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Sport 21 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 7 MAY 2014 SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Tonight 20:45 Man. City - Aston Villa 20:45 Sunderland - West B. Albion Inter legend Zanetti to retire INTER Milan captain Javier Zan- etti will retire from professional football at the end of the season, he announced on Tuesday. The 40-year-old defender has played in 851 official matches for Inter since moving to the Neraz- zurri outfit from Argentinian club Banfield in 1995. "I feel the time has come," Zanetti said to Argentinian newspaper La Nacion. "I feel fulfilled and com- plete. "To retire at almost 41 still feeling in form has no price. "Football has given me so much and I've enjoyed every moment." Zanetti ruptured his Achilles ten- don last year but came back and has featured in 10 league games for In- ter this season. "After last year's injury, I really wanted to prove that I could still compete and I've managed to do so," he said. The former Argentina interna- tional, who has won five Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia four times, a Champions League trophy, a UEFA Cup and a Club World Cup during his career, will remain in Milan af- ter the summer having accepted a role as sporting manager at Inter. "Do I fear life after this? No, there is no fear," Zanetti said. "I will of course miss certain things, several aspects of the routine of a player, the moments in the dressing room and especially the competition. "Yet I think that the fear must be for those who do not know how to occupy their new free time and for- tunately in this I have resolved the issue. "It is clear that nothing will be as before, but I am ready because I will continue in the world of football and this will keep me alive. "I dreamed of finishing my career at Inter, in my home, and I have. "It was a lifestyle decision to end the career in Italy, and now, in the function of a sporting manager, I will try to be useful to the team away from the field. "A new world opens for me, and that excites me. "There will be a thousand things to do." When asked which games in his 22-year playing career he would like to play again if possible Zanetti said: "There are two, one to enjoy and the other to change the out- come. "I would play again the 2010 Champions League Final (Inter beat Bayern Munich 2-0), to relive the magical night at the Bernabeu. "And I would give everything to replay the game against Sweden, the one that cost us the elimination from the World Cup in Japan." Debutant Wilson's double fires United to victory over Hull RYAN Giggs made a cameo ap- pearance off the bench and Ne- manja Vidic said goodbye to Old Trafford, but it was Manchester United debutant James Wilson who stole the show as he scored twice to sink Hull. Wilson, 18, scored from close range either side of half-time, and Robin van Persie also found the net as United beat Hull 3-1 in the final home game of the season. This year may have been the worst in recent memory, but at least United ended on a high thanks to impressive performanc- es from Wilson, fellow debutant Tom Lawrence and 18-year-old Adnan Januzaj, who was superb throughout. But for all the energy shown by the three youngsters, it was Giggs who drew the biggest cheer of the night when he came off the bench with 20 minutes to go. Giggs will not be manager here next year. He may not even play a game for the club again. Giggs, who is expected to be re- placed by Louis van Gaal, wrote in his programme notes that he had not made up his mind about his future, but he added that it had been "an honour and privilege" to manage the club's final three home games of the season. The midfielder, who gave an emotional message of thanks to the fans after the final whistle, also said in his notes that he was in two minds as to whether he should continue playing under Van Gaal next. Giggs showed signs that he is still up to the job though as his 40-year-old legs sprinted past Alex Bruce late on. The interim player-manager almost made it a perfect night when he curled a brilliant 25-yard free-kick over the wall towards goal, but Eldin Jakupovic saved superbly. Vidic had little to do in his fare- well match. Hull were rather ab- ject throughout. Matt y Fryatt's long-range strike was the only positive for the FA Cup finalists. The only downside for United was that Phil Jones was taken to hospital after he suffered a shoul- der injury jumping for the ball with Maynor Figueroa in the first half. Vidic was not in the starting XI, but he took centre stage just before kick-off. The Serbian re- ceived a gift, wrapped in United- coloured paper, from Sir Bobby Charlton on the touch line. Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra - who could also leave this summer - were not in the squad. Wilson threatened to steal the limelight in the second minute when he shaped to shoot inside the box, but Alex Bruce came to the rescue with a diving intercep- tion. Unlike in their first two matches under Giggs, United were f lying early on. Januzaj slipped into the box after latching on to Antonio Valencia's chip, but he was hacked down by Figueroa. Referee Craig Pawson waved play on despite the protests of the home side. United 's early dominance start- ed to fizzle out. The hosts were then forced into an early change when Jones and Figueroa clashed shoulder to shoulder while in mid-f light. Jones came off worse. He was immediately substituted, wincing with pain as he walked down the tunnel. Vidic came on to huge applause and a standing ovation. The crowd were on their feet again on the half hour as Wilson scored the opener. The youngster volleyed home from close range after Marouane Fellaini knocked down Januzaj's free-kick at the back post. A huge smile stretched across the striker's face as "There's only one James Wilson" rang out on the Stretford End. Steve Bruce brought on Fry- att and Yannick Sagbo on at the break. United remained on top though. Januzaj drew a top-class save from Premier League debutant Jakupovic. Vidic was desperate to go out with a bang. The big cen- tre-half was a constant menace in the box when he came up for set- pieces and he thought he should have had a penalt y when Stephen Quinn handled the ball in the box following his header. The night belonged to Wilson though. The striker was in the right place at the right time to fire United 2-0 up on the hour. The ball dropped to Wilson af- ter Jakupovic spilled Fellaini 's shot and he tucked the ball home. The crowd sang "Wilson for England " as the smiling teenager celebrated. Those celebrations were cut short a minute later when Fryatt knocked the ball past Carrick and blasted a 26-yard shot past David de Gea. Wilson then received a standing ovation and a pat on his back from his manager as he was replaced by Van Persie. Giggs caused the biggest cheer of the night when he started warming up. Such was the excite- ment about Giggs' introduction that stewards had to restrain the United fans in the front row of the stand. After a brief wait, Giggs entered the field in place of Lawrence. The Welshman did not look his age as he raced at the Hull defence. Giggs thought he should have had a penalt y when his low shot struck Alex Bruce's arm. The 40-year-old then rolled back the years to embarrass the Hull manager's son with a burst of pace. Meyler threatened to spoil the part y with a swirling 25-yard drive, but De Gea saved well. Every time Giggs touched the ball he was urged to shoot, but he resisted the temptation with three minutes to go, playing the ball forward to Van Persie who fired past Jakupovic at the second attempt after seeing his initial at- tempt blocked. Meyler drew the ire of United fans by sinking his studs into Januzaj's shin, but the foul went unpunished. Giggs had the chance to end night in the perfect fashion, but Jakupovic pulled off a fantastic save to stop his curling free-kick from 25-yards. Giggs and Vidic then both gave emotional speeches to the crowd before disappearing down the tunnel. James Wilson scores on his Manchester United debut