Goal drought over for Rooney

London - Wayne Rooney has scored twice as
Manchester United beat Sunderland 2-0 on Saturday
in a game notable for referee Roger East's error in
sending off the wrong visiting player.
Sunderland kept the hosts at bay until the 64th
minute, when East correctly adjudged that Radamel
Falcao had been brought down in the area by former
United defender John O'Shea.
But the referee inexplicably decided that fellow
centre-back Wes Brown had made the telling foul
and showed him a straight red card before Rooney
clinically converted the penalty low into the bottom-
left corner.
Also Read: De Gea happy under van Gaal
The England forward's second goal came six
minutes from time when a shot by substitute Adnan
Januzaj was parried by Costel Pantilimon and
Rooney stooped to head in, unopposed, from six
yards.
Victory sent United up to third place in the Premier
League table, two points above Arsenal, having
played a game more.
Rooney's goals, his 10th and 11th of the season,
were particularly welcome given another sub-par
performance by Louis van Gaal's side, and
particularly record signing Angel di Maria.
The first half was one of frustration for United and
their supporters, seeking to bounce back after defeat
at Swansea City last weekend, with the hosts perhaps
able to count themselves lucky not to have fallen
behind.
Just six minutes had gone when Di Maria was
dispossessed by Patrick van Aanholt, whose pass
allowed Connor Wickham to advance from just
inside the United half.
He reached the edge of the area before shooting and
his low shot was well saved by United goalkeeper
David de Gea.
Moments later, Rooney was caught in possession by
Lee Cattermole, leading to an 18-yard Jermain Defoe
shot that flew just over.
In similar fashion, Falcao lost the ball to Brown to
set another Sunderland counter-attack in motion,
this time ending in a Defoe shot that De Gea saved
comfortably.
It was an uninspiring start from United, although
Rooney threatened early, heading wide from eight
yards at a Di Maria corner, and O'Shea might have
been punished after tangling in the area with Falcao.
By the mid-point of the first half, a badly aimed
Ashley Young corner ended with United passing the
ball all the way back to their own goalkeeper,
causing consternation and jeers among their
supporters.
Also Read:United after ex-Blues midfielder?
But United began to threaten, with Young controlling
an Antonio Valencia cross on his chest and turning a
powerful shot towards goal that was deflected onto
the crossbar by O'Shea.
Rooney also had a free-kick punched over by
Pantilimon and Marcos Rojo saw a scrambled
attempt blocked near the line by Sebastian Larsson.
Di Maria had endured a miserable first half and it
was no surprise that Van Gaal opted to replace him
at the interval, with young winger Januzaj thrown on
in an attempt to enliven proceedings.
Soon after the restart, Chris Smalling's driven cross
was headed back by Falcao for Rojo, whose shot
flashed just over and Januzaj was on hand, after
Anthony Reveillere headed clear, to drive an effort
high.
The penalty and red card drama naturally reduced
Sunderland's ambition and hopes of taking anything
home with them from their visit to Old Trafford.
Januzaj, in particular, seemed eager to take
advantage of their fatigue and after twice forcing
Pantilimon into action, he let fly with the shot that
yielded Rooney's second goal.

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