Manchester United claim first win of Van Gaal reign

Manchester United won their first game of the season
as their new-look side tore apart a poor QPR at Old
Trafford.
Record signing Angel di Maria was particularly impressive
and settled any early United nerves when his free-kick
delivery crept into the far corner.
Ander Herrera drilled in soon after and Wayne Rooney's
sharp finish all but ended the contest before the break.
Juan Mata steered in Di Maria's shot and loanee Radamel
Falcao had a gentle debut as a 67th-minute substitute.
Tougher tests than a flimsy QPR side await, but after a
dismal season under David Moyes, and a slow start to this
campaign under successor Louis van Gaal, United provided
their fans with genuine cause for optimism.
United's last home game - a 2-1 opening-day defeat to
Swansea - had finished with a very different mood around
Old Trafford and Van Gaal's starting line-up showed major
changes from that loss.
New signings Di Maria, Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo were
included from the start with Falcao on the bench.
As well as new personnel, Van Gaal was forced to shift from
his favoured 3-5-2 formation to a four-man defence by
injuries to Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.
The changes fuelled a buoyant atmosphere among the home
fans and QPR proved the perfect opposition for a
confidence-building win.
Mata, playing at the attacking tip of a midfield diamond, shot
over from 20 yards, before Di Maria gave United a goal
cushion to go with the majority of possession.
The £59.7m signing's free-kick floated over its intended
targets and, with goalkeeper Rob Green stood still in
expectation of a touch, bounced inside the far post.
The visitors had rarely ventured beyond the halfway line,
but if Jonny Evans had not blocked Matt Phillips's shot after
David de Gea rushed out to try and halt a rare attack, they
could have been level.
As it was, QPR were out of the game soon after.
A scampering run from the increasingly impressive Di Maria
drew the attention of two defenders and when Wayne
Rooney laid the ball into the path of Herrera, the Spaniard
drilled a low shot into the bottom corner.
The third arrived soon after as the QPR defence stood off
their men, allowing Mata and Herrera to exchange passes
and Rooney the time to pick his spot inside the near post.
The introduction of Armand Traore improved QPR after the
break, but Mata and Rooney's over-elaboration with the goal
at their mercy, and the rueful smiles that followed, summed
up the exhibition pace of the second half.
Mata did not have to wait long for another chance - blasting
home after Di Maria shanked an ambitious effort into his
path.
Falcao was introduced to loud cheers with a little over 20
minutes to go and was only denied a goal by Green's
scrambling recovery save.
The Colombian's new side should provide him with plenty
more chances if they continue in the same vein, while QPR
will need to be more determined and ambitious to survive
in the top flight.
Radamel Falcao
failed to score
on his debut, a
feat he
achieved with
Porto, Atletico
Madrid and
Monaco