Man Utd in Japan
Manchester United Crowned World Champions
Manchester United have won the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup, beating LDU Quito 1-0 in front of 68,682 fans at Yokohama International Stadium.
Wayne Rooney scored the only goal of the game in the 73rd minute and he was later awarded the Golden Ball award for being named the Player Of The Tournament.
United deserved their win having turned in a dominant performance against the Ecuadorian underdogs, although the reigning European champions were forced to work hard after defender Nemanja Vidic saw red for an elbow to the face of LDU striker Claudio Bieler just four minutes into the second half.
Before that United had enjoyed the best of the action, with the outstanding Wayne Rooney forcing LDU's veteran keeper Jose Francisco Cevallos into an early save with a stinging volley.
Rooney missed an even better chance just before the break when clean through on goal, as his lob-on-the-run landed on top of the net rather than in it.
It wasn't until after United had been reduced to ten men that LDU began to pose a threat, with tricky midfielder Alejandro Manjos driving his team forward.
He saw one long-range effort pushed away by Edwin van der Sar in the 65th minute, with the Dutch goalkeeper proving that he has lost none of his dexterity despite his advancing years.
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A frustrated Alejandro Manjos was then denied again from long-range, as Edwin van der Sar somehow managed to push his right-foot thunderbolt over the crossbar.
With that Manchester United saw victory within their grasp, as the English giants capped a memorable year by adding the world crown to the English and European titles they won last season.
United's victory was a triumph for coach Sir Alex Ferguson, who brushed aside suggestions from a dismissive British media as he added a world title to his impressive swag of trophies - which also includes the Intercontinental Cup won by United in Tokyo back in 1999.
Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com