Silvestre earns United win

Mikael Silvestre's first half header was the difference in a contest that lacked passion, but entertained with some good football from both sides.

Paul Scholes, who shockingly announced his retirement from international football on Tuesday afternoon, was excused from the encounter with Guus Hiddnk's side.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, however, made his first pre-season friendly appearance against his former club and alongside Louis Saha while manager Sir Alex Ferguson also played Diego Forlan in an attacking line-up.

The Uruguayan's future with The Red Devils is up in the air, with fresh reports in Spain claiming Primera Liga new boys Levante want the South American hit-man on loan.

A low-key opening saw PSV threaten early, but Andre Ooijer had a weak shot roll past Ricardo's left-hand post.

United then had a couple of half chances, with Forlan missing Ryan Giggs's cross from the left while van Nistelrooy saw an effort saved by PSV goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

The Dutch giants threatened United's goal with a couple of quality chances before the tournament hosts took the lead mid-way through the first half, as Silvestre headed home Giggs's corner from the right, with PSV keeper Gomes nowhere to be seen in the aerial challenge.

United then went hunting for more goals before the break, with Giggs hitting a free kick set-piece over the bar before Saha forced Gomes into a fine diving save.

The second half saw Alan Smith make his Old Trafford debut and he came close to getting on the scoresheet, but for strike partner Saha to get in the way of his shot in the PSV box.

The Dutch side then threatened to level matters with two good chances, as Otman Bakkal forced a good block from Ricardo before the Brazilian Alex hit a thumping indirect free kick off the underside of United's bar.

Forlan then made a case for a place in Ferguson's starting XI this season with a fine shot that Gomes did well to stop for a corner before Alex again caused United hearts to flutter, with a rasping free kick drive that went just wide of Ricardo's goal.

PSV kept coming forward in the dying stages and Johan Vonlanthen went close to equalising with a shot across the face of United's goal from the right.

In the end, the hosts took the win to record four points in the tournament before facing Urawa Red Diamonds on Thursday after PSV play tournament leaders Boca Juniors.

In the earlier match to open the Vodafone Cup, Boca Juniors thrashed Urawa Red Diamonds 5-2.

It was Urawa, who had former Aston Villa defender Alpay in their line-up, that took an early lead from the penalty spot.

Brazilian striker Emerson slotted his spot kick home on three minutes after being brought down in the box by Boca keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri.

The Buenos Aires club, however, then turned the match on its head with two goals in four first half minutes from set-pieces provided by Diego Cagna.

The first set-piece found the head of recent signing Martin Palermo at the far post to bring Boca level before the second free kick from the other side of Urawa's box was brilliantly flicked home at the near post by Fabian Vargas to give the Argentine club a 2-1 lead at the break.

Guido Buchwald's Red Diamonds started the second half well, with Emerson setting up Koji Yamase with a chance to equalise, but Abbondanzieri did well to block his shot on the edge of the box.

Boca then sealed victory with two quick second half goals - starting with Franco Cangele's superb strike from distance that found the top left-hand corner of Urawa's goal for 3-1.

They broke forward again and Ariel Carreno cut a low ball in from the byline on the right, which Cagna smashed home for 4-1.

They made it 5-1 when Matias Silvestre headed home former Middlesbrough man Carlos Marinelli's corner from the right with nine minutes to go.

Urawa, to their credit, would score the final goal of the match when Takuya Yokohama brilliantly flicked home a free kick to make it 5-2 at the final whistle.

The win gave Boca eight points and top spot in the tournament while Urawa take only two points for the goals they scored on Tuesday.