Beckham the hero in United's win

David Beckham's stunning free-kick just 96 seconds into the game sealed a 1-0 victory for United over City in the first Manchester derby for four years.

Alf Inge Haaland gave away a free-kick 25 yards out and Beckham whipped the ball past the two-man wall and goalkeeper Nicky Weaver to score in the left-hand corner.

Haaland should have made amends soon after when Shaun Wright-Phillips played him through, but Fabien Barthez got a hand to the ball as the City captain tried to round the keeper and his shot was cleared.

Beckham was twice hit by coins thrown from the crowd as United failed to kill off the game, with Paul Scholes wasting a 75th-minute chance by shooting against the post after good work from Dwight Yorke.