• Pre-season

Rooney inspires United to second tour win

ESPN staff
July 27, 2014
Van Gaal: Heat, altitude affected us

Wayne Rooney continued his impressive start to life under Louis van Gaal as he scored twice and set up Juan Mata's goal in Manchester United's 3-2 victory over Roma on Saturday in Denver.

United, who kicked off their pre-season tour of America by thrashing the LA Galaxy 7-0 on Wednesday, made it two wins out of two under Van Gaal in the searing heat at Sports Authority Field with Tom Cleverley a surprise pick to wear the captain's armband.

Wayne Rooney scores the first of his two goals in Denver © Getty Images
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Rooney had confirmed on the eve of the match that he wants the permanent captaincy this season and did his bid no harm by taking his tour tally to four goals as a late first-half charge saw United build a 3-0 lead by the break.

Miralem Pjanic's wonder goal and a late Francesco Totti penalty left United sweating but they clung on to seal the win.

The energy-sapping conditions saw both sides struggle to find their rhythm in the early going, but Rooney then brought the game to life in spectacular style with nine minutes left in the first half.

Picking up the ball from Mata, Rooney turned and dropped his shoulder before curling into the top-left corner from 25 yards

Mata then doubled United's lead three minutes later with an exquisite lob, having raced onto Rooney's even more impressive long-range pass.

Rooney then stepped up to dispatch his second penalty of United's tour after Danny Welbeck was brought down by Urby Emanuelson - although the foul appeared to have taken place just outside the box.

As promised, Van Gaal made nine changes at half-time with Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic pulling one back in spectacular fashion from his own half in the 75th minute. Pjanic, spotting Ben Amos off his line, launched a 60-yard effort that dropped into the net as the United goalkeeper frantically scrambled back in vain.

Francesco Totti then ensured a nervy finish, scoring from the spot with two minutes to go after Michael Keane handled in the box.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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