Tuesday, May 5
2009
Like the great Emperors of the past, Sir Alex Ferguson
will attempt to rule Rome in three weeks' time after Manchester
United produced an awesome attacking display to destroy
Arsenal.
A fortuitous opener from Park Ji-sung was followed by a
thunderous 40-yard free-kick from Cristiano Ronaldo to effectively
book a Champions League final date with Chelsea or Barcelona on May
27 after only 11 minutes.
Ronaldo capped a fine performance and drew howls of glee from
David Beckham, who had made the trip from Milan to witness a
victory that will go alongside that staggering win over Juventus in
1999 that the former England skipper was a part of, by sliding home
a third goal, his 25th of the season.
It was not quite a perfect night for United. How could it be
when Darren Fletcher ended it in disbelief at the red card for a
tackle on Cesc Fabregas which will rule him out of the Italian
job.
However, it was not far off, leaving United to await events at
Stamford Bridge tomorrow with so many neutrals, if not a Chelsea
side hell-bent on revenge, hoping Barcelona set up what would be a
dream decider.
No amount of meticulous planning can legislate for bad luck. It
is the unknown factor that, in an instant, can screw any amount of
hopes and dreams into the tightest ball and throw them out of the
highest window, never to be seen again.
Kieran Gibbs has not been a first-team regular very long.
Fitness permitting, he has almost a decade and a half in front of
him in the Arsenal side.
It is a fair bet, at the end of his career, the 18-year-old
still regards the horror that unfolded eight minutes into what was
such an eagerly-awaited contest as the worst moment he had to
endure.
Quick off the mark: Park squeezes home the early
opener for United
In his head, Gibbs was about to control Ronaldo's cutback, then
decide whether to play a short pass out of defence or present
Manuel Almunia with a routine clearance. Fate had other
plans.
Instead, poor Gibbs lost his footing and hit the ground with a
thump. Like lightning, Park seized on the loose ball, delicately
lifting it over Almunia, whose arrival came just too
late.
The United contingent went delirious. Fans, coaches, manager,
players, Beckham alike all knew what it meant. They knew the
prospect of Arsenal getting three to go through was so remote to be
beyond comprehension.
But if United's opener came courtesy of good fortune, their next
was the result of audacity, mixed with high ability. To even think
of going for goal from the spot when Robin van Persie had clattered
into Ronaldo would be dismissed by most professionals as
foolhardy.
Two good: Ronaldo celebrates after his stunning
strike doubled United's lead
Yet, in Porto three weeks ago, the world player of the
year drove home a shot measured at exactly 39.1 yards. As Ronaldo
stepped back and waited from even further out, ready to unleash his
missile, Almunia knew what to expect.
Indeed, it could be argued that from such distances, not
goalkeeper should be beaten. But as Ronaldo let fly, with venom,
and watched his shot dip and flicker, Almunia was powerless to
prevent it ripping into the net.
If three was unlikely, four was an impossibility, turning the
remaining 79 minutes into an extended wake, leaving Arsene Wenger
on the bench wondering what had hit him, knowing his Champions
League obsession will not end in Roman triumph.
In fairness, Arsenal tried to rally. It was just that by pushing
forward, they left wide open gaps that United are too experienced
to ignore.
Almunia's fingertips denied Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo's header from
the corner whistled wide, then two more free-kicks from the latter
were saved.
When the Portuguese player cut inside Emmanuel Eboue, on as a
half-time replacement to put Gibbs out of his misery, the shot
would have found the bottom corner had Almunia not denied
him.
There was nothing the Spaniard could do when United attacked
again, Ronaldo supplying the finish to Rooney's cross. As his
players cavorted in glee, Ferguson ordered them to tone down their
celebrations out of respect to the hosts. It was the only mercy the
Red Devils showed all night, although for Fletcher there was a
nasty sting in the tail.
The Scot got studs on the ball before sending Fabregas flying in
the penalty area, earning him a red card which will rule him out of
the final. Van Persie impressively converted the spot-kick - but it
was little consolation for Arsenal.
Edwin Van der Sar palms away an Emmanuel Adebayor
header
Park Ji Sung rounds a floored Kieran
Gibson
Park Ji Sung stabs past Manuel Almunia
Park Ji Sung wheels away after putting United
ahead
David Beckham in the stands at The
Emirates
Ronaldo fires in his goal-bound free
kick
Ronaldo celebrates his spectacular
free-kick
United skipper Rio Ferdinand
Ronaldo tucks in United’s third
Ronaldo screams away
Darren Fletcher tackles Cesc Fabregas - and
appears to nick the ball
Darren Fletcher sees red
Darren Fletcher traipses off after his
dismissal
Robin van Persie slams the ball down in
frustration
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Djourou, Gibbs
(Eboue 45), Walcott (Bendtner 63), Fabregas, Song Billong, Nasri,
Van Persie (Vela 79), Adebayor.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Silvestre, Diaby, Denilson.
Booked: Nasri, Adebayor, Eboue.
Goals: Van Persie 76 pen.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic,
Evra (Rafael Da Silva 65), Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson (Giggs 63),
Park, Ronaldo, Rooney (Berbatov 66).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Evans, Scholes, Tevez.
Sent Off: Fletcher (75).
Goals: Park 8, Ronaldo 11, 61.
Att: 59,867
Ref: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).
Player Rater man of the match: Man Utd's
Cristiano Ronaldo (8.67 on 90 minutes).
