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ABERDEEN, Scotland : Wayne Rooney kicked off Manchester United's Premier League preparations by inspiring the newly crowned European champions to a 2-0 victory against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday.
Rooney won a first-half penalty, then netted a second-half header as United cruised to the win in their first game since winning the Champions League two months ago.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, back at Aberdeen to mark the 25th anniversary of the club's 1983 European Cup-Winners' Cup triumph against Real Madrid, named nine internationals in the starting line-up against his former club.
While the injured Cristiano Ronaldo was in Portugal recovering from a recent ankle injury, Rooney, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes all found themselves on duty at Pittodrie.
England striker Rooney could have claimed a hat-trick inside the opening ten minutes but for some wayward finishing.
On three occasions, Rooney found himself with only goalkeeper Jamie Langfield to beat, but the Aberdeen man denied him each time.
But Langfield was at fault on the stroke of half-time when his rash challenge on Rooney led to referee Calum Murray awarding a penalty.
It was harsh on the Scottish Premier League team, who had caused United problems in the early stages, but Carrick - a penalty shoot-out scorer against Chelsea in the Champions League final two months ago - calmly sent Langfield the wrong way to give United the lead.
United's class began to come to the fore in the second-half and youngster Chris Eagles should have scored shortly after the interval with a far post volley that was wastefully directed over the crossbar.
But another United goal appeared inevitable and, after substitute keeper Bertrand Bossu had brilliantly kept out a Giggs header, Rooney was finally rewarded for his efforts on 68 minutes.
With Ronaldo set to be sidelined for up to three months, Rooney's goals could be crucial and he made up for his earlier misses with a crisp header from Darren Fletcher's cross that was too accurate for the helpless Bossu.
- AFP /ls
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