By Chris O'Brien
August 11 2006

Manchester United have won the Amsterdam Tournament following a 1-0 victory over Ajax. Ryan Giggs netted the pivotol goal on 76 minutes to lift the Red Devils above Inter Milan in the four-team pool. However, the success was marred by an ankle injury to new signing Michael Carrick.

Manchester United have won the Amsterdam Tournament following a 1-0 victory over hosts Ajax.

Ryan Giggs netted a late goal for the Red Devils, who finishing convincing winners of the four-team pool thanks to the competition's unique scoring system. Teams are awarded an additional point for every goal they score, meaning United were already four points clear of rivals Inter Milan and Ajax after the opening day, and were always clear favourites to secure the silverware.

Inter Milan's 3-2 victory over Porto meant United needed a narrow victory or a high-scoring evening to win the tournament, and it turned out to be the former. Giggs struck the only goal of the game on 78 minutes to secure United's trip to the Netherlands ended with two victories and a trophy.

However, the success has been greatly marred by injury to Michael Carrick, with the midfielder forced to withdraw after, ironically, 16 minutes - the same number as the player's new squad number. His ankle injury looks fairly serious and the player was hobbling on crutches as he collected the tournament's winning medal after the game. Early indications suggest the £18.6million man could miss United's Premiership opener against Fulham.

Carrick's injury makes life even harder for United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. Rio Ferdinand and John O'Shea both sat out the game through injury, whilst Rooney and Scholes were also forced to watch from the sidelines after their red cards against Porto. The squad, thanks to a series of suspensions and injuries, is starting to look rather threadbare with the start of the new season only a fortnight away.

The game got off to a slow start with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. Carrick's early exit was the first action of note; with the England international on the wrong end of a lumbering challenge from Kenneth Perez.

Stand-in skipper Giggs, who caused Ajax problems all evening, struck the woodwork from a free-kick on the half-hour and Giuseppe Rossi was unlucky not to beat 'keeper Maarten Stekelenburg from the rebound. At the other end, Johnny Heitinga gave the home fans something to cheer on 35 minutes, but his strike was ruled out for off-side as the two teams went in level at the interval.

With chances limited for both sides, Thomas Vermaelen came close to putting the hosts ahead after the break as he glanced a header over the bar. However, their golden opportunity came ten minutes later following Liam Miller's challenge on Hedwiges Maduro in the Ajax box. The referee showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot, but Edwin Van Der Sar came to United's rescue as he saved Klaas-Jan Huntelaar’s effort from 12 yards.

Ajax were enjoying more possession and looked the better team in the closing stages, but it was United who were to snatch a dramatic winner. Jonathan Evans headed a Giggs corner onto the woodwork, before the Welshman found the net himself with a spectacular free-kick. His effort nudged the woodwork before finding its way over the line. United's travelling supporters were in delight after what proved to be a tournament-winning strike.

Well done MUFC - another trophy and an excellent work out ahead of the new season. Next up is Sevilla before the real challenge begins.

Full Time - Ajax 0-1 Manchester United

Ajax: Stekelenburg (Vermeer 46); Heitinga, Grygera, Lindenbergh, Schilder; Rosales, Maduro (Roger 70), Vertonghen (Vermaelen 46), Manucharyan (Huntelaar 46); Perez; Rosenberg (Charisteas 64).   
Substitutes Not Used: De Mul, Ogararu.

Manchester United: van der Sar; Simpson, Evans, Brown, Richardson; Miller (Jones D. 72), Fletcher, Carrick (Martin 16), Park; Rossi, Giggs (Bardsley 80).
Substitutes Not Used: Foster, Evra, Solskjaer.