Manchester United balls: Radamel Falcao scores an unlikely hat-trick
Manchester United defeated QPR at the weekend. The game finished 2-0, with goals scored by Man United substitutes Fellaini and Wilson.
Garth Crooks was watching. He heaps praise on United’s Radamel Falcao, picking the stupendously well paid Colombian striker for his BBC column’s team of the week:
I don’t know what Louis van Gaal said to Falcao last weeek, having left the Colombian out of the game against Southampton, but based on what I saw against QPR at Loftus Road Manchester United must keep this striker at the club. His work rate was phenomenal and it was only Robert Green who denied the player a hat-trick.
Garth, you need to score one before you can get a hat-trike, which is three.
The BBC’s Phil McNulty reports:
… recalled striker Radamel Falcao failed to score, twice being thwarted by QPR keeper Robert Green.
And:
Falcao’s future has also been the subject of debate this week after Van Gaal left him out of the squad for the loss against Southampton – but the Colombian striker was back here and wasted an early chance to impress his manager. He made space in the area to collect Mata’s pass but could only shoot straight at QPR keeper Green from eight yards.
The Guardian adds:
United’s most incisive moment of the first half came when Mata’s curling pass reached Falcao in the QPR area and a goal looked inevitable as the Colombian brought the ball down on his chest and prepared to shoot.
Yet what followed was a reminder of why Van Gaal left Falcao out entirely against Southampton and has said that he has plenty to do to prove that he is worthy of making his loan move from Monaco permanent. Falcao’s first effort lacked subtlety, the ball hammered straight at Green, and his follow-up was diverted behind by the QPR goalkeeper.
Do air shots count? The Telegraph reports:
Oh this is a farce. Blind spies the run of Wilson down the right and sends a lovely long pass to his feet. Falcao is up in support, United have two versus the keeper, Wilson squares it and… Falcao completely misses it.
According to Crooks that missed shot plaus the two earlie strikes makes it a hat-trick. And, unusually, one move would have produced two goals for Falcao. He really is that good (it says so on his agent’s press release)…
Posted: 19th, January 2015 | In: manchester united, Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
