Wide on the right, Nani had often been United's only potent threat but, when the opener arrived, it came from a long punt through the middle from home goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
Rooney's strength saw him glance the ball to Ryan Giggs and he flicked on to Nani, who had caught defender Pablo Zabaleta out of position.
Nani kept his composure admirably, advancing before rolling the ball past Joe Hart, left-footed, from a dozen yards.
City looked stunned, and understandably so after they had more than held their own in an opening 45 minutes which laid to rest memories of the awful goalless draw between the clubs at Eastlands earlier this season.
It was a tactical re-shuffle that brought an almost instant dividend, through City's fortunate 64th minute equaliser.
Wright-Phillips probed down the right, delivering a dangerous cross to the six-yard line where Dzeko swung his foot for an untidy shot which deflected off the back of Silva and into the United goal.
Both sides probed thereafter, without either keeping being forced into a save in anger, until Rooney's superb effort settled the outcome.
Paul Scholes found Nani on the right and his cross was dispatched into the top right corner of the City goal by Rooney's spectacular overhead kick.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side are now seven points ahead of second placed Arsenal, who host Wolves later on Saturday, while City are a further point behind and have played a game more than their bitter rivals.
Rooney said: "I think it's the best goal I've ever scored, I saw it coming over and I thought, 'why not hit it?'.
"I was just delighted to see it go in the net and get the three points. Nine times out of 10 they go into the stand. It's the first overhead kick I've scored since school."
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