United down Dons at Pittodrie

Near capacity crowd watches testimonial

By Steve Pass   Last updated: 12th July 2008

United down Dons at Pittodrie

Carrick: Spot-on

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A Michael Carrick penalty and Wayne Rooney header saw Manchester United beat Aberdeen 2-0 in a testimonial game at Pittodrie.

United fielded a strong side including Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Scotland international Darren Fletcher.

But they were held until just before half-time when Carrick broke the deadlock from the spot after Rooney had been felled by Dons keeper Jamie Langfield inside the box.

Rooney then added the second when heading home Fletcher's cross in the 69th minute before he went off to a standing ovation soon afterwards.

Chances

Aberdeen had chances themselves, with midfielder Jeffrey de Visscher driving inches past United keeper Ben Amos' right-hand post in the 21st minute.

A minute later striker Darren Mackie managed to toe-poke the ball past Amos from five yards out but the effort was correctly disallowed for offside.

The game saw eight substitutions between the two sides at the interval and seven more followed in the second half.

The testimonial was held in honour of the Aberdeen side which won the European Cup Winners' Cup 25 years ago in Gothenburg when United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was manager at Pittodrie.

A near capacity 20,500 crowd turned out and Ferguson was given a rousing reception by the home fans as he made his way to the dugout.