Mata helps United to 2-0 win over Cardiff
MANCHESTER, England (AP) Juan Mata made a winning start to his Manchester United career by helping the rejuvenated English champions to a 2-0 victory over Cardiff in the Premier League, with fit-again Robin van Persie and Ashley Young scoring the goals Tuesday.
Mata played 84 minutes at Old Trafford and showed glimpses of his class on a solid debut following a club-record 37.1-million pound ($61.2-million) move from Chelsea last week.
Yet he was upstaged by the returning Van Persie, who marked his first appearance after seven weeks out with a thigh injury by heading United in front after six minutes.
Young added a second in the 59th minute to ruin the return to Old Trafford of Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who played 11 years at United from 1996-2007.