend. Our team we knew was never going to be the same, but this (draft) is different. It doesnt happen very often." The Argos lost an offensive line starter in Eppele and a former starter and important special teams contributor in Pottinger. Williams, described by Barker as an up-and-comer, saw action on and off as a backup. "We have ideas of what we want to do but it obviously changes things that you might have done," Barker said of the losses. "Thats the process were in now — trying to recover and fill holes." The Argos hope McMaster offensive lineman Matt Sewell, a first round pick in the 2013 draft who spent some time in camp with the Tennessee Titans, might be able to help their cause. Amara Darboh Seahawks Jersey. . A longer shot is linebacker Cory Greenwood, a Concordia product taken third overall by Toronto in the 2010 draft who is currently on the Detroit Lions injured reserve list. The six-foot-eight, 301-pound Eppele appeared in all 18 games last season. "We just had too many guys," Barker said of his Canadian offensive line talent. "We just couldnt protect all of them." Eppele is due to undergo shoulder surgery next week, a fact that was disclosed to Ottawa. "Joes a good enough player, they felt it was OK to take that risk," Barker said. Pottinger played three seasons in B.C. before joining Toronto in 2009. The six-foot-two 238 pounder, who lost his starting job to Robert McCune, had 13 tackles and 14 special teams tackles in 2013. Barker said Pottingers loss will be felt on and off the field. "Hes everything a CFL player is all about," said Barker. "Hes been as instrumental in turning this organization around as anybody in it. Im so indebted to him for what hes done since he came here." Williams, 6-2 and 282 pounds, was a B.C. Lion in 2009 before joining the Argos in 2013. In between he played for the Spokane Shock of the Arena Football League. Williams had tackles and two quarterback sacks in 12 games with the Argos. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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