rydersonthestorm
08-11-2007, 12:17 AM
Manchester United booked a place in the Champions League knockout stages with a routine 4-0 Group F victory over Dynamo Kiev at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils - who were this week celebrating 21 years since Sir Alex Ferguson's appointment - coasted to their fourth successive win in the competition thanks to first-half goals by Gerard Pique and Carlos Tevez and second-half strikes by Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Kiev, without an away win in the Champions League since March 2000, started brightly and saw Carlos Correa fire a 25-yard shot past Edwin van der Sar's post.
But United soon got into their stride with Ronaldo, Darren Fletcher and Nani all trying their luck without success.
And the Reds had the lead shortly after the half-hour mark when Pique headed home from 10 yards after the ball had broken kindly to him in the area following Ronaldo's free-kick.
Nemanja Vidic then headed Nani's left-wing corner over the bar, but just six minutes later the did double their lead when Tevez intercepted Correa's pass, played a one-two with Rooney, and then fired home an unstoppable shot.
Tevez had a good chance to make it 3-0 early in the second half, but the ball was wipped away from him as he was about to pull the trigger while Kiev almost pulled one back when Marjan Markovic's cross narrowly failed to pick out Rincon at the far post.
Olexandr Shovkovskiy then had to be alert to deny first Tevez and then Danny Simpson as United piled on the pressure.
The third arrived in the 77th minute when Nani's right-wing cross was sidefooted home by Rooney and Ronaldo wrapped things up late on when he cut inside and drilled a great shot into the corner of the Kiev goal.
United could have scored more but Ferguson will be more than happy with his side's victory and subsequent progress into the last 16.
After the match Rooney blasted his side's negative opponents.
"They showed no enthusiasm to play the game but we did a good job," Rooney told Sky Sports 2.
"As soon as get the first you know they must try a bit to come out and play.
"At times we played some good football but we're delighted with 4-0.
"A few young lads came in tonight and it will give them good experience."
Meanwhile Ferguson was pleased that a team including several youngsters was able to cope with the challenge put before them.
"It was a perfect result and gets us into the next stage so we must be very pleased with that," he told Sky Sports 2.
"They adopted a man-marking system and made it very difficult - it was something new for the young players.
"We got a break with the first goal and it opened up the game up for us."
The Red Devils - who were this week celebrating 21 years since Sir Alex Ferguson's appointment - coasted to their fourth successive win in the competition thanks to first-half goals by Gerard Pique and Carlos Tevez and second-half strikes by Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Kiev, without an away win in the Champions League since March 2000, started brightly and saw Carlos Correa fire a 25-yard shot past Edwin van der Sar's post.
But United soon got into their stride with Ronaldo, Darren Fletcher and Nani all trying their luck without success.
And the Reds had the lead shortly after the half-hour mark when Pique headed home from 10 yards after the ball had broken kindly to him in the area following Ronaldo's free-kick.
Nemanja Vidic then headed Nani's left-wing corner over the bar, but just six minutes later the did double their lead when Tevez intercepted Correa's pass, played a one-two with Rooney, and then fired home an unstoppable shot.
Tevez had a good chance to make it 3-0 early in the second half, but the ball was wipped away from him as he was about to pull the trigger while Kiev almost pulled one back when Marjan Markovic's cross narrowly failed to pick out Rincon at the far post.
Olexandr Shovkovskiy then had to be alert to deny first Tevez and then Danny Simpson as United piled on the pressure.
The third arrived in the 77th minute when Nani's right-wing cross was sidefooted home by Rooney and Ronaldo wrapped things up late on when he cut inside and drilled a great shot into the corner of the Kiev goal.
United could have scored more but Ferguson will be more than happy with his side's victory and subsequent progress into the last 16.
After the match Rooney blasted his side's negative opponents.
"They showed no enthusiasm to play the game but we did a good job," Rooney told Sky Sports 2.
"As soon as get the first you know they must try a bit to come out and play.
"At times we played some good football but we're delighted with 4-0.
"A few young lads came in tonight and it will give them good experience."
Meanwhile Ferguson was pleased that a team including several youngsters was able to cope with the challenge put before them.
"It was a perfect result and gets us into the next stage so we must be very pleased with that," he told Sky Sports 2.
"They adopted a man-marking system and made it very difficult - it was something new for the young players.
"We got a break with the first goal and it opened up the game up for us."