Martin secures United win

Winger nets the only goal to see off Pirates

Last updated: 22nd July 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Martin secures United win

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Lee Martin grabbed the only goal as Manchester United beat Orlando Pirates 1-0 in their Vodacom Challenge match.

The winger struck midway through the first half as Sir Alex Ferguson assessed several of the younger members of his squad in Durban.

Ferguson started with Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic on the bench, while Wes Brown did play but is scheduled to return home on Thursday after the death of his pregnant half-sister.

Rio Ferdinand captained the team after recovering from a back problem that forced him to miss the draw against the Kaizer Chiefs at the weekend.

Carlos Tevez saw an early effort turned away by Senzo Meyiwa, who then denied Martin with another fine stop moments later.

Campbell assist

Fraizer Campbell, who scored 15 goals while on loan at Hull last season, set up United's goal when he flicked on a pass from Brown and Martin made no mistake from an acute angle.

Tevez almost extended their lead in the 34th minute when he made space on the edge of the area but failed to test the goalkeeper.

United keeper Ben Foster was troubled for the first time in the 65th minute when he did well to push over a shot from Lebogang Mothibantwa.

Scholes and Rooney were then introduced, with the former rattling in a shot from the edge of the area which was well blocked by Meyiwa.

The Pirates hit back, however, in the 79th minute and Foster made a point-blank save from Joseph Makhanya.

United will have their final game of the tournament in Pretoria on Saturday against either the Pirates or the Chiefs.