Champions League Q/F 1st LegStadio Olimpico, Tue 1 April
AS ROMA 0
MANCHESTER UNITED 2
Ronaldo 39, Rooney 66
United delivered the model European away performance in Rome on Tuesday– strong in possession, resilient during the inevitable Roma backlash, and ruthlessly scoring two away goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney did the damage, presenting the Reds with a glorious opportunity to make the Champions League semi finals later this month. But, take note, the job is only half done. Roma weren’t without their chances, and they will come to Old Trafford in a week’s time knowing they’re up against it, but not out of it.
This wasn’t the all-out attacking United of Saturday’s 4-0 thumping of Aston Villa, but it was the kind of performance Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have sometimes lacked away from home in Europe in recent years.
The United boss made a few changes from Saturday's win. He was able to select Michael Carrick despite the midfielder sitting out training in Rome the night before. There was a recall for Ji-sung Park (his first European start this season) in place of Ryan Giggs, and Carlos Tevez settled for a place on the bench as Anderson made up a three-man central midfield alongside Carrick and Paul Scholes.
Luciano Spalletti, Roma’s coach, said that his players would not just stand and admire a team he regards as “the best in the world”. Their 7-1 defeat at this stage last year is clearly a wound that has not yet healed. So much so that Spalletti threatened not to present Sir Alex with a bottle of his favourite Tuscan wine after the game – “no more gifts, on or off the pitch,” he said, half jokingly.
Roma, without thesuspended Simone Perrotta and the injured Francesco Totti, were perhaps not at full strength, but their team ethic meant that they still pose a potent threat to United's hopes of reaching the semi finals.
The Reds had hoped to avoid an English opponent at this stage, but nevertheless drew a familiar foe – this being the fifth time in 12 months that the Reds have come up against the Giallorossi.
United started with Rooney on the left, Park on the right and Cristiano Ronaldo up front and immediately took control in the early stages, pressing Roma back and keeping possession with great assurance, albeit without really breaking beyond the opposition back line.
But it was Roma who registered the first effort on goal, defender Christian Panucci heading over from a corner. The chance signalled their entrance into this tie. The bad news for United was that Nemanja Vidic was forced off just after half an hour after falling awkwardly. The influential Serbian defender was replaced by John O’Shea in the centre of United’s defence.
The enforced change momentarily flustered the Reds, as Roma pushed forward. But United were not affected for long. With little more than five minutes of the first half remaining, an intricate move across the edge of Roma’s penalty area found Scholes on the far right side. The midfielder, once again in outstanding form, served up a cross and Ronaldo bravely ran and leapt at it through a crowd of Roma shirts, powering his header into the back of the net. It capped a near-perfect first 45 minutes.
After thebreak, Roma were far more ambitious – they had to be - and, as in the first half, had the first opportunity to score. De Rossi’s surging run forward created space in the box and his pass to Tonetto allowed the full-back to shoot narrowly past the post. Just moments later, with the home crowd stirred at their team’s positive approach, Panucci fired over at the back post. United were having to weather a severe storm. On 62 minutes Edwin van der Sar was called upon to make a world-class, one-handed save from Vucinic’s glanced header.
Sir Alex responded immediately, calling for the combative Owen Hargreaves to replace the more forward-thinking Anderson and switching to 4-4-2 with Rooney the advanced striker. Spalletti, sensing the need to capitalise on the groundswell of pressure, also made a change, bringing on speedy winger Ludovic Giuly. But it was the Reds manager’s tactical tinkering that had the bigger impact.
Spalletti had warned United that there would be no gifts, but his players must not have been paying attention. On 66 minutes Park did brilliantly to head Brown’s deep cross back across the face of goal. Either Panucci or Doni should have cleared the danger, instead both tried. And when they tangled the ball landed at Rooney’s feet, the United forward gladly taking the opportunity to make it 2-0.
The goal completely changed United’s outlook, and with Rooney taking up more central role, Roma looked threatened. Seconds later Ronaldo was on the run and forced Doni to tip his 20-yard shot onto the post. Then Carrick struck from a similar distance, though his effort curled away from goal.
Sir Alex was able to take off Rooney with six minutes of the tie remaining, once again showing the strength of his squad in bringing on Tevez. The Argentine nearly set up a glorious third, crossing for Ronaldo who sent a rasping volley narrowly over the bar. There could be no complaints, however, United gladly take a two-goal advantage into the second leg, 90 minutes from a place in the last four.
Team Line-ups
Manchester United: Van der Sar; Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic (O'Shea 31), Evra; Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Anderson (Hargreaves 55), Park; Rooney (Tevez 84).
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Giggs, Pique, Silvestre.
Booked: Anderson
AS Roma: Doni; Cassetti, Mexes, Panucci, Tonetto (Cicinho 69); Taddei (Giuly 59), De Rossi, Pizarro, Aquilani (Esposito 77), Mancini; Vucinic.
Subs not used: Curci, Antunes, Ferrari, Brighi.
Booked: Pizarro, Mexes
Attendance: 80,023
