Rio in Man Utd bow

Rio Ferdinand (right) played for 17 minutes

Mel Machin Testimonial
Bournemouth 2-3 Manchester United

British record-buy Rio Ferdinand has made his debut for Manchester United in a narrow victory at Bournemouth on Saturday.

Ferdinand, who cost United £29.3m from Leeds, came on in the 73rd minute of Mel Machin's testimonial.

Man Utd seal Rio deal

An entertaining match ended with United victorious after Bournemouth had twice led, Michael Stewart netting the winner two minutes before Ferdinand made his entrance.

Bournemouth took a surprise lead after several near misses from the Red Devils.

A corner was cleared downfield for Warren Feeney to chase down the right and he had the strength to hold off Michael Stewart.

Photo Gallery: Rio's debut in pictures

The Northern Ireland international then played a diagonal pass for former Southampton striker Adrian Caceres to prod past Roy Carroll.

The lead lasted only six minutes - and the equaliser bore the mark of Premiership class.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer received the ball 25 yards out and delayed his through-ball to perfection as Juan Sebastian Veron raced through to slide the ball into the corner.

Bournemouth restored their lead within a minute of the restart, and it was a wonderfully-worked goal.

Rio Ferdinand looked at ease

The Cherries played their way inside from the left flank before the ball came to captain Carl Fletcher, who played a neat one-two with Alan Connell before planting a right-foot shot past Carroll.

A second equaliser looked on the cards and it duly arrived on the hour when Ryan Giggs powered down the right and centred the ball for Ben Muirhead, whose first-time shot beat past Stewart.

Six minutes later United took the lead when Solskjaer released Michael Stewart with a looping flick and the Scot blasted past his namesake from a tight angle.

A loud cheer rang round the Fitness First Stadium when Ferdinand was introduced to the action, his first touch seconds later greeted by another roar.

He looked assured in United's backline and did well to cut out a low cross from Amos Foyewa eight minutes from time.

A fourth almost came the way of United in the 84th minute when Veron exchanged passes with Solskjaer and squared the ball to Giggs, but he was unable to convert the chance.