| MAN UTD 7-1 AS ROMA MANCHESTER UNITED 7
Carrick (2), Ronaldo (2), Smith, Rooney, Evra AS ROMA 1
De Rosi cool right?? i expected a 1-0 you know? then the aggregate would be 2-2, but man u would win on away goals...so YAY...but i guess roma was tired, or man utd just had too much energy...it became 7-1, aggregate 8-3...so...poor roma got pwned...they are a really good team actually...i respect them  i mean..they don't foul, they're honest, and they play great football...great team...dont know what happened to them this time... ok...so, heres what happened lah...(btw, i got this from www.manutd.com so you can go there if you wanna know more) Michael Carrick (2), Cristiano Ronaldo (2), Alan Smith, Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra were the men on the scoresheet but all fourteen players who took part deserve a share of the abundant praise after a performance that will be remembered long after they've hung up their talented boots - regardless of whether this leads to glory in Athens or not.
First Half
The suspension of Paul Scholes and injuries to Louis Saha and Ji-sung Park had forced Sir Alex Ferguson into a shock selection ahead of this must-win match at Old Trafford. Smith was given only his fourth start of the campaign, as partner to Rooney, United's away-goal scorer in Rome. The Yorkshireman's previous three starts had all come in the domestic cups, at Crewe, Southend and at home to Middlesbrough. There was an omen, however, in Smith’s Champions League statistics for 2006/07 – all three games in which he’d come on as a substitute had resulted in wins to nil for United. The supposedly key responsibility for conceding nil rested with the same back five that endured a less than brilliant afternoon at Portsmouth; in front of them, Darren Fletcher was drafted in alongside Michael Carrick. Roma coach Luciano Spalletti initially had only one change forced on him from the first leg, by the suspension to Greater Manchester-born Simone Perrotta. He was replaced in one of two holding roles by David Pizarro, back after a ban himself. Then, as the teams kicked off, a second change was apparent - with Vucinic, one of Roma's first leg scorers, promoted to the starting eleven in place of the other, Taddei, who was injured in the warm-up.
The biggest team news as far as Roma were concerned, however, was the green light for their talisman Francesco Totti to start after he missed Saturday’s Serie A win at Catania. The Italian legend had been suffering with a back problem - he'd been a pain in the neck for United in the first leg, despite not adding to Taddei and Vucinic's goals.
Totti picked up from where he left off in Rome, letting fly with the first real effort of the match after six minutes. But just as his shots did in the first leg, his drive fizzed wide as Edwin van der Sar looked on. The United goalkeeper, under-fire in some quarters after conceding goals in Rome and Portsmouth, had previously plucked two Panucci goals out of the air with safe hands.
Roma had taken the game to United in its early stages but it was the Reds who took the lead with a stunning, spontaneous stike from Michael Carrick in the 12th minute - bettering his previous goal against Reading in the FA Cup. Struck from a similar position outside the box, it took a less direct route, rising and bending as if deflected to Doni's left. Old Trafford erupted with a deafening roar as the early tension, exarcebated by pre-match skirmishes on the forecourts between Roma fans and police, was blown away.
The scores were level on aggregate but this equilibrium lasted just six minutes, until Smith justified his selection gloriously with a fine first-time strike after Chivu - singled out by Sir Alex for unsporting behaviour in the first leg - missed Giggs' flick-on.
United went 3-0 up in the 19th minute when Smith turned provider, feeding Giggs on the right. The ecstatic home fans sensed what was to come and might have sucked the ball into the Scoreboard End goal had Rooney not been capable of the job himself. Wayne did not disappoint, of course, tucking home at the far post from Giggs' driven cross. Resistance from the Romans was futile.
Roma tried desperately to hit back but Philippe Mexes, who ought to have been regretting his United rejections by now, headed tamely wide from Pizarro's free-kick. The French defender went closer moments later, with an ambitious drive from 35 yards that flew past van der Sar's left-hand post.
The creator of United's first goal for Carrick, Cristiano Ronaldo, was keen to get in on the act himself with Roma on the ropes. But though he cut inside menacingly on the half-hour, his left-foot firecracker failed to nestle inside the far post despite beating another dive from Doni. The overworked Roma keeper did get his hands to Ronaldo's next attempt, a free-kick blasted down the middle from long distance.
The hard-working Smith was in the wars as half-time approached, booked for a foul on Chivu and then fouled in the build-up to a United corner. Ferdinand was also booked as players jostled for position in the box but undeterred, Giggs whipped the ball in from the right and Carrick almost scored his second - and United's fourth goal - with a header saved by Doni and then a shot bundled wide on the rebound.
Goal number four would not be delayed beyond the break - in United's next attack, Ronaldo netted for the first time in the Champions League this season, and in superb style. Running at Chivu, feet in a flurry, he teased and tormented the number 13 before despatching his shot past the Roma keeper.
There was still time for van der Sar to perform some heroics, diving to his right to parry Totti's venomous free-kick. This time the ball spun away to safety - everything, bar the petty bookings for Smith and Ferdinand, was going United's way.
Second Half
The second half started as the first half had ended, with a goal for Ronaldo. It was a different kind of strike, a tap-in from close range from Giggs' low centre, but it was celebrated in the same delirious way by the scorer, his team-mates and more than 70,000 fans. Barely five minutes into the second half and United were remarkably 5-0 up on the night, 6-2 ahead on aggregate.
shirt was doing his job with the utmost professionalism and pride. Take Gabriel Heinze, for example, and his fine blocking challenge as Totti tried to dribble his way to a consolation goal early in the second half or Darren Fletcher for manning his post and clearing Mancini's goalbound header following a corner.
Carrick has been a relatively unsung hero all season long but he elevated himself to headline status with a wonderful second goal - number six for the Reds after 60 minutes of scintillating football. The midfielder's unstoppable, rising shot from 25 yards rippled the Stretford End net as Reds fans all around the ground pinched themselves purple in disbelief. The roof of the net was later bowed by floated efforts from Smith and Solskjaer, on for Giggs, as United chased a seventh strike.
Like the team, the home supporters kept going, despite being hoarse from six goal celebrations. "Are you City in disguise?" and "We want seven" was followed by ironic cheers, applause, even a standing ovation for De Rosi's consolation goal after he turned to volley home Totti's cross.
The home fans eventually saw seven next to United's name on the scoreboards, thanks to substitute Evra hammering a shot in off the post from Solskjaer's pass. The Reds were in seventh heaven and into the last four of the Champions League for the first time since 2002. Bring on Bayern, or Milan, or anyone on this form.
United: Van der Sar, O’Shea (Evra, 52), Brown, Ferdinand, Heinze, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick (Richardson, 73), Giggs (Solskjaer, 60), Rooney, Smith. Subs not used: Kuszczak, Cathcart, Eagles, Dong. Roma: Doni, Panucci, Mexes, Chivu, Cassetti, Wilhelmsson (Rosi, 88), De Rossi (Faty, 86), Vucinic, Pizarro, Mancini (Okaka Chuka, 90), Totti. Subs not used: Curci, Defendi, Ferrari |
