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Wayne Rooney on the Spot as Manchester United Gain Crucial UEFA Champions League Win

Stewart Flaherty, October 18 2011,
Two penalties from England striker Wayne Rooney were the difference as Manchester United gained a crucial 2-0 win at SC Otelul Galati.
Wayne Rooney celebrates guiding Manchester United to a 2-0 win at Otelul Galati.
Wayne Rooney celebrates guiding Manchester United to a 2-0 win at Otelul Galati.
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After getting their UEFA Champions League Group C campaign off to a sputtering start with two draws, United lifted themselves into second place with this victory.

United had the better of the early stages, but the first shot on goal came when Galati’s Bratislav Punosevac had his effort saved by Anders Lindegaard.

Good work by Portuguese winger Nani created United’s best chance but Michael Carrick fired high over the bar.

Galati had one more chance to break the deadlock before half-time, but Livlu Antal directed his header over the crossbar.

Rooney shot wide from United’s first chance of the second half, but then won a 64th minute penalty when his left wing cross was handled by Otelul defender Sergio Costin.

Under pressure striker Rooney was calmness personified as he sent Branko Grahovac the wrong way from the spot to give the Red Devils a 1-0 lead.

United suffered a blow two minutes after Rooney’s opener, when captain Nemanja Vidic was sent off for a reckless tackle on Gabriel Giurgiu.

Galati searched for an equalizer after the dismissal of Vidic, and went closest when Antal had a shot blocked and Costin headed over the bar.

The teams were leveled in the 89th minute when Milan Perendija was dismissed for a second bookable offense.

Antil hauled Rooney down in the area during injury time, and the striker beat Grahovac once more to seal the 2-0 win.

The win not only got United on the winning track in Champions League play so far this season, but it will have boosted the morale of Rooney during a difficult time.

Rooney’s father was arrested during a Scottish match fixing probe, but Fabio Capello described the striker as “relaxed" and selected him for England’s EURO 2012 qualifier in Montenegro.

England sealed automatic qualification with a 2-2 draw in Montenegro, but Rooney was sent off for rashly kicking out at Miodrag Dzudovic in the 73rd minute. The action earned Rooney a three-match ban, meaning he would miss the entire group stages of the EURO 2012 tournament.

Rooney’s temperament and character have been openly questioned by pundits and fans alike, and his selection for the tournament at all has been openly doubted.

This performance will have served notice to Capello of is match winning quality, and he may need to keep producing performances like this to ensure he is on the plane to Poland/Ukraine.

LINEUPS

OTE – Grahovac, Rapa, Costin, Salageanu, Perendija, Filip, Neagu (Pena 72), Giurgiu, Antal, Frunza (Ilie 83), Punosevac (orga 87).

MAN – Lindegaard, Evra, Smalling, Vidic, Fabio Da Silva (Jones 76), Anderson, Carrick, Nani, Valencia (Evans 71), Rooney, Hernandez.

SCORING SUMMARY

MAN – Wayne Rooney (penalty kick) 64’
MAN – Wayne Rooney (penalty kick) 90+2’

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