United are inspired by brilliance of Veron

Manchester United made light of their growing injury problems to cruise past Parma last night. Ryan Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struck either side of Juan Sebastian Veron's brilliant lob to give United a win in this friendly but Sir Alex Ferguson still left the Amsterdam ArenA with a few concerns.

Paul Scholes faces a scan on his knee in Manchester today while, just 10 days before the first leg of their Champions' League qualifier, neither Ruud van Nistelrooy nor Fabien Barthez were deemed fit enough to play.

Roy Carroll took over in goal while John O'Shea partnered Rio Ferdinand in central defence. With Roy Keane on the bench, David Beckham took over as captain, even though regular stand-in Ryan Giggs was in the side.

Ferdinand almost put O'Shea in trouble through being too casual early on, but overall United controlled possession in the opening stages.

Veron picked out Beckham with a superb pass, but from the England captain's cross Diego Forlan's spectacular overhead kick sailed over.

United continued to press forward, although Carroll produced the save of the game to deny Massimo Donati. United survived the corner, then launched the counter which brought them an opening goal courtesy of Giggs.

Wes Brown galloped down the touchline before delivering the perfect cross, causing goalkeeper and defence to hesitate, allowing the Welshman to tuck home with ease.

Forlan fired another Giggs cross wide at the near post, the Uruguayan left to reflect on further frustrating failure in front of goal.

The heavy rain was accompanied by loud claps of thunder at the break, and with the stadium roof open, the players were dealing with an increasingly sodden pitch.

United were unchanged at the start of the second period and should have doubled their lead inside a minute when Forlan's flick-header sent Giggs clear in the box but Sebastien Frey saved well.

Sixty seconds later, Forlan was sent charging through by Solskjaer but, though there was no marker within yards, the South American again fired over.

It took Veron to show him how the job should be done. Racing onto a long ball with just the keeper to beat, the Argentinian midfielder produced a brilliant lob which looked destined for the net from the moment it left his boot.

Five minutes later, Solskjaer made it three, rising to meet Beckham's near-post cross unmarked and steering his header into the opposite corner, giving Frey no chance.

Beckham was also withdrawn near the end, receiving a rapturous reception not just from the English support in one corner of the stadium, but also from the 40,000-plus Ajax fans who had arrived early in advance of their team's meeting with Barcelona.