Manchester United edge local champions South China in lacklustre performance

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson felt South China were 'a bit unlucky', but believed his side were still the better team as the English Premier League champions edged past the Caroliners 1-0 to win the Marlboro Cup at the Hong Kong Stadium yesterday.

Jordi Cruyff headed home Denis Irwin's cross for the only goal of the match in the 76th minute to continue United's Asian tour record on a winning note, following their 2-0 win over the Thai national team in Bangkok last Thursday.

'South China were a bit unlucky, they could have scored one or two goals. They worked hard. But I think in the end, we were probably the better team and deserved to win the game,' said Ferguson.

'We should have scored in the first half when we hit the post and maybe should have got two or three in the second half. We were unlucky a few times. I'm happy with the way the match went,' he added.

The match itself was hardly pulsating stuff and spectators might have left the stadium feeling a little disappointed considering the immense talent on the pitch.

Norwegian striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Czech midfielder Karel Poborsky and Cruyff stood out, but the visitors - who wore their all-blue away strip - still put in a lacklustre performance for fans who snapped up tickets 10 weeks before the game.