Scholes fires United to Champions League final
Ferguson's side beat Barca
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Tuesday, 29, Apr 2008 10:08
A classic Paul Scholes strike was enough to guarantee Manchester United a place in the Champions League final at the expense of Barcelona.
After a relatively insipid display at the Nou Camp just one week ago, the Catalan side immediately went on the offensive at Old Trafford, with Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o running at a United defence missing the influential Nemanja Vidic.
However, the visitors failed to capitalise on their early dominance and it was United who took the lead as Scholes hit his first goal for eight months past a desperate Victor Valdes from 25 yards.
The goal gave the hosts the confidence they needed and Michael Carrick and a lively Ji-Sung Park began to dominate the centre of the pitch while Wes Brown and Rio Ferdinand held firm even as Barcelona stepped up a gear in the closing minutes of the first half.
With Sir Alex Ferguson's men having conceded just one Champions League goal in five home matches this season, they came out after the interval the favourites to progress, though wary that a single goal would give Frank Rijkaard's men an aggregate win.
Messi continued to impress, far more so than a relatively subdued Ronaldo, while Thierry Henry and Bojan both came on as Barcelona searched for an equalizer.
Henry made chances for himself twice only to put his efforts too close to the United keeper and, though they threw everything forward, the Spanish side never really looked like grabbing a victory.
United will face either Chelsea or Liverpool in the Moscow final in three weeks time.