United heading for final after Gamba fall to set pieces

In an amazingly open game, the English champions had already established superiority over their Japanese opponents thanks to first-half headers from Nemanja Vidic and Cristiano Ronaldo.

But Rooney's arrival led to a frenzied spell of six goals in 18 minutes, the England man netting either side of a Darren Fletcher effort.

Japanese side Gamba, winners of the Asian Champions League, were found wanting time and again at set-pieces, with Ryan Giggs teeing up both Vidic and Ronaldo to score from dead-ball situations in the first half.

There were no more goals until 18 minutes from time when Rooney was introduced. Before he had even touched the ball, Gamba pulled one back through Masato Yamazaki.

But it just proved to be the prelude to a blistering spell of United attacking, in which Fletcher nodded home a third United headed goal either side of a Rooney double.

First the England man shrugged off Sota Nakazawa to finish, then he collected Giggs's pass and slotted home for his second.

Rooney was then booked for a foul on Michihiro Yasuda before Endo slotted home a calmly-taken penalty after a handball decision had gone against Gary Neville.

There was still time for another Gamba goal from Hideo Hashimoto, although it not affect the outcome.