Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Goal scorers Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney notched up a 2-0 victory at Roma on Tuesday night to completely give surety Manchester United's entry in the Champions League semi-finals. Ronaldo played down his goal simply saying his 36th of the season was 'a good header' and preferred to comment on the team's overall performance.
For the first 15 minutes of the second period, Roma, who were missing talisman Francesco Totti, never looked capable of challenging the Red Devils. Even so, Roma coach Luciano Spalletti refused to accept the tie. United enjoyed a lot playing first period as Roma sat back, apparently plan on not giving anything away.
On 12 minutes, though, the visitors opened up the Roma defense but after Park Ji-Sung took the ball down on his chest he was crowded out. Christian Panucci headed just over the bar from a David Pizarro corner and Mirko Vucinic also shot over as he was falling backwards after Rio Ferdinand had slipped. United then suffered a blow as Nemanja Vidic was stretchered off with a leg injury, to be replaced by John O'Shea.
Chances were few and far between but on 39 minutes United produced a move of magnificent quality, controling the ball around the edge of the Roma box and moving it from left to right before Paul Scholes crossed for Ronaldo to come blistering in like a guide to out jump Marco Cassetti and thump home a header. Just three minutes later Roma had their best chance of the opening stanza after a mistake from Ferdinand but Vucinic dragged his shot from the left just beyond the far upright. Four minutes later, United scored a considerable second as Park headed a profound cross from Wes Brown back across goal and Rooney swabbed up the loose ball after goalkeeper Doni and Panucci slow down each other.
United showed they could still dominate the Italians following last season's 8-3 aggregate triumph at the same stage of the competition with a stylish and clinical display.
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