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Record-setting Rooney keys United triumph

Comment: 0 October 19th, 2011 by: admin

WHEN Wayne Rooney is in his element, Manchester United are hard to overcome.

The ace striker etched his name in history books after converting two penalty shots to lift the Red Devils to a hard-earned 2-0 win over Romania’s Otelul Galati in the Champions League on Wednesday

Sir Alex Ferguson lauded the feat of Rooney whose performance moved him to the status of highest-scoring Englishman in the history of the tournament.

The two second-half penalties upped his goal production to 26 in Europe’s prestigious competition, surpassing the 24 of Paul Scholes. The other top English scorers are Frank Lampard (20) and Steven Gerrard (19).

“We played Rooney further upfield in the second half and that made the difference,’’ said Ferguson.”I don’t think we were lucky at all, we were the better team.’’

Ferguson added Rooney, along with Nani and Anderson all played big in the second half that changed the complexion of the fixture held at the Arena Nationala in Bucharest.

United played over 20 minutes with 10 men after comebacking captain Nemanja Vidic was sent off following a dangerous tackle on Gabriel Giurgiu in the 66^th minute.

It was the Red Devils’ first triumph in Group C after sweating through a couple of draws, pushing them to second spot behind Benfica after three matches.

In other encounters, Real Madrid swamped Lyon 4-0, in Group D while Manchester City leaned on Sergio Aguero to turn back Villarreal 2-1.

The Los Blancos kept their 100 percent mark this season as Karim Benzema, Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil and Sergio Ramos all found the back of the net at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Aguero’s brace in the fourth minute of stoppage time keyed hosts City’s victory, the first for the Premier League leaders, in Group A. Bayern Munich were held to a 1-1 tie at Napoli and dropped their first point in the group.

Visiting Inter Milan tamed Lille 1-0 and vaulted to Group B lead, while CSKA Moscow trounced Trabzonspor 3-0.

A Sergio Costin handball sent Rooney to the penalty spot in the 64^th minute and the controversial forward struck again in stoppage time when he was fouled by Liviu Antal.

Despite labouring for the victory, Ferguson said he was still pleased with the outcome. “I think these away games you have to work, they are not easy.’’

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