23 July 2003 -

SEATTLE, WA— The world's most famous sports team put on a delightful
friendly to open a four-match tour of the USA.
In its first game without superstar David Beckham, Manchester United
beat Glasgow Celtic 4-0 on Tuesday night behind goals by Ruud van
Nistelrooy, Ryan Giggs, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and David Bellion.

The crowd of 66,722 was the largest-ever for any event at the
Seahawks Stadium. This continues the trend set earlier this year
when another stadium recently built for an NFL team (Reliant in
Houston) had its attendance records broken by soccer. In that case
it was May 8th's overflow crowd of over 69,000 watching the USA and
MEXICO struggle to a 0-0 draw in a freindly rematch of their 2002
World Cup Quarterfinal match (which Team USA won 2-0).

Tuseday night's Seattle match-up of the storied clubs brought out
over 5000 just for Celtic's PRACTICE, and the 66,722 for the match
was just a preview of three more similarly-sized crowds in the
remainder of the Manchester United tour. The Red Devils play three
more games, the next one Sunday in Los Angeles against Club America
of Mexico, and they are expecting at least 65,000 for that contest in
the storied L.A. Coliseum. The last two matches are already sold out.

While American fans are less familiar with other Manchester stars
like van Nistelrooy, the Red Devils didn't miss Beckham last night.
The talent gap between the teams became apparent before halftime,
when Manchester led 3-0.

"We were well-beaten by a very, very good side," Celtic coach Martin
O'Neill said. "My view is that they are vying with Real Madrid to be
the best team in Europe."

Fans savored the spectacle, roaring when the teams came onto the
field and again for each goal. They turned the stadium into a giant
bowl of twinkling flashbulbs every time a player fired a free kick.

Celtic finished second in the Scottish League last year, losing the
title on goal difference to cross-town rival Rangers on the last day
of the season.

Manchester opens its Premier League title defense Aug. 16.
BY Associated Press with additional reporting by
Soccer-Football Fans Worldwide http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sffw