UNITED WIN BUT IRWIN INJURED
Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole were the goal heroes on a fantastic night in Manchester but Irwin's appearance was tinged with sadness as a George Weah tackle could put the former Irish international's place for Sunday's game against Newcastle in doubt.
Sir Alex Ferguson would have been in a worse position had Phil Neville been unable to recover from a cut above his eye he received in an accidental clash with Shaun Wright-Phillips.
The game got off to a skillful start with George Weah enlivening proceedings and he almost got his side off to a perfect start as in the third minute when he danced through the heart of the United defence before laying the ball off to Terry Horlock, who saw his low shot well saved by Raimond van der Gouw.
It was in the seventh minute that an enthusiastic and high challenge by Weah left Irwin hobbling.
United finally got into the game in the 13th minute when great play down the right saw a cross headed down by Paul Scholes, the ball bobbled between Sheringham and Cole and broke free to Cole, his powerful shot was brilliantly saved by Nicky Weaver.
Quentin Fortune should have put the rebound in but blazed a right-foot shot over the bar. Irwin showed his defensive nous a minute later when a great cross from Mark Kennedy was brilliantly cleared by the left-back.
Fortune and Kennedy provided most of the bright spots in the first-half and it was the South African's dummy that led to the first goal, he stepped over the ball and Cole played a great touch inside which saw Sheringham hit a first-time effort beyond Weaver to give United the lead in the 37th minute.
Just 60 seconds later, Irwin had to come off and now seems doubtful for the Premiership opener. His replacement Phil Neville almost set up the second when he crossed for Beckham to volley an attempt that Weaver saved easily.
Wright-Phillips should have sent City into the break all square with a great piece of dribbling that beat three players but going to clip the ball over van der Gouw he did not show his father's finishing ability and the keeper saved well.
The second-half was a quiet affair although United had a justifiable claim for a penalty turned down when Nicky Butt ran onto a Sherringham through ball and Steve Howey bundled him over in the box but with the referee unsighted nothing was given.
Fortune stepped up his play in the second period and his ball into Cole gave the England striker a chance to show his class by turning and shooting in one movement which rolled into the far corner, surprising Weaver and finishing the scoring at 2-0.
