Rooney double gives United 2-0 win in Japan
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-07-30 20:44

Wayne Rooney scored twice as Manchester United beat Japan's Urawa Reds 2-0 in the last match of their pre-season tour of the Far East on Saturday.

The England striker put United in front from close range six minutes into the second half before adding a second with a superb chip in the 64th minute in Saitama.

United were in control throughout despite the extreme humidity and richly deserved their victory over Japan's best-supported club in front of a sell-out crowd of 58,000.

New South Korean signing Park Ji-sung was left out after suffering a nasty cut above his left eye in Thursday's 2-1 defeat by Kashima Antlers.

However, United manager Alex Ferguson brought on Chinese forward Dong Fangzhou at the start of the second half for the ineffective Giuseppe Rossi.

Rooney was booked for dissent five minutes into the second half but the England teenager made a more positive impact moments later when he burst through to fire home from six metres.

Rooney's second was pure class, the 19-year-old skipping past two defenders before beating Urawa substitute goalkeeper Norihiro Yamagishi with an exquisite chip from the edge of the box.

England defender Rio Ferdinand, who faces a probe after making a V-sign to United fans during the Antlers game, was left on the bench.

Ferdinand made the gesture after being booed by United fans angry at his refusal to sign a new deal.

United beat Hong Kong's national team 2-0 and recorded a 3-0 win over China's Beijing Guo'an before arriving in Japan.

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