Clinical United take chances to beat Mourinho's Inter
Vidic got United off to a flying start against Inter Milan at Old Trafford
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Wednesday, 11, Mar 2009 11:04
Manchester United have beaten Inter Milan 2-0 in the second leg of their Champions League clash to reach the quarter-finals of the competition.
The defending champions won 2-0 on aggregate following a goalless draw at the San Siro.
Goals from Nemanja Vidic and Cristiano Ronaldo four minutes into the start of each half were enough to help the Premier League side past Jose Mourinho's men.
Vidic gave United the perfect start after just four minutes. The defender easily shook off Patrick Vieira's attempt at marking and thundered a header past Julio Cesar.
The goal appeared to stun the visitors and they remained on the back foot for the next 25 minutes.
This allowed Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick to boss things in midfield, although United could not turn their superiority into more goals.
After half an hour Inter did manage to create a guilt-edged opportunity for Zlatan Ibrahimovic but the Swedish striker failed to capitalise.
Maicon swung in a perfect free-kick and, although he had a free header, Ibrahimovic nodded the ball into the ground and it clipped the top of the crossbar on its way over.
That seemed to spark Inter into life and moments later Ibrahimovic played in Dejan Stankovic, but Edwin van der Sar managed to tip the midfielder's 35-yard volley around the post.
Having survived those scares towards the end of the first half United's nerves were settled at the start of the second period.
The Italian's once more were made to look brittle against balls into the box when Wayne Rooney crossed to find Cristiano Ronaldo.
He beat the advancing Cesar to the ball to give United a two goal cushion. Inter appealed for offside against Dimitar Berbatov but the referee decided the striker was not interfering with play and the goal stood.
Ten minutes later Inter almost hauled themselves back into the match but again they were denied by the woodwork.
Esteban Cambiasso found Adriano eight yards from goal and the Brazilian hit a blistering volley that beat van der Sar but rebounded to safety.
Inter tried to press forward in the final stages but United managed to restrict them to half chances and long distance shots.
Ronaldo almost added to his tally with a free-kick late on but despite Cesar's save Alex Ferguson's side will have been satisfied with their night's work as they progressed into the last eight of the tournament.