MANCHESTER United FC reached the UEFA Champions League final for the first time since winning the competition nine years ago, as Paul Scholes spectacular early strike proved enough to pulsating board a semi-final against FC Barcelona.
Quite rightly, he was one of the survivors of this team 1998/99 in the starting lineup, Scholes - who missed the 2-1 final victory against FC Bayern Munich through suspension, and was guaranteed its place in this jewel of the season by Sir Alex Ferguson at United condition he - who scored the only goal of equality. The midfielder collected a pass from Gianluca Zambrotta lose and violently unleashed a swerving long-range shot in the upper corner.
Barcelona pressed for a return but struggling to create chances against a well-referenced United defence, discipline and commitment to ensure the first English final in European club champions Cup history, against Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC Moscow on May 21.
Manchester United ended up 1-0 at the break after a compelling first half which saw Barcelona start the strongest before a superb strike from Paul Scholes put the Red Devils blue in the face.
This was the signal for United to enjoy a period of domination but Barca fought to wrest control in midfield with an inventive and technically capable of football in which Samuel Eto'o, Lionel Messi and Deco all questions to move before the United States. Yet it is not enough.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has again gauge his team when both Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic was ruled out Rooney with a hip injury and Vidic after the injury he suffered on his face against Chelsea on Saturday. Ferguson has responded by making six changes to his side, top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo back in the starting line-at the same time that Carlos Tevez, Owen Hargreaves, Patrice Evra, Paul Scholes and Park Ji-Sung.
For Barcelona, ex-Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has been named among the substitutes by manager Frank Rijkaard.
Teams:
Manchester United: Van der Sar, Hargreaves, Ferdinand, Brown, Evra, Park, Scholes, Carrick, Nani, Ronaldo, Tevez.
Subs: Kuszczak, Anderson, Giggs, O'Shea, Fletcher, Silvestre, Welbeck
Barcelona: Valdes, Zambrotta, Puyol, Milito, Abidal, Toure Yaya, Messi, Xavi, Deco, Iniesta, Eto'o.
Subs: Pinto, Gudjohnsen, Henry, Edmilson, Sylvinho, Thuram, Bojan
Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany)
photo: gettyimage
MU reached the UEFA Champions League final
De Rossi Apologized
Roma icon and captain Daniele De Rossi apologized to the fans and his teammates penalty miss against Manchester United. AS Roma midfielder has admitted his first-half penalty miss was the key moment in the Italian club to the UEFA Champions League 1-0 in the quarter-finals at the defeat of Manchester United FC.
However, with the score at 0-0, De Rossi has had the opportunity to put forward its side of the penalty spot, even though Amantino Mancini has dropped alarmingly with ease to win the spot-kick following Wes Brown's well - timed ball-winning challenge. But De Rossi, who had scored the Giallorossi, the winner of the same spot on the penalty CFC Genoa last weekend, sent the ball high over the crossbar.
"It was not a penalty to make it 2-0 at the last minute, but I think the game would have changed if I had scored," said the Italian international. "I am very disappointed and I think it hurts twice as much because I am from Rome, and a supporter of Roma. We arrived in Manchester confident and ready to fight. The first goal was there, eleven metres from me, but we all know what happened. It would have been a different game if we had taken the lead in the first half.
"I wanted to take the trouble as I did on Sunday against Genoa," said De Rossi, who scored one of the spot-kicks Italy in the 2006 FIFA World Cup final. "It was a very busy time and I was probably too much time to think before taking it. Sanctions I referenced in important games like finals of the World Cup in my career, but tonight; I have been less fortunate. I am deeply sorry. that I hoped it would not come to me, especially tonight in a match like this. "
Although Roma finally succumbed to a 70th minute Carlos Tévez head - which specifies a third defeat at Old Trafford in the last 12 months - De Rossi remained optimistic about their outlook for the remainder of the campaign. Roma sit four points behind Serie A leaders FC Internationale Milan with six rounds remaining and are also through to the last four of the Italian Cup. De Rossi said: "Now we will try to win the Scudetto. I think tonight, we confirmed that we are a great team and we want to win trophies this season." (*)
source: scorequ
photo: Getty Images
Tevez Header Conquest Roma
Manchester United FC can start to prepare for a fascinating-looking UEFA Champions League semi-final meeting with FC Barcelona after Carlos Tévez the second half header completed the conquest of AS Roma. Manchester United duly claimed their Champions League semi-final instead of three English teams in the last four of this year's competition again.
Carlos Tevez broke Roma on the strength of 70 minutes, helped by the excellent Owen Hargreaves in a game which sank and mitigated but rarely looked like getting away from the Champions League, which has set a new record of 11 consecutive wins at home.
However, there had never been any risk that the Roma were trounced 7-1 again, as they have been for this reason, a year ago. And the outcome of a game, if not the tie, might have been different Daniele de Rossi had not lost a first half penalty.
An entertaining, high tempo in the first half saw a changed greatly Old Trafford Manchester United started brightly and patron of the opening 25 minutes without adding to their cumulative score, with Roma in order Doni actively effective. But then Roma won a penalty out of nowhere when Mancini was judged - somewhat
controversial - have been reduced in the area of Wes Brown's address to the land. Daniele De Rossi, but he blazed over the bar passage and what would have been a goal against the run of play was averted.
Spalletti's men continued to probe, but, lacking injured Francesco Totti, struggling to fashion any clear openings, and the game was up on 70 minutes when Tévez vaulted to meet Hargreaves around the cross and post-headed the ball beyond Doni. (*)
source: scorequ
photo: Getty Images
O'Shea applause
slot in because of the experience and the confidence they have."
counterattack is frightening and that has made the difference. We can feel unfortunate not to have scored a few more goals especially towards the end of the game when they were pushing on to get something back. We can feel very proud of ourselves for our performance because Roma are a good team."
MU Clean Sheets
continue," Rooney said.
The United forward has now struck six goals in seven games against Italian opposition since April last year but he refused to get too carried away. "It was a good professional job to come here and
play well, and it gives us a good platform for next week," he added. "With the Champions League you never know so we'll have to go out focused and with a good attitude and then hopefully we'll see the second leg through."