Manchester United Legends 2 Barcelona Legends 2 (5-3 on agg): Ruud van Nistelrooy scores from the spot but Spaniards fight back from two goals down to earn share of the spoils at Old Trafford
But it was United who triumphed 5-3 on aggregate in the special legends game that raises money for charities
MANCHESTER UNITED triumphed 5-3 on aggregate against Barcelona after a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford today in a Legends game.
The Red Devils were 2-0 up at half-time, but the Catalans fought back valiantly in the second period to earn a share of the spoils.
A minute’s silence took place before kick off and both teams wore black armbands to commemorate the recent terror attacks in both cities.
And one ex-Man United striker was taking his first step into management. Andrew Cole was the boss of the Red Devils outfit for today's charity clash.
Crowd favourite Ruud van Nistelrooy scored the opener from the spot, but it was Karel Poborsky who rolled back the years to win the penalty.
The Czech Republic man burst into the area only to be brought down, and then van Nistelrooy did the rest.
United were the better side in the first half, with van Nistelrooy, Ji-sung Park and Poborsky all impressing.
But Patrick Kluivert showed he still had skills in the locker when he came close to beating Edwin van der Sar from the half-way line with a cracking effort for the Spaniards.
And with 37 minutes on the clock, it was 2-0.
Substitute Danny Webber, who had only been on the pitch for four minutes, danced his way into the box and superbly chipped the Barca keeper.
That took the aggregate score to 6-1 with Barca facing mission impossible to get back into it.
In the second half the Catalans improved remarkably, with Edgar Davids pulling the strings in midfield, but United's defence, marshalled by Ronny Johnsen, held firm.
And they got back into the second leg at least when former Liverpool winger Luis Garcia netted after Simao's strike crashed back off the post.
And things were all square just minutes later when Gaizka Mendieta practically rolled the ball home after some bizarre goalkeeping from ex-Red Devil Raimond Van der Gouw.
In the first leg, Barca hero Ronaldinho stole the show but only after Dwight Yorke rolled back the years with a screamer.
The former Red Devils striker, 45, drove one in from 25 yards as United ran out 3-1 winners at the Nou Camp.
And it was further goals from Jesper Blomqvist and Karel Poborsky against a sole Frederic Behu strike for the hosts that sealed the win in the charity match.
Manchester United squad: Edwin van der Sar, Raimond van der Gouw, Russell Beardsmore, Jesper Blomqvist, Wes Brown, Andy Cole (manager), Bojan Djordjic, Dion Dublin, Denis Irwin, Ronny Johnsen, Ji-sung Park, Karel Poborsky, Louis Saha, Mikael Silvestre, Ben Thornley, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Danny Webber, Dwight Yorke.
Barcelona squad: Eric Abidal, Frederik Dehu, Luis Garcia, Xavi Guzman, Jesus Angoy, Gaizka Mendieta, Andoni Goicoetxea, Patrick Kluivert, Juan Carlos Moreno, Aloisio Pires, Juan Carlos Rodriguez, Simao Sabrosa, F.X. Sanchez Jara, Sergi Barjuan, Juliano Belletti, Jofre Mateu, Jose Edmilson, Edgar Davids.