SUNDERLAND found defending Premiership champions - even without England skipper David Beckham - far too strong as they crashed to a 3-1 defeat in front of a record 48,305 crowd at the Stadium of Light.
Beckham, in Scandinavia with his wife, was only one of seven changes made by Sir Alex Ferguson to the team which beat Olypiakos 2-0 in Athens three days previously, but United still looked a class apart from their hard-fighting opponents.
Manchester United deservedly went in front after 35 minutes when a right wing centre from their most dangterous player, Luke Chadwick, was sent flying into the top corner of the net off the head of Sunderland central defender Stanislave Varga.
Ryan Giggs, after a quiet first half, put United further ahead in the 59th minute and England striker AAndy Cole, who had earlier hit the post, got the third in the 66th minute after a great pass from Chadwick.
Sunderland never stopped trying and their efforts were rewarded in the 83rd minute when England striker Kevin Phillips outpaced Wes brown to slot home his sixth goal of the season.
Read more about Sunderland here.
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