With less than 90 seconds to go in the first half, debutant Marouane Fellaini attempted a cheeky pass towards the left wing intended for the charging Patrice Evra. The ball, however, was under hit and Bayer Leverkusen started a quick counter attack from their own half. It was the exact situation that their manager Sami Hyypia would have drawn up, an opportunity on a transition to open up United, but seconds after the giveaway, Fellaini stepped into Sidney Sam and immediately won the ball back, fairly, and with so much force that the German fell to the ground. Thirteen seconds later, Shinji Kagawas effort on goal deflected wide for a corner, after Manchester United, not their opponents, triggered a counter attack immediately in a transition, thanks to the strength and positioning of Fellaini. Welcome to the Champions League, where midfield superiority and clinical transitions are vital to success. Welcome also to the Champions League group stage, Fellaini and his manager David Moyes, who both came away from Manchester Uniteds 4-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night with top marks. Moyes had spent much of Mondays press conference deflecting questions about his lack of experience at this level and, when he finished talking, he went about setting up a team he felt were built to play at the highest level of club football. Chris Smalling, for Fabio at right back, Fellaini, for Anderson in midfield, and Kagawa, for Ashley Young on the left, were the three changes from Saturdays win against Crystal Palace and all three made a significant difference to Uniteds identity. Smalling is a very good defender in a 1x1 situation and with Antonio Valencia playing ahead of him, with a flexible, less rigid, front three, there was little need for him to get forward often. In big games he should play this role more for both club and country. Kagawa was deployed on the left of midfield but did not spend the match hogging the touchline. His first start of the season lasted 70 minutes and it was clear United had missed his brain in the first month of the campaign. His tactical understanding meant he could interchange with Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie in attack, as both forwards enjoy moving to the flanks, while dropping deep to help on the left defensively when not in possession. His performance was influenced in part by Fellaini, as were many of the Manchester United players. Fellainis positioning as the left sided central midfielder means he was often the central figure in a defensive trio, involving Evra and Kagawa, in closing down any threats down the right. Sam and Emre Can, two of Leverkusens brightest young players, for the majority of the match were very ineffective on the right flank. Fellainis presence inside Manchester Uniteds midfield is sure to make Evra and Kagawa better, as he did with Steven Pienaar and Leighton Baines at Everton (even though he played higher up the pitch more at Goodison, he still dropped in to cover on the left a lot). Fellainis style, which sees him win more balls than a Tom Cleverley for example, needs partnerships so he can ignite teams transitions and find key outlets, and the trio combined very well considering it was their first game together. (photo: fourfourtwo.com - Click For Larger Image) The new partnerships will take time to grow and it was no surprise that the visitors first goal of the game came when Evra was up field and Fellaini had to step in at left back to replace him. This allowed Sam to sprint deep into Uniteds final third, in space usually occupied by the Belgian, before crossing a ball in that came out to Simon Rolfes to power home an equalizer. By playing Fellaini on the left, the excellent Michael Carrick is able to play on the right centrally, and six minutes after allowing the 1-1 goal, United took the lead for good when the Englishman sprayed a trademark ball out wide for Valencia to run on to, and then cross into the box for Van Persie to volley home. It was a goal that showed Uniteds style, while evolving under Moyes, remains very direct, with width, which is how they looked so often under Sir Alex Ferguson. Two goals would follow that came from fast breaks inside their own half, again following the theme of quick counter attacks, and the goals will delight Moyes who spoke on Saturday about the need for his team to ensure their domination is reflected in the score. The big lead allowed Moyes to bring Fellaini off to a standing ovation. His passing alongside his partner Carrick was outstanding, as the central midfielders were the only two players to complete more than 50 passes. Not only does their relationship take the pressure off Carrick to be the main guardian of the gates for Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, it also allows him to pick his moments to move forward and showcase his ability to make a key pass (he was 17 of 24 with passes in the final third). (photo: fourfourtwo.com - Click For Larger Image) However, it was Fellainis role without the ball that United desperately needed, an ability to win key aerial battles (which he did four times), make successful clearances, interceptions and, above else, ball recoveries to help ignite those transitions: (photo: fourfourtwo.com - Click For Larger Image) Moyes spoke Monday about what he felt he needed to do to win Champions League games, despite not managing in them once the group stage had started. Midfield dominance, transitions and an old pal from his Everton days means so far so good for Uniteds new gaffer. Kobe Bryant Shoes Free Shipping . -- The Grand Rapids Griffins scored three goals in 33 seconds of the second period en route to defeating the Hamilton Bulldogs 6-1 in American Hockey League action on Friday. Clearance Kobe Bryant Shoes . Zdeno Chara scored with 13 seconds left in regulation after David Krejci tied it late, lifting the Bruins to a 3-2 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday night in a game that saw Orpik taken from the ice on a stretcher. https://www.cheapkobebryantshoes.com/. And it showed Thursday night. The Canadiens, playing in their second game in as many days, however, got a good performance in the end from their backup goaltender as he filled in for an injured Olympic gold medallist . Cheap Kobe Bryant Shoes . Nix is a career .218 hitter in 425 games over six seasons. The 31-year-old right-handed hitter batted .270 with a homer this spring for Tampa Bay. Kobe Bryant Shoes For Sale . The actual winners on transfer deadline day are those clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City who were well prepared and managed to get their main incoming business done well ahead of the transfer window closing. Tottenham were able to add seven players by spending over 100 million pounds and also ensured maximum return for the Gareth Bale transfer to Real Madrid by managing the move superbly.San Francisco, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Richard Shermans two interceptions highlighted a dominant defensive effort, as the Seattle Seahawks routed the San Francisco 49ers, 19-3, in a highly anticipated NFC West Thanksgiving clash. The outspoken cornerback, whose key defensive stop against San Francisco receiver Michael Crabtree in Januarys NFC Championship Game helped vault the Seahawks into the Super Bowl, picked off Colin Kaepernick twice as Seattle (8-4) limited the 49ers offense to just 164 total yards. Every win is important, Sherman said. This win is no more important than any other win this season. Russell Wilson completed 15-of-22 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown pass to Robert Turbin, Marshawn Lynch ran for 104 yards on 20 carries and Steven Hauschka kicked five field goals for the Seahawks, who have won five of their last six games. The Seahawks now sit all alone for second place in the NFC West behind Arizona, which owns a 9-2 record heading into its matchup against Atlanta on Sunday. Kaepernick threw for 121 yards on 16-of-29 passing as the 49ers (7-5) had their three-game win streak come to an end. In all areas, they played better team football, said 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh. We have to come back and win them all. After both teams punted on their first two possessions, Sherman intercepted a Kaepernick dart along the right sideline to give the Seahawks the ball inside 49ers territory. Wilson connected with Doug Baldwin across the middle and two plays later, Turbin caught a 13-yard swing pass and tiptoed into the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 1:29 to play in the opening quarter. On Seattles next drive, Wilsoon scrambled to elude multiple blitzing defenders and hit Tony Moeaki with a 63-yard strike to the San Francisco 2.dddddddddddd The 49ers made a goal-line stand and the Seahawks settled for a 21-yard Hauschka field goal. Hauschka split the uprights again, this time from 36 yards out, to cap a 5- play, 42-yard trek and increase the Seahawks lead to 13-0 with 5:40 remaining in the first half. Lynchs 33-yard scamper led to Hauschkas 35-yard field goal for a 16-0 score near the midway point of the third quarter. he 49ers finally got on the board after Phil Dawson booted a 40-yarder with 1:06 to play in the stanza. Less than five minutes into the fourth, the Seahawks answered with Hauschkas fourth field goal of the evening, a 46-yarder, which was set up by Lynchs 16- yard run and Jermaine Kearses 17-yard grab. Kaepernick moved the ball near midfield on San Franciscos ensuing drive, but Sherman jumped in front of a pass intended for Stevie Johnson to intercept the ball at Seattles 32 with 7:13 remaining to put the game away. I told the sideline if they threw it my way, Id end the game. And they did, said Sherman. Game Notes Seattle ended a five-game skid on the road against San Francisco ... Sherman has 23 interceptions since entering the NFL in 2011, which is eight more than any player over that span ... San Franciscos second-ranked defense entered the game allowing just 300.1 yards per game, but allowed Seattle to total 379 yards ... The Seahawks improved to 12-1 in prime-time games under head coach Pete Carroll since 2010 ... Seattles defense has given up just two field goals over its past two games. ' ' '