Rooney guides United to victory
Wayne Rooney joined Manchester United's exclusive 200 club, scoring twice as the Red Devils opened their Champions League campaign with an encouraging 4-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Rooney put United ahead midway through the first half with a first-time effort from Patrice Evra's cross, although Bayer Leverkusen argued with some justification that an offside Antonio Valencia had impeded keeper Bernd Leno.
Still, it did not look like being a particularly memorable night for the England forward when an inexplicable failure to either tap into an empty net or provide an opportunity for Robin van Persie to do so after he had skipped round Leno was followed within a minute by Simon Rolfes' equaliser.
However, Van Persie soon restored United's advantage before Rooney entered the history books as he seized on the loose ball after Emir Spahic had got his head to David de Gea's long punt downfield and finished with ease.
It was a landmark effort that meant Rooney emulated Sir Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and Jack Rowley in reach 200 United goals.
More importantly in the short-term, it launched David Moyes' Champions League career in the perfect style as Rooney provided a late fourth for Antonio Valencia.
Source : http://www.football.co.uk/manchester_united/rooney_guides_united_to_victory_rss4410609.shtml