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Manchester United's Angel Di Maria (right) keeps the ball from Queens Park Rangers' Matt Phillips during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, yesterday.

United get first Premier League win

MANCHESTER, England (AP): After a summer spending spree of $250 million, the good times just might be on their way back at Manchester United.

To the backdrop of fans chanting "We're going to win the league," United beat Queens Park Rangers 4-0 yesterday to end a winless start to the Premier League season with a result and performance that may be seen as the true beginning to the Louis van Gaal era.

The brilliant Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera scored their first goals for United, Wayne Rooney added a third before the break and Juan Mata also found the net to give Van Gaal his first win in five competitive matches in charge.

All that was missing for a home crowd that rediscovered their full voice was a goal for Radamel Falcao. He came on as a substitute in the 67th minute for his debut in a season-long loan from Monaco that is costing a reported $25 million in salary and fee.

The Colombia striker was presented with a great opportunity from close range with seven minutes remaining, but his shot was blocked.

Still, with the goals flying in elsewhere and the team showing more pace and intensity, it was like the old times again at Old Trafford.

"I said to the players before the match, 'We have to make a new start today,'" Van Gaal said. "This is the selection, we start now."

The victory lifted United to five points from four league matches and could make Van Gaal think again about his deployment of a 3-5-2 formation.