19 years ago today, Dong Fangzhuo scored in his first game for Manchester United, and the Red Devils beat Hong Kong United 2-0 in the Premier League
At 16 p.m. on July 23, 2005, Beijing time, the first leg of the 2005 Manchester United China Tour was played at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Facing opponents far below him, Ferguson sent two line-ups in the first and second halves. China's Dong Fangzhuo, wearing the number 43 shirt, was given the chance to play in the second half.
Manchester United's first-half line-up (4-4-2): Edwin van der Sar; Rio Ferdinand, Richardson, Biki, Philip Neville; Park Ji-sung, Fletcher, Scholes, Jones; Rooney, Van Nistelrooy.
Manchester United's second-half line-up was: Howard; Gary Neville, O'Shea, Sylvester, Beersley; Giggs, Smith, Kilbertson; Saha, Dong Fangzhuo, Rossi.
Hong Kong United starting line-up (4-4-2): Fan Chun Yip; Wen Peter, Li Weilun, Liu Zhiqiang, Ou Weilun; Jiang Shihao, Chen Weihao, Chen Haowen, Pan Yaozhuo; Li Weiwen, Pan Wendi.
The first half ended in a 0-0 draw.
At the start of the second half, Italy golden boy Rossi broke the deadlock on the pitch and Manchester United 1-0 Rossi Hong Kong United.
In the 76th minute, Fan Junye received a return pass from the defender and then cleared the siege with a random big foot, and Dong Fangzhuo, who was cruising in the front, successfully broke the ball.
At 35 meters from the goal, Dong Fangzhuo started quickly with the ball, changed the line to break through to the right side of the edge of the opponent's penalty area, and hit a half-high ball with a calm push, straight into the far corner of the goal, rewriting the score to 2-0.
From the interception to the goal, Dong Fangzhuo touched the ball a total of four times, and all of them were right feet, the first time was the outside of the right foot to unload the ball, and then two consecutive outside instep of the ball sideline, the second time the ball broke through the opponent's defense, but also pulled out the gap and shooting angle, and then the inside of the right foot a delicate push, the ball against the left post to break the goal, the goal is wonderful.
Soon after the second half, Dong Fangzhuo put in a performance, the 20-year-old Chinese player made two crosses from the right in succession, but unfortunately they were cleared by Hong Kong defender Pan Wendi. Later, Dong Fangzhuo actively cooperated with his teammates, but the run-in between them was slightly insufficient. In the 54th minute, Dong Fangzhuo's breakthrough on the right won a corner kick for Manchester United, Dong Fangzhuo received a corner kick from Ryan Giggs in the middle of the goal, and shook his head to hit the goal.
Overall, Dong Fangzhuo's performance as a right winger is remarkable. Before Rossi scored, Dong Fangzhuo had another good chance to score, but was helplessly defused by the opponent's offside tactics.
Dong Fangzhuo came from the famous Dalian Yiteng youth training system, and Dalian Wanda bought Dong Fangzhuo and other young players as a whole before handing over the team to Shide for free. Dong joined Manchester United in January 2004 for a record transfer fee of £3.5 million for a Chinese player and was subsequently loaned to Real Antwerp Football Club in Belgium, where he was briefly recalled to the club during the Manchester United Asian tour.
This is Dong Fangzhuo's first official game for Manchester United, and this wonderful goal also became Dong Fangzhuo's first goal after joining Manchester United.
After the game, Ferguson commented on Dong Fangzhuo's performance: "Dong Fangzhuo is indeed a player that Manchester United will focus on the future and cultivate, and, like other young players at Manchester United, Dong Fangzhuo has considerable potential, and I hope to further tap his potential in the next 2 or 3 years." ”