WEST HAM UNITED 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 2
Man United - Rooney 8', 33'
Man of the match - Wayne Rooney (Man United)
LONDON // Wayne Rooney produced his own David Beckham moment to put Manchester United on course for an impressive victory at West Ham, firing home one of the most memorable goals of the season from 58 yards.
Returning to Premier League action after progressing to the Uefa Champions League quarter-finals with a fine victory against Olympiakos, the England international netted twice as David Moyes' men proved Wednesday's result was no flash in the pan.
“Everybody flashed back to David Beckham’s goal,” the United manager said to Sky Sports. “I said to Wayne Rooney that when the ball bounced I was worried that the bounce may take it over the bar.
“He’s a top player and it was a top goal. You have to have the awareness of where people are on the pitch. It was a great piece of skill and he has great ability.”
Rooney’s second saw him move onto 212 goals and usurp Jack Rowley as the third highest goalscorer in United’s history, but it was his first just eight minutes into the 2-0 victory that will live long in the memory.
The 28 year old produced a moment of magic, sending the ball sailing over Adrian in a goal similar in audacity and skill to Beckham’s wonder strike at Wimbledon in 1996.
Rather aptly, the former United midfielder was at Upton Park to witness the effort first-hand and will have been impressed by the way Moyes’ side held on to condemn West Ham to a third successive defeat.
Rooney’s display was certainly a timely shot in the arm for United, with Robin van Persie facing up to six weeks out with a sprained knee.
His enforced absence was one of the six changes from the midweek win over Olympiacos, with the visitors impressing from the outset in east London.
One of those brought in, Marouane Fellaini, came close to putting the visitors ahead inside three minutes, powering a header goalwards only for Andy Carroll to hack off the line.
Moyes’ side continued in the ascendancy and were almost then gifted a goal as Shinji Kagawa collected a miscued Tomkins pass, allowing the Japan international to thread through Juan Mata.
Adrian did well to stop the midfielder’s strike but could only watch helplessly as Rooney netted his contender for goal of the season.
Having outmuscled James Tomkins, Rooney turned and hit a half-volley which sailed over Adrian and into the net from fully 58 yards.
Beckham, watching on from the Upton Park stands, smiled wryly at the goal so similar to his own famous strike, which West Ham tried to chalk off immediately.
Mohamed Diame saw a drive blocked by Alexander Buttner, before Andy Carroll powered a header straight at David de Gea moments after glancing a Kevin Nolan free-kick wide.
Diame lost his footing just before getting a shot away as the home side continued to press, although they were leaving themselves open at the back.
When United next attacked Adrian had to be alert to deny Kagawa directing in a Mata through-ball, before the Spaniard stung the palms of the West Ham goalkeeper after wriggling free.
The visitors did not have to wait long to double their advantage, though.
As Nolan fumed at having a penalty appeal rejected by referee Lee Mason, United countered at speed with Rooney playing the ball right to Ashley Young.
“I was complaining about the foul on James Tomkins, I’m 100 per cent convinced that it should have been a free-kick,” West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said. “It wouldn’t have come to that [the goal] if the referee had done his job.
“It put Tomkins off. I don’t think you can blame the keeper - it’s an unbelievable strike.
“It knocked the stuffing out of us. We tried our hardest but when they scored the second goal it was always going to be tough.
“Being 2-0 up Manchester United could sit eight and nine players behind the ball. We started the second half with a few corners but we didn’t find enough quality to break that eight or nine down. In the end they beat us and deservedly so.”
The returning winger burst forward and sent in a low cross that Mark Noble could only hack into the path of Rooney, who easily directed home in the 33rd minute.
The goal moved him third in United’s all-time scorers list and he attempted to add to that haul before the break, although failed with three efforts at a hat-trick.
The Hammers returned from the break impressively and, after Young saw an effort saved at the other end, Diame had a strike blocked as West Ham attempted to carve open United’s defence, which was holding firm despite Michael Carrick playing as a makeshift centre-back.
The England midfielder did well to head away as Tomkins lurked at the back post, before left-back Buttner failed with an attempt at the other end.
West Ham brought on Carlton Cole with less than 20 minutes remaining as they continued to pump balls into the box, while United made changes of their own, including the withdrawal of Rooney.
The England forward was given a loud ovation by the travelling faithful and a hearty round of applause by Beckham, while his display will have also pleased the watching Roy Hodgson.
Rooney’s replacement Javier Hernandez would have added a third had Kagawa not sent a cross over the unmarked forward’s head, while Fellaini unsuccessfully claimed a late penalty as Moyes’ side secured a third successive away league win.
“We were excellent,” Moyes said. “We played really good football and the only disappointment is we didn’t score more. We were wasteful in our finishing.
“West Ham gave us lots of crosses to deal with which was tough but we did well.
“You can never tell until nearer the time but we should be ok injury wise to face City on Tuesday.”
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Sheikh Zayed's poem
When it is unveiled at Abu Dhabi Art, the Standing Tall exhibition will appear as an interplay of poetry and art. The 100 scarves are 100 fragments surrounding five, figurative, female sculptures, and both sculptures and scarves are hand-embroidered by a group of refugee women artisans, who used the Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery art of tatreez. Fragments of Sheikh Zayed’s poem Your Love is Ruling My Heart, written in Arabic as a love poem to his nation, are embroidered onto both the sculptures and the scarves. Here is the English translation.
Your love is ruling over my heart
Your love is ruling over my heart, even a mountain can’t bear all of it
Woe for my heart of such a love, if it befell it and made it its home
You came on me like a gleaming sun, you are the cure for my soul of its sickness
Be lenient on me, oh tender one, and have mercy on who because of you is in ruins
You are like the Ajeed Al-reem [leader of the gazelle herd] for my country, the source of all of its knowledge
You waddle even when you stand still, with feet white like the blooming of the dates of the palm
Oh, who wishes to deprive me of sleep, the night has ended and I still have not seen you
You are the cure for my sickness and my support, you dried my throat up let me go and damp it
Help me, oh children of mine, for in his love my life will pass me by.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Company profile
Company: Eighty6
Date started: October 2021
Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Hospitality
Size: 25 employees
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investment: $1 million
Investors: Seed funding, angel investors
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
TICKETS
For tickets for the two-day Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) event, entitled Dubai Invasion 2019, on September 27 and 28 go to www.meraticket.com.
if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The years Ramadan fell in May
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
