A Clarence Seedorf hat-trick inspired Jose Mourinho’s Rest of the World team to a 4-2 win over England at Old Trafford in Soccer Aid 2014. The Dutch midfielder was impressive throughout the bi-annual charity game and opened the scoring with a blinding effort into the roof of the net just after half-time. Nicky Byrne made it 2-0 with another excellent finish, before England came back to level proceedings. Seedorf then curled home a deflected effort four minutes from time before completing his treble in added-on time to seal a 4-2 victory. The game raised £4.2million for UNICEF. United legends Edwin van der Sar and Jaap Stam started for the Rest of the World, but Treble winner Teddy Sheringham sadly had to pull out for England through injury. There was a smattering of United fans on the Old Trafford pitch, too, with former Westlife star Byrne, comedian Patrick Kielty and X Factor’s Olly Murs all involved. The latter looked lively from the start and brought the first save of the game after just four minutes. After collecting a lovely cross-field pass from Kevin Phillips, Murs skipped down the left wing before cutting inside and curling an effort straight at van der Sar. Three minutes later Murs powered into the area with his cross falling to McBusted’s Danny Jones but his low drive was well blocked. Phillips was proving a nuisance for Stam and co. and went close with a flicked header after rising to meet Jonny Wilkes’ free-kick. The Rest of the World took their time to get going, but after manager Mourinho had stepped onto the pitch to try to win the ball off Murs, much to the surprise and delight of the raucous Old Trafford crowd, they began to look dangerous with their two no.10s, Seedorf and Alessandro Del Piero, pulling the strings. The pair combined on 20 minutes inside the area, with the impressive Des Walker needing to make a good block. Seedorf then tried his luck from 35 yards before flicking the best chance of the half just wide from six yards after linking up with Del Piero once more. The Italian striker was replaced by Andriy Shevchenko at the break and the substitute made an immediate impact on 47 minutes. After Byrne had received the ball on the right wing, he sent a cross over to Shevchenko, who laid the ball off to Seedorf to smash into the roof of the net. England went close to restoring parity three minutes later when another substitute, Jack Whitehall, met the impressive Jones’ cross, only to be denied by a brilliant point-blank save from Patrick Kielty, on for van der Sar. Things got lively on the hour-mark when Wilkes and Edgar Davids came to blows and it was Davids who helped put the ROTW into what appeared to be an unassailable position soon after, when he pinched the ball off the toes of goalkeeper Jamie Theakston. He rolled it to Byrne, who planted a superb lob into the top corner to put the ROTW 2-0 up. England substitute Jamie Redknapp gave Sam Allardyce’s men hope on 75 minutes when he fired a 30-yard drive past Kielty and a foul by Martin Compston on Phillips in the box, six minutes later, gave England the chance to draw level. Phillips duly converted from the spot. The game seemed set to go to penalties but, four minutes from time, Seedorf had other ideas. After collecting the ball 30 yards from goal, he cut inside and let fly with a curling effort which deflected off Whitehall and sailed past Theakston in the England goal. The Dutchman found the net again in added time when he headed home Santiago Cabrera’s cross as Mourinho’s Rest of the World reclaimed the Soccer Aid trophy. Match Report: England 2 Redknapp (75), Phillips (p 82) Rest of the World 4 Seedorf (47; 86; 90), Byrne (69) Soccer Aid 2014, Sunday 8 June 2014, Old Trafford, Attendance: 65,574. England: Seaman; McGuinness, Humes; Carragher, Walker; Bishop, Shephard; Wilkes, Jones, Murs; Phillips. Subs: Theakston, Whitehall, Moyer, Cooper, Le Tissier, Redknapp, Owen. Rest of the World: Van der Sar; Sheen, Ramsay, Stam, Worthington; Davids, Seedorf; McAvoy, Del Piero, Byrne; Cabrera. Subs: Kielty, Compston, Renner, Bridges, Salling, Richman, Shevchenko. No matter who won the trophy, the game was all for a good cause. So thats was the most Important thing that benefits by Soccer Aid 2014. Hope United perform like Champions throughout the season. The new era of Players and Manager are now to build up a better side for United Future. Hope Manchester United wins more Titles this season. Believed Champ20ns, Glory Glory Man United.
Posted on: Mon, 09 Jun 2014 06:00:51 +0000
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