Champions League Q/F 2nd Leg
Old Trafford, Wed 9 April
MANCHESTER UNITED 1
Tevez 70
AS ROMA 0
Carlos Tevez's diving header set up a mouth-watering Champions League semi-final with Barcelona as the Reds ran out 3-0 aggregate winners over AS Roma at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex's men already held a 2-0 advantage going into the quarter-final second leg tie and Tevez’s 70th-minute strike confirmed their place in the last four where they will face Frank Rijkaard's side.
The pre-match talk was all about whether Rio Ferdinand would be fit to face the Italians and, after passing a late fitness test, he took his place in a side containing neither Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo nor Paul Scholes. Owen Hargreaves, Ji-sung Park, Anderson, Ryan Giggs and Carlos Tevez made up United'a attacking quintet, with Michael Carrick sitting just in front of the back four.
With Nemanja Vidic still suffering with a knee injury, Gerard Pique was called in to partner Ferdinand at the heart of the defence. The left-back spot went to Mikael Silvestre, starting his first game for the Reds since injuring knee ligaments against Everton in September. There was also a place on the bench for skipper Gary Neville, more than a year after his last first-team outing.
The selection may have seemed cautious but United attacked from the off, forcing a corner after just three minutes after a good run and cross from Owen Hargreaves on the right. Buoyed by the luxury of having a 2-0 cushion, the Reds continued to press forward and very nearly added to their aggregate tally through a host of opportunities in the opening 10 minutes.
Six minutes in, the
lively Ji-sung Park was put clear by Giggs, but the Korean could only fire across the face of goal from a tight angle. A minute later, Tevez fed Park wide on the right. The Korean sent an early centre back towards the Argentine whose header drifted narrowly wide. Wes Brown then went close in the ninth minute, heading Giggs' corner over the bar.
Sixty seconds later, Hargreaves found himself through on goal thanks to a fine pass from Giggs. But Doni stood up well and parried the midfielder’s effort out for a corner.
Roma seemed more than a little shell-shocked by United’s high tempo opening, but they fashioned a chance of their own on 14 minutes. Daniele De Rossi slotted a pass into Mirko Vucinic, whose effort, from a tight angle, was well saved by Edwin van der Sar low to his left. Mancini’s follow-up from the edge of the box was also on target but did little to trouble the big Dutchman.
The Reds continued attacking and went close again on 16 minutes. Tevez took Brown’s lofted pass brilliantly on his chest before turning and feeding Hargreaves, again bombing forward on the right. His cross was met by the onrushing Giggs, but the Welshman's drive was beaten away by Doni.
Giggs and Hargreaves combined again soon after, with the Welshman floating a ball over the top to the Reds' no.4, who had fast become United’s newest attacking sensation. This time, a combination of Cassetti and Juan contrived to knock Hargreaves off balance and clear the danger.
Seconds later Hargreaves was involved again. His cross looked to
The main talking point of the opening half arrived on 29 minutes when Roma were awarded a spot-kick. Van der Sar punched Vucinic’s initial effort clear but the ball dropped to Mancini, who burst into the area only to be felled by Wes Brown. The referee had no qualms in pointing to the spot and although Brown appeared to get a touch on the ball, he also clipped Mancini’s back leg.
As De Rossi stepped up to take the penalty, a chorus of boos reverberated around Old Trafford. That quickly turned to hysterical cheers as the Italian blasted over. De Rossi’s immediate reaction was to pull his jersey over his head as he attempted to hide from the now raucous United fans. Had De Rossi's miss put an end to the Italians' chances of getting back into the tie?
United tightened things up towards the end of the first period, apparently content with maintaining the advantage. The added protection in front of the back four also coincided with an injury to Rio Ferdinand. Thankfully, the defender reappeared after the break despite having three stitches at the interval.
With the quarter-final tie entering its last stage, Roma had the clock to worry about too. The visitors enjoyed the lion's share of possession for the first 15 minutes of the second period and Mikael Silvestre was forced to make a vital block on 57 minutes when the ball dropped to Taddei in the area. Juan’s strong header fromthe subsequent corner was well held by van der Sar by the back post.
The Reds' passage to the semi-final was put beyond doubt on 70 minutes when United found the net for the third time in the tie. Tevez collected the ball in midfield before slotting it into Hargreaves’ path on the right wing. The midfielder sent in a peach of a cross, which the Argentine dived to meet and send into the far corner.
United strolled through the remainder of the game and went close to a second two minutes from time when Doni saved well from Ji-sung Park. Aside from the goal, the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for the return of skipper Gary Neville, who was given a 10-minute run-out… in the centre of midfield!
In truth, United had done the hard work in Rome, but a professional performance at Old Trafford ensured a place in the last four. The Reds fell short last season against AC Milan, but this time Sir Alex's men mean business.
United: Van der Sar; Brown, Pique, Ferdinand, Silvestre; Park, Carrick (O'Shea 74), Hargreaves, Anderson (Neville 81), Giggs (Rooney 74); Tevez.
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Ronaldo, Scholes, Welbeck
Booked: None
Roma: Doni; Panucci, Mexes, Juan, Cassetti (Tonetto 56); De Rossi, Pizarro (Giuly 69), Taddei (Esposito 81), Perrotta; Mancini, Vucinic.
Subs not used: Curci, Cicinho, Aquilani, Brighi
Booked: Perrotta.
Attendance: 74,423
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