I'll try again as my last post seems to have dissapeared as the forum address changed
Vodafone Match Report
United kept up their one hundred percent pre-season record with a 2-1 victory over Valerenga in the Ulleval Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Reds, captained by Norwegian striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in his homeland, attacked from the word go with Diego Forlan and Juan Veron providing most of the ammunition. Forlan started upfront alongside the skipper in the absence of Ruud van Nistelrooy, who had picked up a slight shin injury in training.
Fergie's lads began off the game in bright sunshine after a day of mixed weather in Norway, with a young local competition winner performing the ceremonial kick-off with his hero Solskjaer. Their first chance came in the ninth minute when Danny Pugh headed over after Forlan's cross.
More great play from Forlan set up Roy Keane, whose cross found Ole but the homecoming hero could only stab his shot wide.
He did better in the 26th minute, though, after winning a penalty by being pulled down by Valerenga captain Knut Henry Haraldsen. His effort from 12 yards out wasn't cleanly struck but still ended up in the back of the net to give the Reds a 1-0 lead.
The half ended with Forlan setting up two more great chances - Solskjaer sticking his chance over the bar when it looked easier to score, and Veron smashing his effort wide from distance after good approach play by the Uruguayan.
The start of the second half almost saw the home side level the scores but defender Pa Madou-Kah - who spent time on trial at United a couple of years ago - did not react fast enough to the rebound after a Fabien Barthez save and his reaction shot flew wide of the post.
Ryan Giggs was next up to the plate, running onto a superb Veron through-ball. The Welsh winger hesitated before attempting to chip the keeper, allowing the netminder to recover and push his effort to safety.
That was the last action Giggsy saw, as he and Ole was substituted with Michael Stewart and Bojan Djordjic coming on in their places.
The departure of the Norwegian hero seemed to give the home side a lift, and in the 76th minute they found themselves level after a rocket of a shot from Madou-Kah. The Norway international took a free kick 30 yards from goal, played a one-two and launched a strike that flew past Fabien Barthez and into the net. His celebration took him into the crowd - they'll remember that one for years to come.
But just when it looked that the home side might gain a draw from the friendly, Forlan broke down the left and played a delicate chip into Keane in the area. The Irishman smashed his shot into the back of the net to put the visitors back into the lead.
2-1 is how it stayed, and four wins out of four pre-season friendlies so far will send the lads into the weekend's Amsterdam Tournament full of confidence.
United: Barthez; P. Neville, O'Shea, Blanc, Silvestre; Keane, Giggs (Stewart 67), Pugh, Veron; Solskjaer (Djordjic 67), Forlan.
Subs: Djordjic, Carroll, Stewart.
