Opus at Jubilee celebration

The United Opus took centre stage before the Jubilee Charity Match between Manchester United and Marcello Lippi’s select Europe XI. The game, a joint celebration of 50 years of United in European competition and the Treaty Of Rome, pitted the Reds against a selection of some of the continent’s finest players and a 74,000-plus crowd witnessed a pre-match presentation of the monumental Opus. Club legend Sir Bobby Charlton and chief executive David Gill proudly gifted a copy each to UEFA president Michel Platini and EU Commision President Jose Manuel Borrosso who accepted the Opus on behalf of their respective organisations.

The game, sponsored by Opus, raised over £1 million for the Manchester United Foundation and was played in a carnival atmosphere. Treble-winning star Ole Gunnar Solskjaer set the tone when he marched out holding the European Cup to rapturous applause prior to kick-off. Prodigal Red David Beckham received a similarly excited reception when he took the microphone to address his former club’s fans at half-time.

United ran out 4-3 winners, with two goals from Wayne Rooney and one each for Wes Brown and Cristiano Ronaldo. The undoubted man of the match was Portuguese genius Ronaldo who delighted the crowd by showing off the full range of his trickery, including a heat-seeking missile of a free-kick to get on the scoresheet. Bolton’s El Hadji Diouf (two) and Lyon’s Florent Malouda notched Europe XI’s goals in reply.

Fans inside Old Trafford and watching television also responded to an amazing text competition flashed up on the LCD display boards around the pitch to win a United Opus Limited Edition. If you haven’t entered yet, text OPUS to 84010 now.

UK: Entry costs £1.50 + standard network charges.
Eire: Entry costs €2.00 + standard network charges.
Winners picked at random from all correct entries. Closing date midnight 25th March 2007.

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