United Claim First Pre-Season Victory
By David Hobbs
August 4 2004
Manchester United have earned their first pre-season win of the summer and came out on top against PSV Eindhoven in United's opening game of the Vodafone Tournament. A single first-half Mikael Silvestre header was enough to earn The Red Devils a victory against the Dutch League runners-up.

United Claim First Pre-Season Victory

Manchester United have earned their first pre-season win of the summer and came out on top against PSV Eindhoven in United's opening game of the Vodafone Tournament.

A single first-half Mikael Silvestre header was enough to earn The Red Devils a victory against the Dutch League runners-up.

Meanwhile, in the opening Vodafone Tournament game between Boca Juniors and Urawa Red Diamonds, Boca thrashed the Japanese outfit in a dramatic 5-2 game.

Sir Alex Ferguson made a last-minute decision to play a 4-3-3 formation, linking trio Diego Forlan, Louis Saha and Ruud van Nistelrooy up-front. Chris Eagles, Ryan Giggs and Phil Neville made up the defence whilst Ricardo started in-between the sticks. Paul Scholes watched from the stands hours after he shockingly announced his international retirement.

Andre Ooijer of PSV had an early chance to fire Guus Hiddink's side into an early lead but the Dutchman's strike fizzed wide of Ricardo's post.

After a few half-chances, Mikael Silvestre broke the deadlock after an out-swinging Ryan Giggs corner connected with the Frenchman to fire home the opener.

Louis Saha tried his luck from long range moments after but his effort was parried wide for a corner by PSV goalkeeper Gomes.

Welshman Giggs, producer of the first goal, could have made it 2-0 when Louis Saha was hacked down outside the edge of the box. The resulting free-kick floated inches over the cross-bar.

Alan Smith made his Old Trafford debut replacing skipper for the night Ruud van Nistelrooy at half-time.

Ambitious Brazilian defender Alex rattled United's cross-bar with a piledriving free-kick much to the delight of an impressive Ricardo moments into the second period.

Also impressive Diego Forlan unleashed a fantastic shot from distance that was just saved from Gomes after delivering some fine unmet crosses.

Youngster John Volanthen, the youngster player ever to score a goal in the European Championships, went close before the end who cross/shot zipped across the face of the goal to draw an end to the match.

Team: Ricardo; G Neville, Brown (Richardson 74), Silvestre, O'Shea; P Neville, Eagles, Ryan Giggs(Bellion 84); Forlan, van Nistelrooy (Smith 45), Saha (Djemba Djemba 61)

Full-time: Manchester United 1 - PSV Eindhoven 0

Boca Juniors top the Group however with a total of 8 points (3 for victory + 5 goals) with United in second, Urawa in 3rd and PSV fourth.

Team	Points for match won (loss*)	Points for Goals Scored	Total Points
Boca Juniors	3	5	8
Manchester United	3	1	4
Red Diamonds	0*	2	2
PSV Eindhoven	0*	0	0

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