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Martin strike kills off Pirates

Easy win
By Chris,
July 25 2008
A first-half goal from Lee Martin was enough to give Manchester United a deserved 1-0 win over the Orlando Pirates on Tuesday. The midfielder took advantage of a first-team start by finding the net on 23 minutes at the ABSA Stadium in Durban. Despite the narrow scoreline, United dominated the game for long periods and Ben Foster was largely untested in the Red Devils goal.

Martin turned the ball home from only yards out after latching onto a headed flick from Frazier Campbell.

Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick had early chances before the deadlock was broken with on-form Pirates 'keeper Senzo Meyiwa kept busy throughout.

United were a lot quieter after the interval with Sir Alex Ferguson making five second-half changes.

However, the Pirates frontline failed to cause the tourists any genuine problems and United will be pleased with a comfortable result.

A mention has to go the Orlando supporters who were fantastic throughout. They made a supern amount of noise - but their players couldn't quite find the performance to match.

The Pirates now face arch-rivals the Kaizer Chiefs to determine who will play United for a second time with the Vodacom Challenge Cup trophy on the line.

Full Time - Orlando Pirates 0-1 Manchester United
Attendance - 50,000

Manchester United: Foster, Brown, Ferdinand, Evans (Simpson 88), Silvestre (O'Shea 62), Eagles, Carrick (Scholes 69), Gibson (Fletcher 82), Martin, Tevez (Rooney 69), Campbell.

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