Di Maria inspires Man Utd to first win

Manchester United ended its winless start to the Premier League season in emphatic fashion, beating Queens Park Rangers 4-0 to show just what a summer spending spree of $250m can deliver.

Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera scored their first goals for United, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata added others and Radamel Falcao had a 23-minute run-out as a substitute for his debut.

In his fifth competitive match in charge of United, Louis van Gaal finally was able to enjoy a victory that lifted the team to five points from four league matches.

Van Gaal ditched his 3-5-2 formation and reverted to a 4-4-2, with Di Maria particularly impressing on the left of a midfield diamond and inspiring United to a 3-0 halftime lead.

As Mata was scoring, United’s fans were giving Falcao a standing ovation as he trotted out of the dug-out to loosen up. Within eight minutes, the Colombia striker was on the pitch.

Falcao almost scored, too, pouncing on a parried save from Green off Blind’s low drive but seeing his first-time shot saved by the goal-keeper.

United leapt nine places in the table with the win, now sitting one point behind Liverpool in ninth.