London, Aug 17 (DPA) Manchester United cruised to a 3-0 victory over a hapless Newcastle United side Monday night to open their season in convincing style.
Goals from Dimitar Berbatov, Darren Fletcher and Ryan Giggs sealed all three points for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
Having watched champions Chelsea put six goals past West Bromwich Albion Saturday, the home team could have matched them given the possession they enjoyed against a Newcastle team outclassed on their return to the Premier League after one year in the Championship.
Newcastle striker Andy Carroll actually had the best chance of the first half hour when he was left unmarked from a Joey Barton corner but somehow managed to head the ball wide when it was surely easier to have scored.
United threatened but did not have a great chance until they took the lead on 33 minutes when Berbatov side-footed home after Jonas Gutierrez had gifted the ball to Antonio Valencia in the midfield.
Newcastle just could not get hold of the ball and with that goal any chance they had effectively vanished, Fletcher scoring from close range after more poor defending on 42 minutes.
United strived to add to their advantage in the second half but in the end it took them until the 85th minute to find a third with substitute Giggs volleying home Paul Scholes’ lofted pass.
The goal put the gloss on the victory for United, while Giggs has now scored in each of his 21 seasons in the top flight, all spent in United colours.
