Wayne Rooney's first goal of the season fired Manchester United to victory against Roma at Old Trafford.
Chances were at a premium with Cristiano Ronaldo and Francesco Totti restricted to long-range efforts.
Rooney broke the deadlock with a sharp 15-yard finish after he was set up by Nani to leave United three points clear at the top of Group F.
United - with Louis Saha starting a game for the first time since February - began passing the ball around crisply but Roma quickly smothered the Red Devils with Daniele de Rossi brilliantly screening the visiting defence.
Totti's 30-yard free-kick evaded the wall and Tomasz Kuszczak, in for the injured Edwin van der Sar, needed two attempts to cushion the ball to his chest.
United should have gone ahead on 33 minutes when Nani got round the back of the Roma defence only for a carefree Rooney to volley over from a good position.
Roma spurned their best chance when Giuly set up Totti, who blazed over the advancing Kuszczak from close range five minutes after the restart.
Alberto Aquilani fired another warning to United moments later when he fired narrowly wide from the edge of the box as the Italians sensed a goal was possible.
United were still struggling to get sufficient men forward with Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick content to sit deep in the crowded midfield and unable to make their mark on proceedings.
Rooney produced a bright moment when he cut inside the left side of the Roma defence before unleashing a powerful low shot which Curci pushed away for a corner.
Carlos Tevez replaced the tiring Saha and United soon had the ball in the net when the Argentine found Ronaldo, who audaciously back-heeled home from an offside position.
Rooney clinched victory 20 minutes from time with an exquisite finish to raise the roof off Old Trafford.
Carrick found Nani and he cleverly played the ball through to Rooney who turned outside and found the net off the inside of the far post with a crisp 15-yard shot.
Tevez almost made it 2-0 with a sizzling 22-yard effort while Kuszczak did well at the other end to collect a well-struck Simone Perrotta effort.
Roma should have levelled three minutes from time when Totti played the ball back for Mauro Esposito, who carelessly blazed wide from 10 yards with United stretched at the back.
Ferguson said beforehand that he would settle for a 1-0 win. It was not always pretty but it went to script and United are well on their way towards qualifying for the knockout stages.
Clip Hilight : MAN UTD 1 - 0 AS ROMA
http://super-goal.info/vdo_clips.php?catid=25&id=2961
Others News after the game :
Rooney feels for Roma
Wayne Rooney says Roma deserved a point at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Sir Alex: We rode our luck
The boss says United were...
Evra: Everybody's happy
Patrice Evra says Tuesday night's win left the whole side energised.
Patient Saha hails Reds
The goals aren't flying in, but Louis Saha says three points is enough.
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