SALFORD RED
01-04-2008, 09:56 PM
Manchester United took a
giant stride towards the
Champions League semi-final
with a vital victory against
AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.
Cristiano Ronaldo headed home his
36th goal of the season from Paul Scholes'
cross six minutes before half-time.
Roma rallied, with Christian Panucci missing from close range
and Edwin van der Sar saving brilliantly from Mirko Vucinic's
61st-minute header.
But Rooney bundled home United's crucial second five minutes later.
Sir Alex Ferguson made three changes from the side that
won so emphatically against Aston Villa on Saturday -
Van der Sar, Anderson and Ji-Sung Park replacing
Tomasz Kuszczak, Ryan Giggs and Carlos Tevez.
Vucinic led the Roma attack in place of injured captain
Francesco Totti, and he was a lively figure in a first
45 minutes that saw United relatively untroubled.
Panucci posed an early threat when he rose to meet
David Pizarro's corner but headed over the top.
Vucinic was just off target before United suffered a blow
after 29 minutes when Nemanja Vidic was carried off after
landing awkwardly on his knee in an aerial challenge.
However, United reacted well to the setback and took
the lead with a priceless away goal from Ronaldo six
minutes before the interval.
Scholes sat up an inviting cross and Ronaldo rose
superbly to power a downward header past Doni.
The Portuguese winger took a heavy bang to the
head in scoring, but recovered quickly to carry on.
Vucinic could have levelled two minutes later, but he
jabbed a finish across the face of goal after escaping
the attentions of the United defence.
Roma set about United with intent after the break,
Max Tonetto sending a powerful drive just wide and
Panucci wasting their best chance of the night when
he blasted over from close range after United failed to
deal with Vucinic's long throw.
It prompted a response from Ferguson after 55 minutes
as Owen Hargreaves was sent on for the disappointing
Anderson, who was also suffering a hamstring problem.
Roma were testing United's resolve, and just after the
hour Van der Sar needed to produce a stunning reflex
save to turn away Vucinic's flicked header.
But United survived the siege to break out and deliver
a stunning counter-punch to double their advantage.
Park did well to head Wes Brown's long cross into the
danger area and when Doni failed to collect, Rooney
bundled home from inside the six-yard box.
Roma, understandably, looked demoralised and United
came within inches of adding a third and effectively
putting the tie to bed late on.
First Ronaldo fired a low shot against an upright before
Michael Carrick was just inches off-target from 20 yards
as United gathered momentum.
Then, with seconds remaining, Ronaldo almost crowned
the perfect in night in spectacular fashion when he
volleyed just over from substitute Tevez's cross.
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giant stride towards the
Champions League semi-final
with a vital victory against
AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.
Cristiano Ronaldo headed home his
36th goal of the season from Paul Scholes'
cross six minutes before half-time.
Roma rallied, with Christian Panucci missing from close range
and Edwin van der Sar saving brilliantly from Mirko Vucinic's
61st-minute header.
But Rooney bundled home United's crucial second five minutes later.
Sir Alex Ferguson made three changes from the side that
won so emphatically against Aston Villa on Saturday -
Van der Sar, Anderson and Ji-Sung Park replacing
Tomasz Kuszczak, Ryan Giggs and Carlos Tevez.
Vucinic led the Roma attack in place of injured captain
Francesco Totti, and he was a lively figure in a first
45 minutes that saw United relatively untroubled.
Panucci posed an early threat when he rose to meet
David Pizarro's corner but headed over the top.
Vucinic was just off target before United suffered a blow
after 29 minutes when Nemanja Vidic was carried off after
landing awkwardly on his knee in an aerial challenge.
However, United reacted well to the setback and took
the lead with a priceless away goal from Ronaldo six
minutes before the interval.
Scholes sat up an inviting cross and Ronaldo rose
superbly to power a downward header past Doni.
The Portuguese winger took a heavy bang to the
head in scoring, but recovered quickly to carry on.
Vucinic could have levelled two minutes later, but he
jabbed a finish across the face of goal after escaping
the attentions of the United defence.
Roma set about United with intent after the break,
Max Tonetto sending a powerful drive just wide and
Panucci wasting their best chance of the night when
he blasted over from close range after United failed to
deal with Vucinic's long throw.
It prompted a response from Ferguson after 55 minutes
as Owen Hargreaves was sent on for the disappointing
Anderson, who was also suffering a hamstring problem.
Roma were testing United's resolve, and just after the
hour Van der Sar needed to produce a stunning reflex
save to turn away Vucinic's flicked header.
But United survived the siege to break out and deliver
a stunning counter-punch to double their advantage.
Park did well to head Wes Brown's long cross into the
danger area and when Doni failed to collect, Rooney
bundled home from inside the six-yard box.
Roma, understandably, looked demoralised and United
came within inches of adding a third and effectively
putting the tie to bed late on.
First Ronaldo fired a low shot against an upright before
Michael Carrick was just inches off-target from 20 yards
as United gathered momentum.
Then, with seconds remaining, Ronaldo almost crowned
the perfect in night in spectacular fashion when he
volleyed just over from substitute Tevez's cross.
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discuss all breaking news on all things United !!! Come talk to us….
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