MIGHTY Manchester United crushed Roma with a scintillating display at Old Trafford to progress to the Champions League semi-finals.
Goals from Michael Carrick (two), Alan Smith, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo (two) and Patrice Evra ripped the Giallorossi apart, with Daniele de Rossi scoring the visitors' consolation.
The Reds went into the game trailing 2-1 but scored three goals in the first 19 minutes to set up their biggest European win since 1968.
They will face the winner of Bayern Munich v AC Milan in the semis.
In 20 years as United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson has seen and done virtually everything.
But never, in five previous attempts, has he presided over a Champions League knockout stage win from a first-leg defeat. And never, ever, has he seen one of his teams go out against the Italian masters of defence and score seven times.
It was all the more remarkable because they were missing at least four automatic members of the Scot’s first-choice line-up.
On this evidence, who can possibly stop them lifting the trophy for a third time in Athens on May 23.
Joyous
As the hosts headed off down the tunnel at half-time, their joyous supporters cheered themselves hoarse, wondering, perhaps, whether they had just witnessed the most amazing 45 minutes of European football this ground has ever seen.
After surviving a couple of early scares, United hit Roma like a whirlwind. The football they produced simply took the breath away.
The usual protagonists were to the fore as expected, but so too were Darren Fletcher, who probably only got his chance because Paul Scholes was suspended, and Carrick, who scored the first, played a major role in the second and at a stroke swept away the doubters who believed at £18.6million, the summer signing from Tottenham was far too expensive.
Carrick set United on their way in nerveless fashion, collecting Ronaldo’s square pass, then advancing on the Roma goal.
Doni may look back and feel he got his angles wrong but in offering Carrick a clear sight of his top left-hand corner, he committed goalkeeping suicide. The midfielder gleefully dispatched a curling shot to light the blue touch paper on the end of which Roma’s Champions League dream was burnt to a frazzle.
The home crowd were still buzzing when Carrick laid an exquisite pass to Rooney, who instantly flicked the ball onto Ryan Giggs. The Welshman’s through ball deflected off Cristian Chivu to Smith.
In smashing home his shot, the Yorkshireman was banishing 14 months of injury hell. He was also scoring his first United goal since November 2005 and his first in this competition since netting for Leeds against Deportivo La Coruna at the same stage six years ago.
Reeling
Roma were still reeling when they were hit by another thunderbolt as Ronaldo released Giggs, whose cross was flicked into the far corner by Rooney.
Having scored his first goal in 18 Champions League games a week ago, the England man suddenly has a taste for it.
So too, Ronaldo, who prior to this onslaught had never scored a goal in the competition but had predicted in a pre-match programme interview his time was coming.
It proved to be a fairly accurate assessment of the situation too as he collected the ball from Giggs two minutes before the break, attacked Chivu with his usual directness and slammed the ball into the bottom corner.
And that, for the first half at least, was that.
Rooney began the second period with a fizzing shot Doni flicked over.
Giggs’ corner was half cleared but when Rooney ferried a pass back to the Welshman, he drilled a low cross to the far post where Ronaldo was waiting to bundle it home.
A sixth followed on the hour as Carrick collected Gabriel Heinze’s pass and arrowed a shot into the top corner which was even better than his first effort.
De Rossi pulled one back for Roma but Evra soon cancelled it out to complete the rout.
What is your verdict on the game? Have your say.
United 7 Roma 1 (United win 8-3 on agg)
April 10, 2007
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watching the live match at home alone. Malaysia time 230am early in the morning. When i celebrate the 6th goal, Somebody knock my door, is a Police officer and saying that my neighbour (Chelsea fans) complaint i shouted too loud! OMG... THANKS MAN UTD!! what a important victory!! Everybody notice that Totti face? No more arrogant!!
No negatives after that display. Absolutely awesome. I'm going to single out Smitty for a great performance which will make people like me think twice about his future with this team.
Useless! should have been 10!
The big news is Ferdinand getting booked.
what were you saying about this squad again bobbyD???? I'm sure you were lucky enough to be at the game tonight. What a match!!!!!!!!
We've been waiting for carrick to have a big impact on the game, and he chose the right match to do it in. 2 cracking goals from him,, especially the first one to get us started. fantastic.
And what about smithy. what a finish at the end of that move. has to be contender for goal of the season.
Rooney and ronaldo can't score in europe??? They can now, and again, they've found their shooting range just at the right time.
Fletch was a tower in midfield today. Great 'squad' player don't you think.
But for me man of the match had to be one of ronaldo or giggs. Giggs takes it though because he had a hand in nearly all the goals we score while he was on the pitch.
Nice to see evra and heinze in the same team??? surprised to find him at right back though, but fergie could be onto something there. took his goal well too.
And what about Richardson....only kidding.
Happy Happy Happy days. I'm even please to see chelsea through. 3 English teams in the semis. Makes me proud!!!!!
Brilliant. Football as only United can play it.
Just so, so proud. Proud of the team, proud to be a Red. So many good things about tonite, many ghosts laid about overturning deficits and going out as soon as the knock-out stages get going. Was I the only one panicking in the 45th minute with us four up and Roma with a free kick? . But tonight was all about ATTITUDE. The whole team wanted it so much and AT LAST the likes of Fletcher, O'Shea and Brown showed what they ARE capable of if they'll only put in the effort for 90 mins. I covered my bum with a bet on Roma so I could have a beer or two if things didn't work out, well enjoy the money, Mr. Done, have a beer on me!
Well done Reds, I'm so very proud. I'm (kof kof) years old and I've tears in my eyes like a kid. Marvellous!
I'm stunned. Thank you United, for giving me a memory I'll never forget. Fantastic.
Forgot to say: their goal came from Heinze messing about with a clearance. Have a word, Sir Alex....
What a night!! What a scoreline!! Fergies best ever european result in the qualifiers. If Carrick and Giggs had of stayed on I could see us getting 9/10 goals. Chelsea Man Utd Final same as FA cup and the battle for the league. Bring it on !! ps Fletchers best game ever. Smith should be given a run in the team now.
Wow, flipping heck! after saying we had no chance with the likes of O'Shea and Fletcher in the team, they go and produce a performance like this. What do I know! Absolutely bloody fantastic..even Fletcher, who looked like a scottish Gerard. Well done lads for putting me in my place and making me prouder in the team than I have been for a long time.
totally amazing gob smacked.party time,any blues wanna comment then feel free please.
Over the moon.
Not bother who we get now with a result like that all the team were stars.10/10
Based on tonight's performance, I would say Smith's time in mid-field has greatly improved him as a forward. Great passing. (I'm not going to say anything about the tackling)
Quality performance!! Would have settled for 3-1 but 7 was somethin special!! Lets give Watford a spanking, win our next 2 prem games (both at OT) and this season could be special!! Touch wood!!
Was great to see Smiffy given a start, brave decision by SAF but Smiffy but 110% in as always and deserved his goal.
Imagine how many we could have had if Scholsey had been in the team... 9-1? 10-1? Who knows!!
Only downside, besides the bookings, would be SAF bringing Richardson on. After his 45 minute performance at Fratton Park at the wkend did he really deserve a run out tonight? Did he bollox!!!! Why not give Eagles, Dong Whatizname, or young Cathcart half an hour of European experience and sample of that atmosphere!! Well done tho lads, great effort!! Bring on Watford!! MOURINHO, are you watchin!!!!!
Enjoy ourself, a performance like that can only be seen once in a lifetime. Cheers to Smithy, Ronie, Carrick and Heinze. Pitty Chelski get through "Mourinho way" it could have been more enjoyable, but don't forget that in football, joy leaves quickly place for sadness, so let's concentrate on the FA Cup from tomorrow until the final whistle at Villa Park
This is why I love football. This is why I love Manchester United!
Well I'been very critical of these UTD players MC,RG,and DF but today they were awsome and deserve the respect of every UTD fan and I'll be carefull what I write on this site in the future,Please except my apologises.
Great Game, but did everyone see a NEW UTD PLAYER????
Fletcher is like a NEW Man? My man of the match, he ran at every Roma player, hustled every ball. Fletcher plays like this every game , and he will be the next Keano!!!!!! I can't believe what I just said!
What an amazing display, all, and I include the son of SAF ,the players were fantastic. Carrick MOM for me, just shading Ronaldo. A fabulous Euro night at Old Trafford, let's hope there's more to come. Tonight, this team looked hungry, angry and passionate, great to see. Back four brilliant, Carrick excellent and very well supported by son of SAF( did I really write that?). Giggs put in a very good display, and I was really pleased with (and for) Smudger, thought he had a great game. Rooney and Ronny...not much to be said...great stuff. A perfect way to make Roma pay for the mess in the stands at Stadio Olympico. Negative: Chelski nicked it at the death again!
SAF should be fired after that performance! What was he thinking playing Fletcher and O'Shea together? Where is the big name signing we were promised last summer?
What ever will the haters have to say about this one?? I suppose they'll just skip this thread and wait until the weekend in hopes of a sub par performance.
Watfords bums must be twitching, eh?
What a night more than any of could have expected, a lot of supporters need to hold up their hands,Fletcher and Carrick played their best games for United,nobody can argue with that.Smith was a masterclass we were just bloody fantastic,that had to be the best way to take revenge for Rome.
Some lads came of age tonight in a big way.
Absoulutely fantastic performance! As I said after the Pompey game, lets not get too disheartened. Once again, lets enjoy it for a day and them move on. As I have said, even if we do not win anything this season, United have played brilliant football this season, so exciting to watch, special mentions tonight for Carrick, Smith, Fletcher.
Fergie did say any team can lose a game or two, its how you respond and look how we did!
Also, just got semi final tickets for Watford through today as well. On the 9.54 train on Saturday from Piccadilly, on the lash in Birmingham, great times !
Also, look forward to hearing from Shanny Hyde and my old friend Blue John Levenshulme, where are you boys?
MUFC - THE PRIDE OF MANCHESTER.
Come on you bertie blues fans lets be having you my little bitter berties.roma ripped to shreds.
Oh i love it.
In fact im taking the day off work,get the jim bean out.oh yes.a fit cigar.
Lets sing and be merry.lol
I cannot find words to describe this performance!! I was impressed by the contribution of smith and fletcher apart from the usual "suspects" Rooney, Ronaldo & Carrick.
You saw what happend in the first leg with Scholsey. played better without him.
I said goddamn!