Rooney spot-kicks see off Otelul Galati
Reuters - Tuesday 18 October 2011, 22:07
Wayne Rooney converted two
second-half penalties to give Manchester United their first
victory in Champions League Group C with a nervous 2-0 success
at Romanian debutants Otelul Galati on Tuesday.
United played the last quarter of the game with 10 men after
defender Nemanja Vidic, who returned to the starting line-up for
the first time since suffering a calf injury in August, was sent
off for a foul on Gabriel Giurgiu.
Rooney stayed calm to score from the spot in the 64th minute
and he repeated the feat in stoppage-time as United laboured to
a much-needed victory after draws in their first two group
matches.
The home side also finished the game with 10 men after Milan
Perendija was sent off in the dying minutes.
United, runners-up to Barcelona in last season's
competition, climbed to second in the standings with five points
from three games. Leaders Benfica have seven points.
"I'm satisfied with the result and the performance," United
manager Sir Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports. "We lacked penetration in
the first half but we stayed patient and got the result we
needed. It's not easy playing away from home."
Ferguson started with Rooney and Javier Hernandez in attack
after resting the pair in Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw at
Liverpool but they struggled to create chances as the Romanian
side defended strongly.
Michael Carrick blazed United's best chance over the bar in
the first half and Otelul had opportunities to take a shock
lead, the lively Ioan Filip's fine solo run ending with a
rasping 20-metre shot over the bar.
Rooney missed a good chance, allowing keeper Branko Grahovac
to easily smother his feeble free-kick from the edge of the
penalty area and Patrice Evra also failing to trouble the
Bosnian keeper with a low shot.
The Romanian champions responded in style when Liviu Antal
headed just over the bar from Sorin Frunza's inswinging corner.
There was a surprising lack of urgency though from the
visitors after the interval with Otelul's full-backs Adrian
Salageanu and Cornel Rapa comfortably containing wingers Antonio
Valencia and Nani.
But United continued to dominate possession and the
breakthrough finally came when Otelul defender Sergiu Costin
needlessly handled Rooney's cross and the England striker
stepped up to convert the resulting spot-kick.
Vidic was sent off minutes later and Otelul sensed a chance
to get back in the match but United kept hold of the ball well
and Otelul were also reduced to 10 men when Perendija was sent
off after receiving his second yellow card for fouling
Hernandez.
Antal then tripped Rooney in the area in stoppage-time and
the United striker steered his second penalty into the corner of
the net to secure the points.
Ferguson said United would probably not appeal against
Vidic's red card.
"He's raised his foot and in the context of the referee's
interpretation when you play in Europe, I can see why he has
given him the red card, but it is very harsh I think," he said.
"I don't think you win these things."
Otelul coach Dorinel Munteanu was heartened by his team's
display.
"It was an important experience for my team and I think we
performed well," said Munteanu, Romania's most capped player
with 134 international appearances.
"There was not a big difference between their players and
our players. This team is going to grow, I'm convinced."these
things."