Football: Manchester United rally for 3-1 International Champions Cup final win over Liverpool

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney (left) is challenged by Martin Skrtel of Liverpool during the International Champions Cup 2014 final at Sun Life Stadium on Aug 4, 2014, in Miami Gardens, Florida. -- PHOTO: AFP
Manchester United's Wayne Rooney (left) is challenged by Martin Skrtel of Liverpool during the International Champions Cup 2014 final at Sun Life Stadium on Aug 4, 2014, in Miami Gardens, Florida. -- PHOTO: AFP

MIAMI (REUTERS) - Second-half strikes from Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard earned Manchester United a morale boosting 3-1 win over Premier League rivals Liverpool in the final of the pre-season International Champions Cup in Miami on Monday.

Liverpool took the lead in the 14th minute when the lively Raheem Sterling was brought down in the area by United defender Phil Jones and skipper Steven Gerrard drilled home the penalty.

The Merseyside team should have doubled their advantage shortly after half-time but Rickie Lambert fluffed his shot after finding space inside the area.

United equalised in the 55th minute when Javier Hernandez delivered a cross deep to the back post for Rooney to coolly side-foot home a cushioned volley from a tight angle.

Two minutes later, Mata's well-struck effort from the edge of the box took a slight deflection off Mamadou Sakho and beat Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

United wrapped up the win in the eight-team tournament when substitute Jesse Lingard blasted home from 18 yards out two minutes from time.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.