Champions League Group C wrap: Rooney fires United

Manchester United edged Otelul Galati 2-0 in a tight Champions League Group C encounter, while Benfica also won on Tuesday.

A brace of penalties from Wayne Rooney gave United their first win of the group stage, while captain Nemanja Vidic and the home side’s Milan Perendija were sent off in Bucharest.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s team looked off the pace in the first half but the game turned in their favour just after the hour mark.

Moments after Rooney had put a good chance wide, he earned United a clear-cut penalty.

After being put through by Nani, Rooney attempted a cross to strike partner Javier Hernandez, but defender Sergiu Costin stopped the pass with his hand.

Rooney coolly dispatched the penalty, sending goalkeeper Branko Grahovac the wrong way to put United in the lead.

But minutes later Vidic became the centre of attention, as he was harshly sent off for a high tackle on Gabriel Giurgiu.

The United captain produced an untidy rather than malicious tackle and a yellow card would have sufficed.

The numbers were even with five minutes to go as Perendija was booked for a second time after dragging down Hernandez.

Nani came close to making sure of the result two minutes later, but his 25-yard shot struck the inside of the post and bounced to safety.

But in stoppage time, Rooney made sure of the points as he earned a second penalty and brushed himself off before firing in his second goal from the spot.

Meanwhile, Benfica moved top of the group with a hard-fought 2-0 win at Basel.

Brazilian attacker Bruno Cesar gave them a 20th-minute lead at St Jakob-Park, before Paraguayan Oscar Cardozo, coming off the bench, sealed the points with a strike a quarter of an hour from the end.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men with five minutes to play when Brazilian Emerson picked up his second yellow card, but they held on for their second win of the campaign.