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67' - SO CLOSE! Mata dinks a pass to Van Persie on the edge of the box and he controls with his chest before looping an effort towards the far post. It drops just beyond the upright, though!

66' - Januzaj receives the ball in plenty of space on the left but he blazes his cross straight over the top of the crossbar! He needed to show more composure there as he had plenty of options in the middle.

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64' - Important clearance from Jones! The centre-back has to stoop low for a diving header to stop Walters' cross from reaching Crouch. The striker does get his head on the resultant corner, but his effort is blocked by Smalling's arms. The referee had a great view but for some reasong opted not to give that one!

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63' - Van Gaal makes a double substitution now, with Falcao going off to be replaced by Ander Herrera and Adnan Januzaj coming on for Luke Shaw.

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61' - United win a free kick in an almost identical position to that of the one just a moment ago, but this time Mata picks out a team-mate. Jones is unable to get enough power behind his header, which Begovic catches with ease.

57' - A victory today for United would see them move, temporarily at least, to within just four points of city rivals and reigning champions, Manchester City. That should be motivation enough for them today!

55' - The Red Devils are dominating the game now, but they're struggling to carve Stoke open as the rain begins to fall at the Britannia Stadium.

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53' - Shaw passes the ball back to Evans and the centre-back searches out Falcao in the centre of the box with his cross. Begovic sees it all the way, though, and races off his line to claim it ahead of the United striker.

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52' - Rooney spreads the play out to the left with an exquisite volleyed-pass. Shaw controls it well but never looks like having the beating of Cameron, and his cross is deflected to the feet of another Stoke defender.

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50' - United have quickly returned to their solid, possession-based play. They are passing accurately across the pitch in an attempt to try and prise open the opposition defence, while Stoke will play on the break.

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48' - Stoke have their first chance to send a long ball into the United half from a free kick, but Begovic's kick is caught by the wind and flies beyond Crouch before bouncing out for a throw in. It looks like anything they put over the top will run away from them in this half, so the Red Devils may have a slight advantage.

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HALF TIME - Stoke 1-1 Man United: The Potters got off to the perfect start at a bluster Britannia Stadium as Shawcross volleyed home from Crouch's header to put the hosts ahead inside two minutes. Diouf missed a great chance to double their advantage and he was made to rue it as Falcao slotted home from a Carrick flick-on following a corner. Another exciting 45 minutes of football awaits us, so be sure to stick around!

There is the half-time whistle!

45' - Smalling makes a brilliant challenge to get a foot around Diouf and prod the ball out of play following a long, curling pass from the left. It is signalled that there will be one minute of added time at the end of this half as the corner comes to nothing.

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STAT: Van Persie has scored 10 goals in 10 Premier League games against the Potters.

42' - A quick attack from United almost sees Rooney play Van Persie through on goal, but it bends away from the striker and Begovic comes to intercept. However, the keeper sticks out a leg as he goes for the ball and, although there is no contact, it incenses the Dutchman, and he lets the Bosnia international know how he feels!

40' - Jones overruns the ball on the halfway line and Stoke instantly look to exploit the space he has vacated with a series of crisp passes down the left. Eventually Arnautovic is fed on the byline inside the box but he is unable to get his foot around the ball enough to stop his cross from going straight out for a goal kick.

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38' - A quick free kick is drilled into Diouf by Arnautovic, but Evans stepped up just in time to play the striker offside. He may have used his hand to control the ball, too.

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37' - The blustery conditions have really caused the United defence issues from long balls and set pieces. The second half will see the wind behind the hosts, who may continue to try and stretch the opposition with long balls over the top.

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35' - N'Zonzi drives into the box but Smalling does well to show him towards the byline before sliding in to block his cross. Arnautovic floats the cross in for Crouch, but it is too high for the striker to volley and Smalling just about manages to fumble it clear.

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33' - Arnautovic's crosses continue to be a real danger to the United defence, and his latest one forces Shaw to hook it over the top of his own net with Walters waiting for a simple finish.

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31' - Crouch plays the ball out to the right side of the box for Walters, and the Irishman gets to the byline before sending in a cross. He sticks it too close to De Gea, though, and the Spaniard plucks it out of the sky.

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29' - The hosts earn a free kick on the right which Arnautovic whips into the box. It's a better delivery this time and Cameron connects with a header 10 yards out from goal which is angled slightly off target. United's defending from set plays is continuing to be a source of concern.

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28' - Stoke win a corner on the left this time, but Arnautovic's delivery is too high for Diouf at the back post. The Senegalese chases it out wide but is unable to stop the ball from crossing the line to a throw in for the visitors.

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26' - Assist - Michael Carrick (Manchester United)
26' - Goal - Radamel Falcao (Manchester United) GOOOOOOAAAAL!! FALCAO LEVELS THE GAME! Rooney's delivery is flicked on by Carrick at the near post, and it falls at the feet of the Colombian and he sweeps the ball into the back of the net! The Red Devils deserve that given their possession.

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24' - United continue to dominate possession, with Stoke getting everyone back behind the ball to help defend. The Red Devils are finding space in the wide areas and it surely won't be long until a cross finds Van Persie or Falcao and calls Begovic into action.

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22' - Mata picks up the ball on the right and whips a cross towards the near post, where Falcao darts towards. The delivery is beyond his reach, and also that of Van Persie who was unable to beat Begovic to it with his run through the centre of the box.

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21' - N'Zonzi is doing a great job of breaking apart United's attacking play so far this afternoon. He puts a strong challenge in on Mata and then shows good composure to pass the ball out from the back.

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19' - WHAT A MISS! Arnautovic does brilliantly to protect against Young and win the ball near the corner flag. The Austrian then launches a long pass beyond the United defence, which Evans is forced to chase under pressure from Diouf. He lets it bounce and the Senegalese manages to get a foot to the ball and take it away from the centre-back, but his attempt to bend a shot inside the far post sails high and wide of the target!

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18' - Rooney tries his luck with a free kick from 30 yards out. He has the wind behind him but still puts plenty of power through the ball, and he sends it curling over the roof of the net.

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17' - Shawcross and Muniesa display a lack of communication, both leaving a ball before then going for it. Van Persie was lurking, but the English centre-back just managed to get it away before he could pounce.

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FACT: Mark Hughes played 467 times for Manchester United in all competitions, ranking him 14th in the club’s list of all-time appearance makers.