First time lucky, second time right! Who would have imagined the 17-year-old Manchester United Reserve player, Federico Macheda, to have burst into the scene with sublime match-winning goals for two consecutive ocassions.
With Liverpool just won 4-0 against Blackburn in the afternoon and leptfrog Manchester United to top position in the English Premier League, Manchester United is drawing 1-1 against Sunderland and the match is seems nowhere clear of winning as the Red Devils are completely devoid of idea and creativity. That is when Sir Alex Ferguson took the gamble and threw in Federico Macheda in the 74th minute. Within a minute in the field, he scored the winning goal as the game ended 2-1 to put Manchester United at the top of the Premiership Table again.
It was about one week ago when Fedrico Macheda made his debut for Manchester United, and the team was again then drawing 2-2 with Aston Villa at the 80th minute, when Cristiano Ronaldo scored the equaliser. Everyone thought, if we could snatch a point, it will be a happy day for all, but that is not what Sir Alex Ferguson thinks. He substituted with Macheda, and during the injury time, he did what he is made to be, scored the winning goal in the 95th minute to put Manchester United into the top of the table (as Liverpool had won a game a day earlier). And the rest is history. Since then, stories about him flood the English newspaper in the UK.
Both match-winning goals were incredible goals, and they would prove pivotal to Manchester United winning the English Premiership title. At the moment, who could have believed that it is Fedrico Macheda, only a 17-year-old lad, who lifted the Red Devils at the most crucial time to bring them across the finishing line. With 6 more matches left in the EPL, the race to the finishing line would be extremely exciting. Fedrico Macheda might just be the trumph card for Manchester United, as Cristiano Ronaldo was in the last season.
Player Profile
The young Italian boy, just only 17, arrived at United in September 2007. Just 6 days before he scored the winner against Aston Villa, Kiko, his nickname, netted a hat-trick for the Reserves in a thrilling 3-3 draw at St. James Park. Born in Rome, he was formally a Lazio player in the youth system, but relocated to England to further his footballing career.
| Birthdate: | 22 Aug 1991 |
| Birthplace: | Rome |
| Position: | Striker |
| Joined United: | 01 Sep 2007 |
| United Debut: | 5 April 2009 v Aston Villa (H) |
Federico Macheda started out in the Under-18s, but slowly became a regular in the Reserves’ team. His strength on the ball, positional sense in the box and clinical finishing have not gone unnoticed at the very top. Sir Alex Ferguson handed him a Champions League squad number midway through the 2008/09 campaign and then showed stunning judgement to introduce him against Aston Villa just when the Reds needed a goal most. Six days later, he reprised his match-winner status when it mattered most. Within a minute of entering the fray against Sunderland, with United chasing a winner, Macheda diverted home a crucial winner to further aid the Reds’ defence of the Premier League.
With 2 goals in 2 games; both of which are winning goals. The future definitely look bright for this young Italian. Furthermore, he entered the scene as substitutes; with limited time to score those marvellous goals, he is enroute to become one of the most deadly striker in the world.
Says,