Manchester Utd 1 AS Roma 0:Manchester United opened up a clear lead in Group F by proving fractionally better than Roma. This was in keeping with their muted yet mostly effective showings in the Premier League. There was great distinction, though, to the goal with which Wayne Rooney opened his account for the season.

With 20 minutes remaining, Michael Carrick fed Nani and the Portuguese, in his best showing for United to date, slipped the ball through to Rooney. The task was difficult but his raking shot reached the net off the inside of the post. Roma ought to have equalised, but Simone Perrotta and the substitute Mauro Esposito were horribly wasteful. Still, it was an improvement on their last visit.

Emotions, though, did not churn as much as had been predicted at a muted Old Trafford. Rather than being conscious of the 7-1 drubbing here last April these sides looked more aware of the three points that each had banked in its first group fixture.

Roma began in the more composed fashion. United, for their part, needed 20 minutes or so to settle themselves.

Alex Ferguson's line-up was not as anticipated, with Owen Hargreaves still ruled out. Some surprises were intentional, with the United manager allowing Louis Saha to begin a game for the first time in eight months. The inclusion of an orthodox centre-forward was, presumably, meant to flummox opponents who had planned for Rooney. No one was all that flustered, or not at least until Mexes was booked for a foul on the England international just before the interval.

Rooney himself was slightly closer to agitation than most. The ball fell to him after Nani's cross cleared Cristiano Ronaldo and he was infuriated by the sloppy volley he lashed over the bar in the 33rd minute. There has been a general dullness to United of late and some, trooping off at the interval, must have marvelled that they had been 4-0 up at the same juncture in April.

The visitors had been quite assured, hinting here and there that incisiveness was not beyond them. The Roma totem Freancesco Totti had crafted one ball behind the makeshift right-back John O'Shea and Mancini surged clear from an angle, only for an incorrect offside decision to stop him after 10 minutes. It was often free-kicks that introduced some tension.

Thomas Kuszczak, filling in for the injured Edwin van der Sar, was nervous in his handling, gathering a Totti effort at the second attempt. Although there had been liveliness from Nani, far too few incidents cropped up that could have left the Roma goalkeeper Gianluca Curci as apprehensive as his opposite number.

Roma, understandably, had a hopeful air about them as the second half opened. A cut-back from the right was menacing but Totti's touch was heavy as he swept away from his marker and, turning, he then smashed the ball over from an angle. A moment like that raised the possibility that this night at Old Trafford could undo the good work done by United in the win at Sporting Lisbon.

Although a Nani cross ran along the top of the bar soon afterwards, a peculiar injury must have disturbed the visitors more. Alberto Aquilani's shot from a Ludovic Giuly pass was dangerous until it broke off Michael Carrick, but the Roma midfielder had hurt himself in making that attempt and had to be stretchered off, with David Pizarro replacing him.

United did strive to raise their tempo. Rooney, however, was having an erratic night before his breakthrough and there was none of the command expected of the team on this ground. Ronaldo did, all the same, flick the ball into the net but he was probably offside and Rio Ferdinand, standing close to him, certainly was.

United found a way to crack Roma. The side thus won in an anti-climactic fashion that is becoming familiar.

MANCHESTER UTD: Kuszczak, O'Shea, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Nani (Giggs 79), Saha (Tevez 66), Rooney (Anderson 84). Subs not used: Heaton, Pique, Simpson, Eagles.

AS ROMA: Curci, Cicinho, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto, De Rossi, Aquilani (Pizarro 61), Giuly (Esposito 79), Perrotta, Mancini (Vucinic 74), Totti. Subs not used: Bertagnoli, Antunes, Barusso, Brighi. Booked: Mexes.

Referee: Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain).