Cristiano Ronaldo scores in United victory Wednesday August 10, 2005
Dynamic Trio celebrates
Manchester United put a summer of turmoil behind them today to coast to a comfortable 3-0 Champions League soccer qualifying victory over Hungarian champions Debreceni at Old Trafford.
United have endured a stormy off-season as Malcolm Glazer's controversial takeover and a bust-up between manager Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane hogged the headlines.
But it took just seven minutes for Wayne Rooney to lift the gloom with a clinical finish, and second-half goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo gave United a handy first leg lead.
The second leg will be played in Hungary on August 24th.
Debreceni had beaten Hajduk Split 8-0 in the previous round of qualifying and had been expected to give United, yet to play a competitive game, a solid test.
But they were a goal down before getting into their stride.
Rooney saw an attempted pass to Van Nistelrooy bounce back to him off a defender before firing a low shot into the goalkeeper's bottom right-hand corner for the opener.
A sweeping move by United, including good work from Van Nistelrooy, allowed Ronaldo to force a smart save from goalkeeper Norbert Csernyanszki as United took control.
Rooney and Ronaldo both fired wide of the target as United dominated the play in the opening half without moving out of first gear.
United started the second half as they had the first, with an early goal.
Rooney, fed by Darren Fletcher, weighted his deep pass perfectly to give Van Nistelrooy time in front of goal, and from 16m the Dutchman stroked the ball home for a 49th-minute strike.
Van Nistelrooy then found Rooney darting into the penalty area with an intelligent 63rd-minute pass, and his astute cut back was rolled home by Ronaldo from close range.
Tamas Sandor clipped a free-kick over the wall, but aimed too near to Edwin van der Sar as he wasted the visitors' best chance.
United manager Alex Ferguson introduced Korean signing Park Ji-sung for his debut in the second half and he was unlucky not to win a penalty.
In other games of note Everton lost to Spain's Villarreal 2-1 while Rangers beat Anorthosis Famagusta, of Cyprus, 2-1.
