United earns first win with rout of QPR

Manchester, England (SportsNetwork.com) - Manchester United earned its first win of the Premier League season under manager Louis van Gaal on Sunday, cruising to a 4-0 rout of Queens Park Rangers at Old Trafford.

United have not looked like themselves early in the season, having taken just two points from their first three league contests and struggling to adapt to a three-back defensive shape, but with new signings Angel Di Maria, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Radamel Falcao in the squad, the Red Devils got back to looking like the Red Devils of old in convincing fashion.

Di Maria struck for his first goal in a United shirt after 24 minutes and Ander Herrera made it 2-0 in the 36th minute before Wayne Rooney capped an explosive first half with his second goal of the season just before the break.

Juan Mata then added a fourth goal just prior to the hour mark as United claimed its first three points of the season to climb to five points through four matches, while QPR remains in 15th place in the Premier League on three points.

The hosts opened the scoring when Di Maria lined up a left-footed free kick from outside the box and curled toward the far post. The ball was allowed to bounce unaltered in the box and it skipped past QPR goalkeeper Robert Green.

United doubled their advantage in the 36th minute as Rooney collected a loose ball on the edge of the area and squared it to Herrera, who smashed it past Green into the bottom right corner.

It was 3-0 for the Red Devils on the stoke of halftime as Rooney skipped past the QPR defense after playing a one-two with Di Maria and beat Green low to the near post for his second goal of the season.

After the break, United continued to press forward looking for offense and growing in confidence and the fourth tally came in the 58th minute when Di Maria let a strike go from the left side of box that made its way to Mata in front of goal and he fired it home with ease to send the United faithful away happy.