SPORTS> Soccer
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SPORTS> Soccer
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Rooney wins Manchester derby for United
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-01 10:12 LONDON - England striker Wayne Rooney earned Manchester United a deserved 1-0 victory at Manchester City on Sunday despite Cristiano Ronaldo getting sent off.
Rooney scored a tap-in three minutes before halftime to earn the champions revenge for two league defeats by City last season and keep them in touch with league leaders Chelsea. United had to play the last 23 minutes with 10 men after Ronaldo was shown a second yellow card when he inexplicably met a corner using his hands rather than his head and referee Howard Webb deemed it to be gamesmanship. The Portuguese winger looked bemused as he reluctantly trudged off, indicating that he thought the referee's whistle had been blown before he handled the ball. Victory was no less than United deserved as City failed to offer much in attack with 32 million pounds Brazilian striker Robinho vanishing for long periods. "We dominated the match," United manager Alex Fergsuon told Sky Sports. "We had to play the last 20 minutes with 10 men which is never easy but the players never looked in danger." Ferguson, who is soon to serve a touchline ban for abusing a referee, was guarded when asked about the Ronaldo red card. "I've seen it again and in actual fact he's tried to protect the ball from his face," Ferguson said. "He thought he heard the referee's whistle, but I'm not going to get into the referee because I could be here all day." United dominated to such an extent that it would have been an injustice if Richard Dunne had equalised for City in stoppage time - his shot cleared off the line by Patrice Evra. City barely managed a shot on goal in a woeful first-half display and Rooney and Evra both had chances before Rooney finally gave the visitors the lead. The ball pinged around the City area and when it finally came to Michael Carrick on the left of the area, he fired in a shot that City keeper Joe Hart could only parry to the lurking Rooney to stab home. City improved after the break but United coped comfortably with keeper Edwin van der Sar well protected by his defence. Rooney almost grabbed a spectacular second after Dunne's near-miss for City. With Hart up supporting City's attack, United broke out an Rooney's audacious lob was clawed away by the sprinting keeper who ran the length of the pitch to regain his ground. "We needed three points today because we are chasing," Ferguson said. "This was a significant result today." Victory takes United to 28 points from 14 matches, five behind leaders Chelsea who were at home to Arsenal later on Sunday. Liverpool, who are level on points with Chelsea, are at home to West Ham United on Monday.
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