Wayne Rooney struck two second-half penalties as Manchester United FC picked up their first win in this season's UEFA Champions League at FC Oțelul Galați. After draws in their two opening fixtures, United were eager to chalk up three points in Bucharest, though it was anything but easy for the visitors. After taking the lead in the 64th minute, Nemanja Vidić was sent off and victory was not secured until Rooney's second penalty in added time. United, showing six changes from the XI on duty against FC Basel 1893, soon settled into a smooth rhythm but they came up against a more aggressive Oțelul than the one who had allowed SL Benfica to depart with all three points here three weeks ago. The home side began to win their tackles and forced numerous mistakes from the United defence through their constant hassling. Ioan Filip spread real belief among his team's supporters with a surging run, let down only by a finish that flew just too high. It was stirring stuff which generated a positive response from United. A Rooney free-kick had Branko Grahovac scrambling down by his left-hand post. United's breakthrough came when Rooney, sent through by Nani, tried to find Javier Hernández with a square pass. The alarm bells sounded in the home defence and Sergiu Costin felt compelled to thrust out an arm to block the cross. Rooney took full advantage from the penalty spot to score his tenth club goal of the season. Two minutes later Vidić challenged Gabriel Giurgiu as they contested a ball near the halfway line and the United skipper was shown the red card. The hosts almost benefited from their numerical advantage immediately, had Liviu Antal been first to a bouncing ball, but Michael Carrick came in with a vital block. In the 90th minute Nani struck a post just after Milan Perendija had also seen red for a second bookable offence. The last word was Rooney's after he had been felled by Antal; the England striker placing his spot kick in the same right-hand corner of the net as his first penalty to secure the points.

Dorinel Munteanu, Oțelul coach: "It is a totally undeserved defeat, taking into consideration the flow of the match. We played well and had the necessary aggression, but we were playing against Manchester United. We lost three points in an unacceptable manner, as we did at Basel. I think my players did very well, but I am still I am upset and disappointed, even if it seemed before the match that we were heavy underdogs. I have congratulated my players on their display. I cannot fault them at all and today there wasn't that much difference between the sides."

Sir Alex Ferguson, Man. United manager: "They made it very difficult for us in the first half. In the second half we improved a great deal, Nani was terrific, Wayne Rooney came into the game. I'm satisfied with the result. It was a long night and we had to be patient and work our way through the game. We didn't have enough penetration in the first half. Rooney was playing more in midfield in the first half, but he was more attacking in the second. He took the penalties calmly. The first one was probably the first time we got in behind them. We won - that's the important thing. We said all along we needed to win our next two games, the double-header with Oțelul. Basel have to go to [Group C leaders] Benfica and that is not easy as we know. The important thing is we do our job at Old Trafford [on 2 November]. I've always said ten points is enough to get you through." [UEFA.com]