The Vodacom Challenge happens every year in South Africa between 3 club teams, 2 of which are South African and the third is an English football club team. In this year 2008, like the year of 2006, Manchester United have come down to South Africa. In 2007, Tottenham Hotspurs played the challenge and went home with the trophie. In 2008, the 3 teams are Man United, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.
Tonight (22 July 2008) Man United played Orlando Pirates at the Durban Stadium. Man U won the game 1-0 with the goal being scored 22 minutes into the first half. Man U dominated the game with Eagles (#33) and Tevez (#32) driving the ball onwards and always out of reach of the opposition. The goal in the 22nd minute was a superb piece of team work. A high kick in midfield was head butted forward from one player to the next until a beautiful back of the head nudge over the pirates defender and in the path of the well positioned Man U player who tapped it past the goalie.
It was a lazy game. Rooney and Scholes joined the lads in the 2nd half but found no momentum to get into the action. Pirates lost many opportunities to score despite the crowd being behind them. Their fault was all down to misdirected passes and ill-conceived field placing with no real plan amongst the players to drive the ball into the goal.