Hannover 3 Manchester United 4: Rooney scores twice in final warm-up

Even without the presence of Sir Alex Ferguson to urge them on, Manchester United’s players showed the never-say-die spirit that has made the club famous.
Inspired by two-goal Wayne Rooney, who has clearly shaken off his Euro 2012 blues, United fought back from 3-1 down to win a thrilling final pre-season friendly against one of the best emerging teams in the Bundesliga.

 

And all that after they were guilty of some comical misses that would have left Ferguson giving his television set the ‘hairdryer’ as he watched the game at home on MUTV.

Ferguson missed the trip to northern Germany to pursue ‘other club business’ according to sources, possibly twisting Arsene Wenger’s arm to let him have Robin van Persie for £15million.

Or perhaps the 70-year-old Scot simply felt another overseas trip in United’s marathon pre-season tour was unnecessary and he preferred to watch from home.
If that was the case, his television set would have received a frightful ear-bashing in the first half as some dazzling United buildup play was undone by Sunday park finishing.

Mexican Javier Hernandez, who missed out on his country’s Olympic gold medal, fell over four yards out when £17m Japanese summer signing Shinji Kagawa laid the ball on a plate.

Battle: Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney vies with Hannover defender Mario Eggimann

Watch out: Nani jumps out of the way of Hannover goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler

Then Michael Keane resembled a rabbit caught in headlights when he awkwardly shot wide when presented with an open goal by Hannover’s former United reserve keeper Ron-Robert Zieler.
United paid when goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard, starting ahead of last season’s first choice David de Gea, blundered after 25 minutes, fumbling a shot into the path of Artur Sobiech, who scored.
Hernandez made amends for his earlier miss by tapping in another close-range opportunity to level six minutes later but Ferguson and assistant Mike Phelan, in charge yesterday, will still want to put on extra shooting practice before their side’s Premier League kick off against Everton in nine days.

That or the Glazers will have to find an additional £15m to meet Arsenal’s asking price for Van Persie, which is unlikely given the lukewarm reception to United’s share opening in New York last week.

Firepower: Rooney scored twice in the friendly at the AWD Arena stadium in Hanover

Young gun: Michael Keane was handed a run-out in the clash in Germany

Phelan, suited and booted, introduced de Gea and Ryan Giggs at half-time, the Welshman seeing his first action for United this preseason after playing for Team GB at the Olympics.
The Spanish keeper’s first involvement ended in disaster after 49 minutes when he failed to clear his lines with a punch from a corner and Hannover swept the ball in again for substitute Karim Haggui to head home.

Hannover 96, to give them their full title, finished seventh in the Bundesliga last season and are potential Europa League opponents for Liverpool.

They showed their class with a brilliant third goal after 66 minutes when another replacement, Mohammed Abdellaoue, produced an improvised back heel to beat de Gea from eight yards.

Packing a punch: United keeper David De Gea clears the ball from danger

Heads up: Patrice Evra challenges Adrian Nikci for the ball in the warm-up clash

That would have killed off most clubs in a friendly but United are not any club, as chief executive David Gill has been keen to tell Wall Street. Rooney, who looked lighter and sharper than he did for England this summer, responded with a curling free-kick from just outside the box that reduced arrears after 69 minutes.

And the United striker then won a penalty from Zieler eight minutes from the end before dispatching the resulting penalty. Then, with a full house in near hysteria, the impressive Kagawa drove in the winner after being set up by the irrepressible Rooney.

United finished the game with a central defensive pairing of Michael Carrick and Keane. They will hope Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand will be able to start the competitive season.