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WAYNE ROONEY bagged a brace as Manchester United survived a second-half comeback to dump rivals Manchester City out of the FA Cup. Rooney put United 1-0 up early on with a terrific header and a minute later City were down to 10 men when Vincent Kompany was sent off for a challenge on Nani. It was a bad decision by referee Chris Foy but United didn't care as they took a 3-0 lead into half-time thanks to Danny Welbeck's acrobatic effort and Rooney heading in the rebound from his missed penalty. But City hit back through a brilliant Aleksandar Kolarov free-kick minutes after the break, before Sergio Aguero poked home to set up a thrilling finish. City pushed for an equaliser but ultimately couldn't find it as Alex Ferguson and his men breathed a huge sigh of relief at full-time. The visitors were boosted by the sensational return of Paul Scholes who took his place on the bench. But Fergie's men didn't need him as Rooney kicked off an extraordinary first half with the opening goal. The England striker picked up the ball around the centre circle, fed it out wide to Antonio Valencia who hit a first-time cross that Rooney guided home with a sumptuous header in off the bar. Rooney, who was fined recently for an unauthorised night out, made a point of his commitment to the club by grabbing his badge. A minute later, City were in disarray as Kompany was given a straight red by Foy for his two-footed challenge on Nani. The Belgian's challenge seemed a fair one as he got the ball but off he went � leaving City a man short and Kompany heading for a four-game suspension. Aguero came close to restoring parity with a curling effort from distance which Anders Lindegaard turned out for a corner in fine style. The 10 men dominated possession as they looked for an equaliser, with David Silva pulling the strings. But Roberto Mancini's men were dealt a hammer blow when United doubled their lead on the half hour through Welbeck. United capitalised on their man advantage as Patrice Evra got in down the left, before sending in a cross that flew up in the air. Nigel de Jong went up to clear the ball but he was beaten by Welbeck's desire to connect as the England striker fired home a stunning volley into the far corner. You had to feel for goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon who had done nothing wrong and nine minutes later, it got even worse. Ryan Giggs played through Welbeck who was taken out by Kolarov in the area and a penalty was rightly awarded. Up stepped Rooney who saw his spotkick saved but nodded home the rebound. Mancini's side badly needed half-time and they were lucky it wasn't four as Welbeck could only divert wide Valencia's fizzing centre across the six-yard box. Mancini acted quickly to bring on Pablo Zabaleta and Stefan Savic at half-time for Adam Johnson and Silva respectively as he looked for some solidity. And within minutes his side had reduced the deficit to 3-1 as Kolarov curled in a deadly free-kick from 25 yards. Ferguson responded by bringing on Scholes for Nani to roars of applause from the United support and boos from the City faithful. United should have had a second penalty after Kolarov brought down Valencia with a clumsy challenge but Foy inexplicably said no. And City made them pay instantly as Scholes was caught in possession for James Milner to tee up Aguero in the penalty box. The Argentine's shot was saved by Lindegaard but the City striker was alive to the rebound, firing in for 3-2. City were up in arms with eight minutes to go as Kolarov's cross appeared to come off Phil Jones' hand in the penalty area, but their protests fell on deaf ears. The 10 men of City pressed and pressed for an equaliser with Lindegaard just about keeping out a Kolarov free-kick in stoppage time as United held firm.