Rooney ends drought to sink Roma

MANCHESTER, England -- Wayne Rooney scored his first goal this season as Manchester United beat Roma 1-0 for a second successive victory in Champions League Group F.

The England striker fired a low first-time effort in off the post in the 70th minute after Nani flicked a through ball into the right-hand side of the penalty area.

United thrashed the Italians 7-1 at Old Trafford in last season's quarterfinals, but there was no repeat of such fireworks -- and the subsequent crowd trouble -- in this match.

Despite some freeflowing play by both sides, there were few clear-cut chances in the first hour.

Francesco Totti tested United's stand-in keeper Tomasz Kuszcak twice in the first spell, but the Poland international -- in for the injured Edwin van der Sar -- was comfortably up to the task.

At the other end, Cristiano Ronaldo fired in a wicked dipping free-kick which Gianluca Curci did well to smother, while Rooney blazed a volley over the bar following a fine run and cross by Nani.

Totti shot over the bar soon after half-time as Kuszcak rushed out to reduce the angle, and Alberto Aquilano blasted wide of the United goal soon after.

Nani saw his speculative left-wing chip bounce on the top of Curci's crossbar before Alex Ferguson brought on Carlos Tevez for Louis Saha up front in the 66th minute.

That sparked United, with Ronaldo having a cheeky backheeled effort ruled out for offside after Rooney's shot was deflected into his path.

But Rooney -- who scored against Roma in both legs last season -- finally ended his goal drought to the relief of the home fans.

Roma then battled back to create their best chances of the match, with Simone Perrotta badly scuffing his shot away from the goal and then substitute Mauro Esposito missing the target after Totti gave him a clear opportunity inside the penalty area.

Meanwhile, in Tuesday's other Group F game, Sporting Lisbon bounced back from the 1-0 defeat against United in the opening match to win 2-1 away to Dynamo Kiev.

Tonel put the Portuguese side ahead in the 14th minute when keeper Olexandr Shovkovskiy ricocheted Yannick Djalo's inswinging cross off the defender and into the Kiev net.

The Ukrainians leveled through Vladyslav Vaschuk in the 28th minute when the defender put the ball through the legs of Anderson Polga after a backheel by Goran Gavrancic.

However, Polga scored the winner in the 38th minute as he fired the ball through a packed penalty area after Shovkovskiy could not properly clear Ronny's left-wing cross. E-mail to a friend