By Simon Baskett
VILLARREAL, Spain, Sept 14 - Manchester United
earned a 0-0 draw at Champions League newcomers Villarreal in
their opening match in Group D on Wednesday despite having Wayne
Rooney sent off 26 minutes from time.
The England striker was given his marching orders when he
received two quick-fire bookings from Danish referee Kim Milton
Nielsen, first for a foul on Villarreal defender Quique Alvarez
and then for sarcastically applauding the decision in the
official's face.
United, who have now won only one of their 16 games away to
Spanish opposition, had marginally the better chances of what
was a closely-contested tactical battle at the Madrigal.
United were forced to resist heavy pressure following the
Rooney dismissal, but without injured playmaker Juan Roman
Riquelme Villarreal were unable to prise open the visitors'
defence.
Neither side took risks in the first half as they sized each
other up in midfield and left little space at the back.
Villarreal, who tried to settle into their usual patient
build-up play, managed to threaten with some neat combination
play from former United striker Diego Forlan and midfielder Juan
Pablo Sorin, but were unable to press keeper Edwin van der Sar
into action.
SCORING CHANCE
It was United who manufactured the first scoring chance when
Ronaldo sent a low glancing header towards the far post after a
Paul Scholes's corner in the 18th minute but keeper Sebastian
Viera made a great full-stretch save to turn the ball away for a
corner.
The game developed into a tactical battle in midfield, but
it briefly sparked into life seven minutes before the break when
Villarreal prised open the United defence as Sorin flicked a
neat backheeled pass into the path of Rodolfo Arruabarrena.
The defender's powerful shot was blocked by Van der Sar and
four minutes later it was United who looked to have finally
broken the deadlock.
Viera fumbled a Ronaldo free kick and Ruud van Nistelrooy
appeared to have bundled the ball into the net only to see
centre-back Gonzalo Rodriguez hook the ball acrobatically off
the line while the Dutchman was about to celebrate the goal.
Villarreal striker Forlan almost grabbed a goal against his
former side when he beat the offside trap early in the second
half, but his shot faded past the far post, while opposite
number van Nistelrooy had a close-range shot blocked by Viera a
minute later.
The best effort came from Wayne Rooney who shaved the post
with a powerful drive in the 54th minute, but the England
striker blotted his copy book once more when he left his side
with 10 men after he was sent off by Nielsen with nearly half an
hour still to play.
Villarreal piled forward as they tried to cash in on their
numerical advantage, but although midfielder Marcos Senna hit
the bar with a late dipping free kick they were unable to prise
open the United defence.