Rooney seals United win

Capello was able to cast his eye over a combined tally of nine players in the two starting line-ups who were eligible for England selection. But it was Portuguese star Ronaldo who broke the deadlock with nine minutes left before substitute Rooney wrapped up the game in the dying seconds.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side just about deserved their victory with Ryan Giggs and Rooney both squandering gilt-edged chances to settle the tie before Ronaldo struck.

Villa would have been disappointed with their lack of a cutting edge and United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar did not make a meaningful save in the entire 90 minutes.

There had been much pre-match hype about Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor being a contender for Capello's first England squad but he he failed to sparkle.

Anderson was quick to spot a gap down the middle and made a powerful 50-yard run which ended with Scott Carson saving his left-footed drive from the edge of the Villa box at the second attempt.

Stiliyan Petrov was only just too high with a dipping 30-yard drive in an open-ended start to the game. Agbonlahor turned sharply but Rio Ferdinand was alert to the situation and blocked his shot.

Giggs missed a golden chance to put United ahead a minute before the interval after a mistake by Carson but, with the goal at his mercy, the Welshman pushed his shot wide.

Villa began the second half brightly and Carew flicked on a Young centre which Van der Sar saved, before Petrov blocked a shot from Ronaldo and then Martin Laursen deflected a Nemanja Vidic header past his own post.

Rooney could have won it after entering the action but he shot over after exchanging passes with Ronaldo. But with nine minutes left Ronaldo scrambled over the line from a Giggs centre, before Rooney drilled a powerful shot past Carson after Ronaldo's initial effort had been blocked.