A burst from Stewart Downing out of the Aston Villa midfield, through Manchester United's defense has Villa back in the match at Old Trafford. Down 2-0 at halftime to a pair of Wayne Rooney goals, Downing's surge through the right side led to a cross for Darren Bent, the Vila striker opening his right foot onto a ball put into the space Edwin van der Sar'd just vacating, trimming Manchester United's lead to one.
Manchester United Vs. Aston Villa: Darren Bent Pulls Villa Within
And with Villa now making United look vulnerable, this game is playing as a typical Manchester United match. Rather than letting the seeming awakening of their club's marquee striker lead to a convincing victory, United breaks down at the back, allows Villa to put Downing behind the defense, the former Middlesbrough man feeding his new teammate for an easy finish.
Now just past the hour mark at Old Trafford, Manchester United seems enlivened, having bunked Villa in their own end. But that uptick in performance comes only after a complete breakdown at the back, one that’s pulled Villa within one.
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