Bayern see off United in shootout

30 July 2009 22:09
BERLIN (AFP) - Manchester United missed a handful of decent opportunities before losing out to Bayern Munich 7-6 in a penalty shootout in the final of the Audi Cup on Thursday.[LNB]Bayern, playing in front of a 70,000 crowd at their Allianz Arena home, delivered the first piece of silverware for new coach Louis Van Gaal a week ahead of the start of the new Bundesliga season.[LNB]But Sir Alex Ferguson's English champions were left to rue a succession of decent opportunities with Dimitar Berbatov hitting the woodwork while Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney also came close.[LNB]Bayern had the first opening with Mario Gomez seeing a 12-metre drive crash of the crossbar with keeper Edwin van der Sar well-beaten[LNB]Three minutes before half-time, Berbatov slipped by the Bayern defenders only to see his shot come back off the post with goalkeeper Michael Rensing struggling to make up his ground.[LNB]Owen saw Rensing save a shot in the 62nd minute while Rooney also went close late on.[LNB]In the shootout, Rensing saved spot-kicks from Patrice Evra and Jonny Evans in the shoot-out before Daniel van Buyten stroked in the winner.[LNB]"We played some very good football in the first half," said Van Gaal.[LNB]"We should have scored but Manchester United also should have found the target in the second period. It was tight right from the start so I am happy to have won."[LNB]In the play-off for third place, Argentina's Boca Juniors defeated AC Milan 4-3 in a penalty shootout after the two sides had been locked 1-1 after 90 minutes.[LNB]Thiago Silva gave the Italians the lead from close range after 27 minutes before Lucas Viatri levelled for Boca three minutes from time.[LNB]In the shootout, Brazilian star Pato saw his kick saved by Roberto Abondanzzieri after Milan's Andrea Pirlo and Boca's Federico Insua had also seen spot-kicks saved.

Source: Eurosport