Forever United

This is the summaryCarlos Tevez sealed a semi-final clash with Barcelona with a goal in the 70th minute sending Roma officially out of the competition. It was the Argentine's 4th champions league goal and 17th of the season. This is the second time in 2 season that Manchester United has beaten Roma to reach the semi-finals of the champions league.

Everyone was surprised with the squad that was picked by Sir Alex Ferguson for the clash with Roma with no Ronaldo or Rooney in the team. Clearly Ferguson was trying to keep his key players fresh for the vital clash with Arsenal in the premier league. But Owen Hargreaves was simply brilliant this evening and he justfied his selection for the match. He was recalled alongside Silvestre, Pique, Anderson and Ji-Sung Park emphasizing on the quality and depth in the squad.
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United took the attack to Roma right from the onset with a Hargreaves cross from the right got cleared by Phelipe Mexes.Park sent his effort across the face of goal and wide in the sixth minute following good work by Ryan Giggs.A minute later Tevez was unmarked but headed wide from a cross from Park.United kept up the pressure and Wes Brown head over the bar following a corner from Giggs in the ninth minute.Then Roma goalkeeper Doni did well to parry a shot from Hargreaves to safety.The Italians rallied briefly and Mirko Vucinic saw his effort blocked by Edwin van der Sar.However Doni again had to look to alert to prevent Giggs and Anderson making the breakthrough in quick succession for United.

Vucinic then sruck a shot that would have stung the hands of Van der Sar in the 29th minute before Roma were awarded a controversial penalty in the 30th minute when Brown was adjudged to have brought down Mancini in the box. The refree Tom Henning's decision infuriated the United boss Sir Alex Ferguson but to his relief and so for many United fans who held their breath as De Rossi stepped up to take the spot kick and saw the ball going high over the bar. Roma re-grouped and Vucinic came close to making the breakthrough in the 48th minute when van der Sar spilled his shot.He tried to muscle in on the rebound but Rio Ferdinand, showing no sign of his foot injury, stood firm and made a crucial block.

Roma stepped up the pace and Taddei rattled in a shot that was deflected to safety by Silvestre in the 57th minute.The home supporters were keen to see United extend their lead and Giggs released Tevez in the 67th minute but he had strayed into an offside position.The goal eventually came in the 70th minute thanks to Tevez' fourth goal in the Champions League and his 17th of the season.He peeled away from his marker to head home following as cross from Hargreaves to put United 3-0 ahead on aggregate.

Four minutes later Rooney was brought on in a bid to increase the misery on Roma.He was given a rousing reception but that was nothing compared to the roar that greeted Gary Neville in the 81st minute.It was first run out for a year after ankle injury and he took the armbandThen in the 89th minute Park saw his effort blocked by Doni as United finished in style.