MANCHESTER, England - A double from England striker Wayne Rooney inspired Premiership leaders Manchester United to an exciting 4-3 win over a star studded Europe XI side here at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Europe XI's Mario Materazzi (R) and Gennaro Gattuso (L) challenge Manchester United Wayne Rooney for the ball during a celebration soccer match to mark the 50th anniversary of Manchester United appearing in European competition, at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England March 13, 2007. [Reuters]

A near capacity crowd looked on as both sides contributed to the entertaining clash which will have done a power of good for the funds which will go to the official Manchester United Foundation, funding community projects locally and further afield, also marks 50 years of the club's involvement in European football competitions.

A highly-entertaining first-half had seen a pretty much full strength Manchester United first team take command.

Rooney struck the first soon after the start - set up by Paul Scholes - and also rounded off the scoring in the first-half when he tapped in.

In between Wes Brown had also notched one up for United, only for France international Florent Malouda to get one back for Marcello Lippi's side but the 2-1 deficit was soon extended when the Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo scored with a superb freekick which left the opponents' goalkeeper Santiago Cnaizares rooted to the spot.

The second-half showed a number of changes to both sides but it was Lippi's side that got on the scoresheet first as Senegalese international striker El Hadji Diouf headed home - his first goal in 12 matches - after a sweet move of seven passes.

The changes included the bizarre but nostalgic sight of former United favourite Andy Cole - now at Portsmouth - wearing the red shirt again while a brief but more recent darling of the 'Red Devils' Henrik Larsson played 63 minutes for the Europe XI before being replaced and exiting to tumultuous applause by Robbie Fowler.

Somewhat ungraciously the Liverpool and former England legend was greeted with a crescendo of boos by the Old Trafford crowd.

More warmly received was the swap of Smith going off to be replaced by the first Chinese player ever to play for the senior team Dong Fangzhou.

The 22-year-old striker got his first chance with United after having been signed three years ago from Dalian Shide but having spent most of that on loan with Belgian outfit Royal Antwerp.

Indeed Dong had a glorious opportunity to make it 5-2 with less than 10 minutes remaining only for France international 'keeper Gregory Coupet - who had replaced Canizares - to make a stunning save.

Diouf then added a second with a cheekily taken penalty - it bounced twice before crossing the line - after United's Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze had handled in the area.