Manchester United ran out 4-2 winners over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League this evening, after goals from Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Antonio Valencia.
United started well and created their first opening when Shinji Kagawa, Rooney and Michael Carrick played in triangles around the Leverkusen box. Carrick then fed Kagawa, who laid it off to Rooney on the edge of the box, but his low drive was well blocked.
United opened the scoring as Carrick played in Patrice Evra down the flank, leaving the Frenchman to lift a cross over to Rooney, who volleyed into the ground and past the Leverkusen keeper.
They could have made it 2-0 before the break when Van Persie was released by Kagawa inside the box, but his pullback for the incoming Valencia was cleared.
Rooney also had a decent chance as he curled wide from a free kick, before Kagawa's neat shot was deflected just wide of the post.
After the break Rooney had his head in his hands after rounding Bernd Leno in the Leverkusen goal and trying to force the ball into the net instead of squaring for Van Persie who was waiting to convert.
Leverkusen made them pay straight after when Simon Rolfes bent an impeccable finish into the bottom corner.
However, United hit back straight away as van Persie used his athleticism to make the most of a Valencia cross and turn the ball into the goal.
United soon added a third as a brilliant kick from David de Gea put Rooney in behind the Leverkusen defence and the striker made no mistake, placing the ball past the advancing Leno.
The pace of United's front line caused serious problems for Leverkusen and Valencia made them pay when he crashed home from inside the box to put his side 4-1 ahead, having been played in down the right channel on the counter attack.
Leverkusen gave themselves hope when Omer Toprak took advantage of poor goalkeeping to score, but it was too little too late as the game ended 4-2.
Christopher Dodd
