Rooney goal gives Manchester United club world cup crown

Dec 21, 2008, 15:03 GMT

Tokyo - A 73rd-minute goal by Wayne Rooney gave Manchester United a 1-0 victory over Ecuador's Liga de Quito to win the club world cup on Sunday.

United played nearly all of the second half with 10 men at the International Stadium in Yokohama after defender Nemanja Vidic was sent off in the 49th minute for elbowing Claudio Bieler.

Rooney broke the deadlock when he took a pass from Cristiano Ronaldo and fired a low shot past keeper Jose Cevallos and inside the far post.

United become the first English club to win the competition in its current format to add the world crown to the club's Premier League and European titles this year.

It is the second successive win for a European side against the Copa Libertadores winners after AC Milan beat Boca Juniors 4-2 last year.

Three previous editions of the competition in its present form were won by Brazilian sides: Internacional Porto Alegra (2006 in Japan), Sao Paulo (2005 in Japan) and Corinthians (2000 in Brazil).

United had previously won the tournament's forerunner in 1999 by beating Brazil's Palmeiras 1-0 when it was a straightforward match between the European and South American champions.

Earlier, Japan's Gamba Osaka defeated CONCACAF champions Pachuca of Mexico 1-0 thanks to a 29th-minute goal from Masato Yamazaki to claim third place.