Veron produces a moment of magic to light up dismal arena

Manchester United 3 Parma 0

With Diego Forlan continuing to look poor striking back-up for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ferguson still on the hunt for another front man, Veron produced a finish which few of even his illustrious team-mates are capable of matching. Racing onto Roy Carroll’s long clearance inside the Italians’ box, Veron met Parma keeper Sebastian Frey face-to-face, then whipped over a magnificent lob which was assured of dropping into the net the moment it left his boot. With Ryan Giggs opening United’s account in the first half and Solskjaer, back in action after a neck injury, bagging a third five minutes after Veron’s stunning effort, the deposed Premier League champions cruised to an easy victory.

However, Ferguson may be more concerned at his after-match body count. With their Champions League qualifier only 10 days away, the Old Trafford chief has developed a worrying list of niggling injuries.

Neither Van Nistelrooy nor Fabien Barthez were able to even take a place on the bench as they nursed shin soreness and a thigh strain respectively, and with Gary Neville already out until September, Ferguson’s resources are being stretched. However, on this evidence, United look capable of matching their fiercely competitive manager’s ambitions and launching a sustained assault on regaining the Premier League title. Having looked rusty in their encounter with the hosts on Friday, United were much improved in the opening period. They found space down both flanks, although ironically it was Brown and Rio Ferdinand who produced the best crosses of the half.

Interestingly, with Roy Keane on the bench, Beckham had been handed the captain’s armband ahead of regular stand-in Giggs, although the decision did not seem to affect the Welshman, who rammed home Brown’s cross to put his team in front midway through the half.

In Van Nistelrooy’s absence it was another chance for Forlan to impress. But, although the Uruguayan had earned the praise of his manager for his efforts before the Red Devils arrived in Amsterdam, Forlan has hardly covered himself in glory over the weekend.

Maybe Veron could be an option. Certainly the Argentinian’s cute finish from keeper Carroll’s clearance was way above anything his fellow South American has produced for the Old Trafford club. Five minutes later, Solskjaer made it three, rising to meet Beckham’s near post cross unmarked and steering his header into the opposite corner, giving Frey no chance.