Manchester United maintained their 100 per cent Champions League record thanks to Wayne Rooney's winner against Roma.
Striker opens account as Red Devils roll on
Manchester United maintained their 100 per cent start to the UEFA Champions League thanks to Wayne Rooney's winner against Roma.
The England international's season has been severely disrupted, but he opened his account in the 70th minute as United edged past the Serie A high-flyers.
Sir Alex Ferguson's crushed Roma 7-1 in their last meeting at Old Trafford, however, there was no repeat this time, although the result was equally as important.
Roma played the better football at times in the first half although Francesco Totti's free-kicks failed to get the better of Tomasz Kuszczak.
Just when it looked like a draw could be on the cards Rooney latched onto Nani's through-ball and lashed a first-time effort past Gianluca Curci in off the post.
Scares
They had to survive two late scares though as Simone Perrotta and Mauro Esposito both missed gilt-edged chances.
Roma, with their skipper Totti to the fore, as well as fleet-footed Brazilian winger Mancini were actually the better side early on.
On his European debut, Kuszczak made low saves to deny both men, although on the second occasion an incorrect offside flag had been raised against Mancini, who had been set free by Cicinho's superb pass behind John O'Shea.
Having left both Carlos Tevez and Ryan Giggs on the bench, big performances were expected of their replacements Louis Saha and Nani.
Saha was effective, stretching the Roma defence with his direct style but it was Nani who impressed more.
The Portugal winger produced three excellent crosses which should have brought United at least one goal.
Ronaldo nodded the first over and Roma keeper Gianluca Curci unconvincingly pawed the second away from O'Shea, a replacement for the injured Wes Brown.
Nani's third effort was the best, a far post ball which dropped perfectly for an unmarked Rooney.
It was the type of opportunity Rooney is perfectly capable of smashing into the top corner. This time he merely volleyed it over.
Anguish
Nani's eye-catching evening continued with a cross that spun off the top of Roma's crossbar, although when he stepped inside Cicinho just after the hour mark, then curled the ball beyond four expectant team-mates, he could only scream at the sky in anguish.
Mancini was doing the same not long afterwards when he was barged over in the box by Michael Carrick, only for Spanish referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez to wave away the penalty protests.
It proved to be a pivotal decision as Rooney was about to strike.
Fittingly, Nani provided the assist with a disguised through ball which made the most of excellent approach work from Ronaldo and Carrick.
The finish was a gem, Rooney's shot bouncing off the inside of Curci's right-hand post, the striker having unleashed a first-time shot just out of the Roma keeper's reach.
It proved enough to win, and finally bring a smile to Rooney's face, although he would not have been laughing much had Perrotta and Esposito not been so wasteful at the end.
| Manchester United |
Team Statistics |
Roma |
|
| 1 |
Goals |
0 |
|
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
|
| 3 |
Shots on Target |
4 |
|
| 7 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
|
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
5 |
|
| 6 |
Corners |
2 |
|
| 16 |
Fouls |
12 |
|
| 3 |
Offsides |
3 |
|
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
|
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
|
| 80.3 |
Passing Success |
77.8 |
|
| 11 |
Tackles |
18 |
|
| 63.6 |
Tackles Success |
66.7 |
|
| 53 |
Possession |
47 |
|
| 55.8 |
Territorial Advantage |
44.2 |
|
|
