Two goals either side of halftime and a late one saw Manchester United storm to the top of the English Premier League with a 3-0 win over Sunderland.
The Blacks Cats looked like they had survived the Manchester United possession-siege in the first half, only for a delightful pass from Daley Blind, a cutback from Juan Mata and a tap-in from Memphis Depay to completely change the two halftime speeches from the managers.
With Louis Van Gaal cutting a much more relaxed figure via that goal, and Dick Advocaat wondering about how Sunderland would get back into the game and maybe even fashion a first victory of the season, the game was put to bed early in the second half.
While Anthony Martial did not get, what now seems like, his customary goal, the France international provided the assist.
A couple of nice moves down the right allowed him enough space to fire in a lowish cross and there was Wayne Rooney to knee the ball into the back of the net for his first English Premier League goal of the season. The celebration said it all, with Rooney looking a relieved man at finally breaking his Premier League duck for the season, having scored his first club goal this campaign in the League Cup win over Ipswich Town on Wednesday.
With the result pretty much done and dusted, the Old Trafford crowd could enjoy the rest of the match firm in the belief that their team would be the new league leaders – Mata would add the gloss late on -- and a while it has been for that as well.
Below are the goals and highlights of the match between Manchester United and Sunderland
