Scholes goal sends United to Moscow

Semi-finals - 29 April 2008 20:45 (CET) - Old Trafford - Manchester
	Aggregate: 1 - 0
	Man. United	1 - 0	Barcelona
	Scholes 14

Tuesday 29 April 2008

Match report by Andrew Haslam from Old Trafford

United players congratulate Paul Scholes (©Getty Images)

Manchester United FC reached the UEFA Champions League final for the first time since winning the competition nine years ago as Paul Scholes's spectacular early strike proved enough to edge a pulsating semi-final against FC Barcelona.

Scholes delight
Fittingly it was the one survivor of that 1998/99 squad in the starting lineup, Scholes – who missed the 2-1 final victory against FC Bayern München through suspension, and had been guaranteed his place in this season's showpiece by Sir Alex Ferguson provided United got there – who scored the only goal of the tie. The midfielder collected a loose pass from Gianluca Zambrotta and unleashed a viciously swerving long-range shot into the top corner. Barcelona pressed for a way back but struggled to create chances against a well-marshalled United defence, whose discipline and commitment ensured the first all-English final in European Champion Clubs' Cup history, against Chelsea FC or Liverpool FC in Moscow on 21 May.

Tables turned
United had been urged to "enjoy it" by Ryan Giggs but it was the visitors who settled first, producing some neat interplay with Lionel Messi making two threatening runs at a United back line shorn of Nemanja Vidić due to a facial injury. If Barça had the better of the opening exchanges, however, United turned the tide emphatically in the 14th minute as Zambrotta dispossessed Cristiano Ronaldo on the edge of the area only to direct his pass straight at Scholes, who duly thumped an unstoppable effort past Víctor Valdés from 25 metres.

Messi denied
The celebrations reverberated around Old Trafford although a reminder of the danger still posed by Barcelona was not long in coming. Messi skipped past Scholes and inside Wes Brown before forcing Edwin van der Sar to palm away his well-directed attempt from just outside the box. Almost instantly Ji-Sung Park might have increased United's lead, side-footing Ronaldo's left-wing centre centimetres past the far post as the hosts sought to capitalise on a goal which had visibly shaken the Blaugrana.

Deco openings
Having weathered that ten-minute storm, Barça regrouped and began to probe again, Deco narrowly missing the target from the edge of the area on two occasions just past the half-hour. For their part, United – missing Wayne Rooney with a hip injury – put together several incisive attacks as half-time approached, and the busy Park delivered a right-wing cross which Nani glanced wide from the most promising of these raids.

United pressure
In contrast to the first period, United seized the initiative as the second half started and it took Eric Abidal's timely intervention to deny Nani the chance to touch in Ronaldo's cross. Valdés then beat away Carlos Tévez's left-foot drive after the Argentinian had surged clear down the left. Frank Rijkaard's men had shown enough on the break to suggest United could not neglect their defensive duties, however, and Brown was sufficiently alert to deflect Deco's angled shot wide of the near post before a long-range free-kick from the same player struck the United wall and span wide.

Nervous finale
Thierry Henry and Bojan Krkić were introduced to the action although Messi remained the most likely source of an equaliser, sending a frisson of nervous tension around the ground every time he picked up possession, but in the main he was crowded out by United's rearguard. Henry headed a corner straight at Van der Sar and had a curling effort comfortably saved by the goalkeeper as United held their nerve in a tense finale. Theirs is the opportunity to be crowned European champions for the third time.

Barça grateful for Ronaldo reprieve

Semi-finals - 23 April 2008 20:45 (CET) - Camp Nou - Barcelona
	Barcelona	0 - 0	Man. United

A missed penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo ensured FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC remain deadlocked at 0-0 after an enthralling first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.

Extraordinary scenes
The English side's last visit to the Camp Nou had ended in extraordinary scenes as they won the 1999 UEFA Champions League with two added-time goals, and they almost picked up where they left off on their first return since, only for Ronaldo to fire a third-minute penalty wide after Gabriel Milito had handled. It was as close as they came on a night when Paul Scholes made his 100th appearance in the competition, although the visitors will be thankful to escape with a draw after being forced on the back foot for much of the match.

Penalty miss
The tie sprang to life from kick-off, providing drama as early as the second minute when Ronaldo headed on Scholes' corner only for Milito's raised arm to intervene. The Portuguese international took the spot-kick himself, but fired wide to the relief of the majority in the 98,000 sell-out crowd. Well off the pace in the Primera División, Barça's season rests on this tie and they quickly found their feet, a lightning run from Lionel Messi putting the away team on the back foot. It was breathless stuff as the home side probed a makeshift United back line, shorn of the unwell Nemanja Vidić.

Attacking intent
Sir Alex Ferguson had named an attacking side with Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tévez all selected, but they could not break out of their half. Starved of possession, Ronaldo reacted angrily as Rio Ferdinand pumped a clearance high over his head and soon after Rooney was forced to clear off the toes of Samuel Eto'o deep inside his own area. Against the run of play, though, United nearly broke through. Andrés Iniesta's misplaced pass let in Ronaldo, who was eased off the ball by Rafael Márquez as he closed in on goal.

Ronaldo chance
Despite Barcelona's possession, United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was rarely troubled, a low save from the returning Deco's free-kick on 38 minutes his main contribution of note as half-time approached. At the other end Ronaldo's darting run was halted by Márquez's clumsy challenge, with the resulting booking ruling him out of the second leg.

Classic encounters
The talk in the build-up had been of classic encounters between the sides and the second half began at a pace worthy of the fixture. On 48 minutes Messi's shot was blocked, then Michael Carrick's tackle kept out Eto'o. Moments later Eto'o drove into the side-netting before Carrick did likewise at the other end. United breathed a sigh of relief when Bojan Krkić replaced the tiring Messi two minutes past the hour.

Evenly poised
The home team could still not find a way through, with Van der Sar forced to push away Thierry Henry's fierce drive after the Barcelona substitute had cut inside from the left, and United looked increasingly dangerous on the break as the half progressed. Neither side, however, could break the deadlock, leaving the tie evenly poised for the return at Old Trafford next Tuesday.

United without Vidić for three weeks

Manchester United FC have confirmed that centre-back Nemanja Vidić will be out of action for two to three weeks after he picked up a knee injury at AS Roma on Tuesday.

'No major damage'
The Serbian international landed awkwardly after contesting a high ball and had to be substituted just 31 minutes into the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg, which United went on to win 2-0. A scan on Wednesday allayed some of the Old Trafford club's fears, with a spokesman saying: "There is no major damage to the left knee." Vidić will, however, miss the return match against the Italian side on 9 April as well as the Premier League leaders' domestic games against Middlesbrough FC and Arsenal FC.