ALEX FERGUSON was again absent on ‘club business’ as he tries to thrash out a deal for Arsenal skipper Robin van Persie.
Fergie is desperate for a breakthrough with the Gunners as he aims to get £20million RvP to Old Trafford before his team’s big kick-off next Monday.
And he missed his current crop of strikers finally find their shooting boots with Wayne Rooney’s double inspiring a brilliant second half comeback. Rooney said: “Some of our play was great and there was some great link-up play.
"We’ve been lacking goals in pre-season so it’s great to get them with the season coming up.
“It’s been a stop-start pre-season with the international players coming back a bit later but we’re looking fresher and fitter every game.
“Hopefully next Monday against Everton we’ll be ready and we’ll need to be as it will be a difficult game.”
United had begun brightly but fell behind on 25 minutes as Anders Lindegaard failed to hold a long range effort from Jan Schlaudraff and Artur Sobiech tapped in from close range.
The lead lasted just five minutes as United levelled as Nani pulled back for Wayne Rooney whose shot was parried but Javier Hernandez tapped in the rebound.
With just three goals in five pre-season games before this it was a relief for the Red Devils to find the net again and it was a deserved equaliser.
But United were behind again soon after the break as Konstantin Rausch crossed for sub Karim Haggui headed past replacement keeper David de Gea.
United looked to be beaten as Norwegian Mohammed Abdellouae extended the lead midway through the second half with a cheeky back heel.
But Rooney pulled one back two minutes later with a stunning 25-yard free-kick after Nani had been fouled.
And 10 minutes from time the England ace levelled it up as he converted the spot-kick after being pulled down by keeper Ron-Robert Zieler.
There was still time for Rooney to create the winner as he cushioned a header for new boy Shinji Kagawa to fire the winner from a tight angle.
Wherever Ferguson was watching this seven-goal thriller, he would have had a smile on his face as his team lifted the Chevrolet Cup.
United No2 Mike Phelan said: “It’s important to start scoring goals. You can’t go into a season and be struggling finding the net.
“We look a team who can score goals but we also look like we can concede as well and that’s not so good.
“We now have to get focused on the Premier League and that’s a big challenge.”
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