All 65,000 tickets for United’s pre-season friendly against FC Seoul in July were sold within hours of going on sale on Thursday.

Public sales for the Kumho Tires Cup game at Seoul’s World Cup Stadium began on July 25 and all seats were booked inside of 10 hours.

Half went in the first hour alone to Korean fans eager to see United and national hero Ji-sung Park in action. The winger was injured when United last faced FC Seoul on the 2007 tour, the visitors winning 4-0 in front of 64,000 fans.

It demonstrates the Reds’ phenomenal pulling power across the globe and especially in Asia, where the world champions will play four games this summer.

The July 24 fixture against the K-League outfit is the third game of the trip, which also takes in Malaysia, Indonesia and China.

Yong Kim, of local promoters Mast Entertainment, said: ”I am amazed at the enthusiastic support fans are showing for United and Ji-sung Park. I believe that the match will turn out to be one of the most memorable football experiences for many football fans in Korea.”

Wayne Rooney hopes England can wrap up qualification for the 2010 World Cup as soon as possible, so that he can edge closer to international silverware.

The United striker has won three Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Club World Cup and the Carling Cup in his club career, but has only memories of frustration from his participation in Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup.

England have a 100 percent record in qualifiers to date, and can move ever closer to a berth in South Africa with victory over minnows Andorra on Wednesday evening.

“You look to play in the big tournaments and the two I’ve played in have ended in real disappointment,” he admitted, “so hopefully we can qualify and I can help this team win something in the future.

“Of course you think about it, it’s one of the biggest tournaments in the world and a win on Wednesday will be a massive step for us.”

Rooney bagged his 22nd international goal in England’s 4-0 win over Kazakhstan on Saturday, and he is delighted with his own form and that of his colleagues under coach Fabio Capello.

“I was delighted to score,” he said. “In the end it was a good result with four goals and the win. We’re doing quite well. We’re delighted to win the games and it’s always nice when you score goals as well. There are a lot of players who can score goals in the team.”
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FC Barcelona were crowned European champions for a third time  and the second time in four seasons  using a vibrant display of pass and move, capped by goals in either half from Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi, defeated Manchester United FC in Rome.

Red Devils, bidding to become the first team to successfully defend the trophy in the UEFA Champions League era, began an open contest at breakneck speed as Cristiano Ronaldo threatened three times.

After ten minutes, Eto’o put the Spanish champions ahead and they never looked back. Xavi Hernandez struck a post early in the second period and, though the clinching second goal did not arrive until the 70th minute – via, unusually, the head of Messi Josep Guardiola’s side were worthy winners.

The 38 year old becomes the sixth man to lift the European Champion Clubs’ Cup as player and coach; United are the sixth club to lose the final as holders.

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Manchester United crowned champions last week, finished the season four points clear of Liverpool, while results elsewhere last game with Hull City. The game was defeat by Manchester United 0-1. Darron Gibson fired the only goal of league at the KC Stadium with stunning strike midway through the first half. .

Same time Newcastle United losing at Aston Villa, the Hull City just managed to limp over the line to safety with 35 points. Red devils made 10 chages as Sir Alex Ferguson rested his biggest members for Champions League final on Wednesday.

Hull started brightly by winning two corners and a long ball from Michael Turner put Craig Fagan in on goal but the forward couldn’t control and Tomasz Juszczak punched. Next chance was for Red Devils, Nani had Devil’s first serious attemp from a free kick 30 yards out but Boaz Myhill was waiting at right spot. Devils stunned Hull by taking the lead in 24 minute with a fantastic kick from Gibson. The 21 years old let fly from 25yards with a powerful shot acress goal that past Myhill into the top corner.

Hull had a good chance early in the secon half when Kevin Kilbane’s cross picked out Nick Barmby but Kuszczak tripped wide. Gibson tried his luck again at last minute from distance just before the hour but this time his shot was over the bar.  During injury time were tense with Hull trailing but knowing a goal from Newcastle at Villa Park could relegate them.

 Hull City almost relegation from EPL first division but they escaped relegation by the one point.

Manchester United are once again champions of EPL, it was achieved the hard way, with a nail-biting goalless draw against Arsenal at Old Trafford.

United fought off nearest challengers Liverpool to clinch it on the penultimate weekend following a 0- 0 draw at home to Arsenal on 16^th May 2009.

 Arsenal were retaining possession with more authority than their hosts, and Sir Alex Ferguson responded by throwing Ji-sung Park into the fray, at the expense of Tevez. The Park soon had the ball in the Arsenal net, bursting through and swapping passes with C.Ronaldo before tapping in, only for the goal to be ruled offside.  Arsenal came even closer with six minutes remaining. Another fine long pass ball reaching Fabregas, and the shot took the merest of punch from Van der Sar’s fingertips before rattling against the outside of the post.          

   
United were simply running down the clock. The final whistle once again, success had been reached. It was the Red Devils’ 18^th championship overall and the achievement draws them level with Liverpool.

Second goal from Carlos Tevez almost added a second just after the half-hour with a brilliant effort that cannoned off the frame of the goal from the corner of the penalty area. But it was Tevez who provided the final goal to round off a superb move on the stroke of half-time and sent Manchester Unt. up  2-0. Darren Fletcher passe a long ball forward, which Berbatov get ball with the amazing turn around skill. The Berbatov rolled the ball across the edge of the box to Tevez, who took two touches before rifling into the net off the inside of Given’s left-hand post.

Hour later, Sir Alex withdrew Ji-sung Park and Cristiano Ronaldo, who despite scoring the Man U. opener had struggled to assert himself on the game. Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney entered, with Rooney taking Park’s place on the right and Giggs shifting onto the opposite wing to make way for Scholes in the centre.

Manchester United now need just 4 points from three games to win a third successive league title after the Reds brushed aside Mark Hughes’ men in the Manchester derby on Sunday.

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John O’Shea’s first-half goal gave Sir Alex Ferguson the result he had asked for as Manchester United beat Arsenal FC 1-0 in the opening leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.  Before the game Sir Alex said “I just want win by 1- 0 then we will be happy.”   The hosts urgent start earned its reward just after the quarter-hour. Almunia(GK from Arsenal)  had denied Tévez at close range with a superb one-handed save when the Argentinian appeared certain to convert O’Shea’s low centre. But the goalkeeper’s good work went to waste from Anderson’s perfect corner. Although overhit, Michael Carrick drove the ball back in and it bounce off United old boy Mikaël Silvestre to O’Shea who crashed a first-time effort past Almunia.

South Korean midfielder Park Ji-sung scored the opening goal to make Manchester United to a 3-1 victory over Arsenal in the European Champions League semifinal match Tuesday.  The win sends Manchester united to the final in Rome on May 27, where it will face Barcelona or Chelsea.

Park scored in the eighth minute following a slip by defender Kieran Gibbs, who tried to intercept Ronaldo’s cross, according to The Associated Press. Ronaldo made it 2-0 three minutes later with a swerving 35-yard free kick that beat goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.

The goal was Park’s first in the Champions League for Manchester United. It was also his fourth goal this season and 12th since he became a member of Manchester United.

Ronaldo scored his second goal on a 61st-minute counterattack. He backheeled the clearance to Park, who sent the ball to Wayne Rooney, who then crossed to the FIFA player of the year.

Robin van Persie converted a penalty kick for Arsenal in the 76th minute after Darren Fletcher was ejected from pulling down Cesc Fabregas in the penalty area.

Chelsea, which lost last year’s final to Manchester United on penalty kicks, hosts Barcelona Wednesday night following a 0-0 tie last week in the first leg in Spain. Manchester United is trying to become the first team to win consecutive titles since AC Milan in 1989 and 1990.
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Twelve minutes into the second period, though, the Red Devils were handed a lifeline when referee Howard Webb pointed to the penalty spot despite Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes taking the ball when challenging Michael Carrick.

And so the turnaround ensued as Cristiano Ronaldo dispatched and Wayne Rooney soon levelled with a shot at Gomes’ near post, before the former completed the comeback a minute later with a close-range diving header.

There was further salt in the wound to come for Tottenham when Rooney grabbed his second of the match before former Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov helped bundle the ball over the line to ensure United returned to the top.

Cristian Rodriguez celebrates his early goal for Porto.

C. Ronaldo lost the ball inside his own half and though Jonny Evans intercepted Lucho’s through pass, the Northern Irishman diverted the ball straight to Rodríguez, who cut inside and drove a left-footed shot across Van der Sar and into the far corner.      After Ronaldo had tested Helton with a fierce header from United’s first attack of note, the home side drew level when Rooney, anticipating well, latched on to Bruno Alves’s careless back-pass and lifted the ball coolly over the Brazilian goalkeeper. Not long after Carlos Tévez seemed to have won the game

                       United looked to have snatched victory from this absorbing quarter-final first leg when their own substitute Carlos Tévez put them 2-1 in front with six minutes remaining.         Mariano’s even later intervention means that just as they did five years ago, Porto left Old Trafford celebrating a draw. It was richly deserved too, Porto going in front through Cristián Rodríguez’s fourth-minute strike his first in the UEFA Champions League and continuing to trouble United even after Wayne Rooney’s equalizer on the quarter-hour.

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Samsung Electronics has big problem with Chelsea and Manchester United.  Samsung Electronics may strike a new shirt sponsorship with British soccer team Manchester United ― one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world.
In 2005, Samsung concluded a five-year $95 million shirt sponsorship deal with Chelsea FC. The deal is to expire in June next year.   “Manchester United has recently sent an official letter asking if it’s possible to seal a new shirt sponsorship deal,” a Samsung Electronics spokesman told The Korea Times, Sunday.

According to sources close to Samsung’s sports marketing, the Korean company has been in detailed internal talks since then to study how the possible partnership change will impact its business in Europe.

“The rumor that Manchester United has requested 60 billion won in annual support from Samsung, however, is exaggerated,” according to the spokesman.
 

Such remarks came after American Insurance Group (AIG), the logo of which currently adorns the front of the Red Devils’ jerseys, announced a few months ago that it wouldn’t extend its four-year deal with the club when it expires next year.

In the wake of the global credit crunch, AIG recently needed a $150 billion bailout from the U.S. government to avoid bankruptcy.

Manchester United receives about $19 million per season from AIG.  “The club has approached other companies as well,” the Samsung official said, referring to some Middle Eastern telephone companies.

“Olympics” and “Soccer” are the two main pivots for Samsung’s sports marketing.  Since 2005 ― the year the “Samsung Mobile” brand appeared at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge ground ― Samsung’s mobile share in Europe has steadily expanded to reach 20.1 percent last year.

It was also the top mobile vendor in the United Kingdom and France, taking up a market share of 26.8 percent and 29.6 percent, respectively, in 2008, due partly to increased brand recognition, according to Samsung officials. Samsung also added 10.3 percentage points in its European LCD TV market share between 2004 and 2008.

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