RECORD BREAKER!
Rooney hits 250 United goals as he passes Bobby Charlton to become...
PART of the key to Wayne Rooney becoming Manchester United’s record scorer was exhibited in the seconds after he brought up his 250 in quite magnificent style. Rather than bask in the glory of a deeply meaningful personal moment, Rooney gave a brief clenched-fist celebration then turned and ran back to the centre circle.
His late free-kick was spectacular, certainly at the top end of his long list of goals, but it was only the equaliser in a contest United wanted to win. It came in the 94th minute and with about 90 seconds left, Rooney did not wish to waste time when a victory was there to be pursued.
As much as ability and longevity, it is Rooney’s competitive spirit that has seen him overtake all those other United greats. It is a fire that still burns fiercely. Rooney’s goal was in fact the last act in a game that, for the most part, looked to be ending in a damaging defeat for United. But what a manner to salvage a draw and move past Bobby Charlton.
The free-kick was within shooting range but did not really translate into a true scoring chance. Off to the far side of the box, it was an awkward angle. A cross seemed sensible. But Rooney knew otherwise. He stepped and struck the ball with such ferocity and precision it flew into the top corner and in an instant the title of United’s record scorer was his.
Charlton let out a gasp as he watched in the stands. He was at Old Trafford this month when Rooney equalled his total of 249 set 44 years ago and must be pleased the wait for Rooney to beat it has not been too long.
Jose Mourinho was more satisfied that the strike carried meaning. Stoke away has been a bellwether for United in the years after Alex Ferguson retired. David Moyes lost. Louis van Gaal lost. And until Rooney’s intervention Mourinho looked like losing too.
Not once have a team that would routinely collect three points at this stadium under Ferguson managed to find victory since he left and, while that run goes on, Rooney at least
saved his team from suffering another defeat that would have sucked the momentum from United’s campaign.
Ferguson was also in the stands and will doubtless have applauded along with those United fans who sung Rooney’s name as he walked off the pitch proudly.
Mourinho admitted he contemplated the worst after the first-half had ended with Stoke failing to register a shot on target yet leading 1-0.
Their breakthrough came in the 19th minute at the end of a move that split the visitors open but was finished by two touches from United feet. Lee Grant flighted a clearance to halfway and Peter Crouch was more alert than Chris Smalling, winning the flick on to Marko Arnautovic, who exchanged a one-two with Joe Allen to get in behind United’s backline.
Arnautovic cut back to Erik Pieters as the defender advanced past a dosing Juan Mata, who tried to make amends by cutting out the low cross but only succeeded in diverting the ball towards his own goal.
David De Gea did not have chance to adjust in the split-second and confirmed the ball’s passage into his own net.
At that stage the scoreline did not seem absurd due United’s ponderous play. It took time but United found a rhythm.
In the 27th minute Mata picked out Marouane Fellaini with a cross but the Belgian’s header was not powerful enough to beat Grant.
Four minutes later he should have levelled. Paul Pogba chipped a loose ball to Zlatan Ibrahimovic down the channel and the United striker advanced into the box.
Rather that shoot, he spotted Mata at the far post and sent a cross through the legs of Ryan Shawcross.
The only excuse Mata can have for not scoring is if Bruno Martins Indi got the slightest of touches but even so the Spaniard should have converted. He was in front of an empty net three yards out. Instead, Mata scooped the ball over the crossbar.
They finally made the Stoke goalkeeper work on the cusp of halftime.
First Fellaini met Valencia’s cross with a shot into the ground that looped up and required a tip over to keep out.
Then Grant did better, reacting with speed to Pogba’s volley by raising a fist to punch away.
Mourinho made the decisive call to send on Rooney for Mata in minute 67. Jesse Lingard hit the bar and that seemed to be as close as United would go. But Rooney, as he has done 249 times previously for his club, found a way to hit the back of the net.