United Beat Stubborn Schalke
Untied players celebrating Rooney's goal (Foto: eurosport.com)
Manchester have flown one step into the Champions League final after defeating Schalke 2-0 last night at the Veltins. United needed an inspired Giggs to open the score, while Hernandez finished the game scoreless.
Great-shaped Neuer managed to save dozens of shots but, at one point, his efforts had to be cemented by a strong defence. Schalke resisted keeping the sheet clean until the 62nd minute when things started to go wrong. Rooney was the first to put Neuer into big trouble. The United striker looked for the far post in the third minute, but his deflected shot was saved by the keeper.
Three minutes later, Park tested the same Neuer with a thundering shot the German managed to deny. The first big chance belonged to the same Devils. The 14th minute found Hernandez missing a face-to-face chance with the keeper. Park fed the Mexican inside the box, but the youngster could only hit Neuer from six yards or so.
Hernandez missed a second opportunity in the 21st minute. The striker was played just inside the box, but his shot met the side netting to the dismay of Alex Ferguson. Giggs got his first chance in the 28th minute. Vidic’s picked the veteran with a superb cross the Welsh headed it straight to Neuer in what should have been an earlier opener.
Schalke got their first yellow card in the 34th minute through Metzelder. The central defender took down Rooney only to be cautioned by the referee. Fabio, too, got a huge chance. The right defender started a long distance drive which he finished with a dangerous shot just over the crossbar. Giggs, who was chasing a goal, mocked another opportunity with one minute left, shooting straight to Neuer. The half time went scoreless, but United’s first goal was just a matter of time.
As for the second part, it started with Carrick and Giggs’s misses. The first one failed to head the ball beyond Neuer, while the latter one missed another good chance in the 48th minute, striking wide from inside the box. Hernandez did score a goal, but the referee disallowed it for an offside position. Fabio got his first yellow in the 58th minute following a trip on Jurado.
Manchester scored their two goals within two minutes. A tremendous combinative action finished with Rooney’s pass for Giggs who finally beat exhausted Neuer with a superb first touch from ten yards. It was the 67th minute and a second one could have come just seconds later had the same veteran found the target. Rooney made it 2-0 in the 69th minute. Hernandez picked the striker inside the box to put it under Neuer for a double lead. United could have made it even three, but Nani’s 88th minute shot went just wide. 2-0 as United are one step into the big final.
Said Alex Ferguson: “The players are relishing these games. I think we’re coming to a peak. Our concentration, the intensity of our play and the speed of our passing were all excellent tonight. It was a top performance. I’m really pleased with the players, every one of them has done fantastically well tonight.” The second leg will take place on May 4 at the Old Trafford.
Schalke 04 – Neuer; Sarpei, Metzelder, Matip, Uchida; Jurado, Papadopoulos, Baumjohann, Farfan; Raul, Edu. Reserves: S. Escudero, P. Kluge, J. Draxler, A. karimi, A. Charisteas, N. Plestan, M. Schober.
Manchester United – Van der Sar; Fabio, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Park; Rooney, Hernandez. Reserves: Nani, P. Scholes, T. Kuszczak, J. Evans, C. Smalling, Rafael, Anderson.
