Soccer:Manchester United failed to capitalise on the ideal start given them by Antonio Valencia's early goal and produced a lacklustre performance that was given something of a gloss finish when Wayne Rooney added a second late-on, the product of a wicked deflection that a courageous Otelul Gulati didn't deserve.
The Ecuador international converted Phil Jones’ eighth-minute cross from close range but the home side huffed and puffed for long periods en route to their 2-0 win. The victory does take them to the top of Group C in the Champions League on goal difference from Benfica, who visit Old Trafford in the next round of fixtures.
Rio Ferdinand was named as skipper as Sir Alex Ferguson made seven changes to his starting line-up from last weekend’s 1-0 over Everton.
Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen were surprise inclusions but most interest surrounded Ferdinand, who took over from suspended captain Nemanja Vidic having been told yesterday that he can no longer expect a regular starting berth at United.
Having demanded a win against the Romanian minnows to enhance their chances of reaching the last 16, Ferguson had Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck on a bench that also included youngsters Ezekiel Fryers and Paul Pogba.
The players responded to their manager’s challenge by scoring with their first serious attack in the eighth minute.
United benefited from Wayne Rooney’s deeper starting position in central midfield as it was he who sprayed a long diagonal pass out to Berbatov wide on the right.
The Bulgarian played in the overlapping Phil Jones whose low cross to the near post was missed by Owen but tapped in by Antonio Valencia coming in behind him.
It was Owen’s last involvement in the game as, after Marius Pena had headed wide Liviu Antal’s cross, the injured striker (thigh) was replaced by Javier Hernandez in the 11th minute.
Sergiu Costin’s blatant body-check on Berbatov on the halfway line earned the visiting captain a yellow card but Cristian Sarghi’s sliding challenge from behind which took the ball and Hernandez went unpunished.
Adrian Salageneau’s 50-yard free-kick registered an Otelul shot on target but David de Gea caught it comfortably under no pressure. Fabio’s driving run from 15 yards inside his own half briefly threatened but Sarghi’s sliding tackle rebounded the ball off the United defender and out for a goal-kick.
The Otelul centre-back produced another timely intervention when Jones cut inside onto his left foot, heading behind a shot which looked destined for the far corner of Branko Grahovac’s goal.
Jonny Evans was booked for sliding through the back of Pena and the visitors began to sense they could get a small foothold in the game, although they would have to do better than Ionut Neagu’s long-range shot which hardly troubled De Gea.
United remained the greater threat and only Costin’s sliding tackle in the penalty area prevented Hernandez getting a clear shot on goal. But, as has been the case this season, the home side were still giving their opponents half chances and when Ferdinand allowed Neagu to get a sight on goal, De Gea had to palm the shot away.
Rooney’s late strike could camouflage what amounted to a poor performance from the home side.
Man Utd:De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Fabio; Valencia, Rooney, Anderson, Nani; Owen, Berbatov. Subs: Lindegaard, Fryers, Evra, Pogba, Park, Hernandez, Welbeck.
Otelul Galati:Grahovac, Rapa, Antal, Ilie, Sarghi, Costin, Salageanu, Filip, Neagu, Giurgiu, Pena. Subs: Branet, Skubic, Benga, Paraschiv, Frunza, Iorga, Punosevac.
Referee:Marijo Strahonja (Croatia)
