Club World Cup Final
Yokohama International Stadium, Japan, 10.30am K.O. GMT, Sunday 21st December 2008.
Attendance: 62,619

Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM

Champions of England, Champions of Europe & now the world (but with much less hype), Tell the Scousers & the Cockneys of course & Leeds that Manchester United are officially Champions of the World.  Wayne Rooney scored the deciding & only goal of the match when the Reds were down to 10 men & the goal was enough to beat Ecuador & South America's finest making United the first English team to be crowed Club World Champions.

SAF fielded a changed team with Ronaldo & JSP in the wide areas & Carrick & Anderson in the centre of midfield, Rafael claimed the fullback slot & Wayne Rooney brilliantly team up with Carlos Tevez, who was looking clever & sharp in his display before the Argentine was subbed tactically.

After seemingly targeting Ronaldo for rough treatment early, Quinto's Bieler was booked inside of three minutes after the Portuguese star had picked himself up for the second time after clattering Ronaldo with a body check.

United saw themselves fortunate not to be 1-0 down as Quinto fashioned a clever set piece after impressive playmaker Manso slipped a ball into the United penalty area which after passing a team mate found Campos but the defender fluffed his shot which three yards out.

Once again United controlled the game in the humid & blustery conditions of Japan as Quinto keeper Jose Cevallos saved a powerful Rooney shot set up by Michael Carrick, Rooney belted another shot minutes later which the Ecuadorian sides keeper also saved this time with his shoulder.  A chipped effort onto the roof of the net later kept the Reds knocking on the door for the opener from Rooney & Carlos Tevez almost broke the deadlock with a header.

Ji-sung Park also gave Cevallos stinging palms with an effort as did Tevez but the Copa Liberates Winners hung in until the half time whistle.

United start to the second half hit a wall in the form of a needless sending off from Nemanja Vidic who in a tangle appeared from one angle to heftily smash Claudio Bieler in the face with an elbow, replays showed the Serbanator had indeed struck the Quinto player but his reaction of twelve South American style roll around was a little over the top to say the least.  However in the cold light of day Vidic id fully expected to miss at the least the first leg of United's KO Stage Champions League game against Inter Milan in February.

An unwanted change of personnel ensued as Carlos Tevez was sacrificed for Jonny Evans & the obvious lack disadvantage of ten men saw United stretched for a short time as the game settled again.

Down to ten men but still threatening the Quinto goal Edwin van der Sar did save a rare shot by Manso.

With less than twenty minutes left & the United looking like the only side who could manage a goal Michael Carrick threaded the ball to Ronaldo on the left of the penalty area, with quick feet he teed up the waiting Rooney who curled a shot into the far post with accuracy for the winner.

After the goal Quito replied with a tactical switch of Calle off for Paul Ambrosi to give the South Americans width & SAF used his subs as Rafael & Anderson were replaced by Neville & Fletcher.

Another shot from danger man Manso but equal to the cause & showing excellent form at a great time of the season, EVDS produced another save as United rode out the final few minutes of time after looking a safe and secure bet for the clean sheet in United's contributing giving United the title of World Champions.

And with another slip up by Liverpool against Arsenal..........LETS GET BACK TO BUSINESS against Stoke City.

What's your opinion on the Match?.....HAVE YOU'RE SAY BELOW

 MUFCINFO's MAN OF THE MATCH