MANCHESTER United crashed out of the Champions League in dramatic fashion at Old Trafford tonight.
Clinging desperately to the away goals win they would have secured through Paul Scholes' 31st-minute header, United were left stunned when Costinha reacted quickest when Tim Howard kept out Benni McCarthy's brilliant stoppage-time free-kick to slam home the goal which dumped United out.
It was cruel luck on United, who were left to lament an incorrect decision to rule out a second Scholes strike for offside on the stroke of half-time.
The hosts suffered a double blow before tonight's crucial Champions League encounter with FC Porto when it was decided Mikael Silvestre and Louis Saha were not fit enough to start.
Sir Alex Ferguson had hoped Silvestre would be fit after his recent knee injury. But that belief was dashed, while Saha only made the bench as he struggles to overcome a niggling calf problem.
With captain Roy Keane suspended, the reshuffle left Gary Neville to partner Wes Brown in central defence - while Eric Djemba-Djemba was offered his first European start.
Holding a 2-1 lead from the first game a fortnight ago, Porto made one change - drafting in Costinha for Pedro Mendes.
The game was being played amid the backdrop of the on-going row between Ferguson and opposite number Jose Mourinho about what the United boss termed Porto's gamesmanship - an argument which was sure to further fuel an already highly-charged Old Trafford atmosphere.
United started with the determination of a side that knew they had to win but Ferguson's first gesture was a wave of disgust as Carlos Alberto collapsed to the floor under the weight of Nicky Butt's challenge.
Blocked off
Ruud van Nistelrooy tried to force his way into the area but was blocked off by Ricardo Carvalho and the home side could make nothing of successive corners that followed.
Paul Scholes sent a bullet shot wide after Ryan Giggs had pushed a short free-kick into the England international's path, before Porto advanced for virtually the first time, Nuno Valente wasting a decent position inside the United box with poor control.
Carvalho caught van Nistelrooy round the neck with one lusty high challenge but yet again Giggs wasted the set piece.
Phil Neville was yellow carded for a clear enough foul on Alberto, although the contact hardly warranted the extended roll that followed and the youngster hardly endeared himself to the home support when he went over again the next time he took possession, Brown the man to send him sprawling this time.
Costinha evened up the caution count with a wicked tackle on van Nistelrooy before Alberto went down again, this time blocked off by Paul Scholes.
As the half hour mark passed without Baia being forced to make a save, it looked like turning into a difficult evening for the hosts.
Late arriver
But salvation was at hand in the familiar form of Paul Scholes, who crept into the area unannounced as John O'Shea played a left wing one-two with Giggs and then rose to plant a firm header into the net after the Irishman had stepped inside onto his right foot and delivered a near post cross into the six-yard area.
Djemba-Djemba was having a tidy evening in possession but it was his mis-kick which presented Alberto with the shooting opportunity he should have buried.
However, Tim Howard blocked with his feet and Maniche slammed the rebound high over bar.
Alberto had a penalty claim waved away when he went down again under pressure from Brown but the next chance came to United and should have seen them double their lead as Scholes halted Giggs' powerful, but wayward strike, and tap it into the net, only for the assistant referee to incorrectly rule the England man offside.
Ferguson introduced Saha for Djemba-Djemba at half-time but it was Porto who carved out the first chance of the second period and Brown did well to get a firm block on Maniche's goalbound effort.
Relief
Carlos Alberto sent another effort trickling by the post which Howard was not entirely sure he had covered.
Scholes was booked for a sliding studs-first challenge on Emanuel, the caution ruling him out of United's next European tie, wherever that may be.
Paulo Ferreira steered a deep Phil Neville cross over his own bar after van Nistelrooy had just failed to get on the end of it.
Giggs, van Nistelrooy and Scholes then conspired to waste an excellent chance when all Saha needed was a pass to find him unmarked just eight yards from goal.
Just to prove they still had a chance, Porto responded and Dmitri Alenitchev sent a dipping volley just over.
Maniche was booked for a nasty challenge on Scholes, then Cristiano Ronaldo was given a chance to inflict some damage on his fellow countrymen when he replaced the excellent Fletcher.
Almost immediately Ronaldo was caught by Nuno Valente, a tackle the referee did not believe warranted a free-kick and was prepared to let Porto play-on.
The damage though proved to be terminal and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was forced to enter the fray.
As the seconds ticked down, it looked as though United would survive but when Phil Neville fouled Edgar Jankauskas on the edge of the area, Benni McCarthy sent the free-kick arrowing towards the top corner.
Howard reacted late to keep it out but Costinha latched onto the loose ball and lashed it into the unguarded net to send United spinning out of the competition.
Have your say on United's Euro exit.
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sad day... i was hoping for a better result and it wasn't in the cards i guess. Howard seems to lose track sometimes on crosses and its a pity to lose like this. however, the "off-sides" call should never have happened, and united should be through. maybe this is the wake-up call they've been needing all season? Rio is sorely missed. let's hope the Premiership and FA Cup don't hold the same sad results.
We didn't deserve to lose the tie the referees lost it for us. I ran over and over Scholes' disallowed goal and no way it could be ruled out. This was also the view of our TV match commentators. Naturally I was extremely disappointed by the result but we will be back next season. Cheers up our fellow Reds in England.
The world and his dog will now wax lyrical about the demise of United, but the fact is we were seconds away from the CL quarter-finals for the 8th year in a row. A transition season, I'm afraid, but nobody died.
This is the worst night we've had in years, worse than losing to Madrid, worst than losing to Liverpool in the Worthington Cup, or to Everton in the FA Cup. Poor performanc, pethetic, shocking, made me want to cry. We where unlucky, the whole disallowed goal, last minuet goal, but truthfully there all execuses. We might have gone through, but we where never going to win it. This is the poorest United team i've seen in years, and thats not based on tonight. I was looking foward to the FA Cup, but now i can't be bothered. I saw Fergie after the game, looked like a man wondering if he should still be in control. The Beckham and Veron sale, and the buying of Kleberson, Forlan, all poor. This is a very upset and angry Tom from York loging off until next season. I will stick with United forever, but can't help but feel this is the end of the road.
That was great..roll on Sunday.
The team that tried to play football won.
Why did Utd resort to the long ball when they have Ruud and Giggs?
A cruel blow in the last minute, but if you sit back on your lead you invite trouble.
What now Fergie? Richest club in the world, outplayed by Porto over 2 matches, and 3rd best in the Premiership
He too the acclaim, now he must take the criticism. With all Utds resources, why weren't Beckam and Ferdinand replaced.
Not interested in the FA Cup. The inquest starts now.
I am totally fed up of bad decisions by lines men and referees, it's about time we had a reply on the side line as in rugby. this would stop alot of the 'cheating' falling over etc if the player is likely to be booked when caught out on screen.
Utd were robbed of victory tonight because of bad decisions and have been in the past!
Glad the scum are out, Porto totally deserved it, Utd are a pale imitation of the team that won it in '99.
Forever in our shadow - LFC
The football governing bodies,such as UEFA, FIFA et al, should do something about disallowed goals that happen to be nothing but an indecisive linesman. That disallowed goal cost United the game and most probably a place in the quarter finals. Anyway, United gave it a good shot and nobody should blame the defence because they were very solid, every one of them. I wonder, though, why Fletcher was taken off. I thought that he had an excellent game and was a force in midfield. And may I add that, in the second half, United stayed back too much. But United gave what they had and, in the end, the score did not do them justice. There's always next year. On we go to the F.A. Cup.
So, I'd say that this is definitely a purplenose out week then.
Sick to my stomach. The Arse and Chelski are now the better teams.
Seasons over. I hope we are better prepared for next year.
One champions league win in 17 years is pretty pathetic.
Best manager of all time -Bob Paisley even though I'm a united fan.
I think the FC Porto was the best team in both games! David v Golias, and David WIN. Congratulations to FC Porto, because this win was bought in a England Supermarket!!!!
Thanks 'sir' alex, you speak very and dont know what is Football...
FC Porto is a great team!!!
so gutted, ure report makes it seem the free kick was an amazin shot, it was such an easy save
howard could have palmed it round the post or caught it
shows inexpeirence and im pretty sure barthez would have caught or pushed it round the post
last year barthez and a bit of ferdinand cost manu a place in the semi's, this year its howards.
p.s
an error cancels out 10 saves
maybe beckham shouldn't have been so unceremoniously shipped out after all.
United have been riding their luck all season, scraping a number of results, and have now discovered that this is simply not good enough against decent European competition.
I've just read the Porto site (which is in Portuguese of course) which says "Fergie can get back to his horseracing now his season is over" and "he'll maybe go to Tescos after the game". Not really sure i understood the Tescos jibe but nevermind. they also stated that the united players were more interested in mouthing of to the ref rather than playing footie. the site also claims Porto let their football do the talking, outclassing manu is this dept. One final comment, the porto site took great pride in pointing out they had knocked out the world's richest club
Garry Neville and Wes Brown both have a super game tonight, especially Gary. The back four were well protected by the midfielders but in a match we have to win comfortably it is difficult to understand why SAF had chosen to play two defensive midfielders (DD and Butt). SAF can't blame the quality or the fighting spirit of his players for not reaching the quarter final of the CL. We were shapeless going forward and Ruud was forced to win balls for himself. The problem lies squarely on his team selections, not only for this match but many matches before it when he juggled again and again with the midfield formation. So where do we go from here? We have two league matches left before we meet Arsen at Highbury. If SAF is to save the season from going blink, he must now play a settled attacking team, get two good wins and build the momentum to defect Arsen at Highbury and Villa Park. Only then can he afford to return to his experiment to sort out his vast squad of midfielders for next season.
I told you so! your misguided arrogance did you in! you were really lucky as Porto,had a non existing Deco in the line up tonight.Regardless,FCP should have won this match. FCP exposed the reds for what they are,a bunch of unskilled and overated players.Sir ferguson better be on his way now! Had Porto had the injured strickers on the field(Derlei for example) ,we would be talking about a humilliating defeat.Regards from the old USA
Well done, FC Porto!
It was a wonderful game. FC Porto was undoubtly the best team. The FCP players believed they could win against the allmighty Manchester. And won.
A thoroughly enjoyable game with SAF showing once again what a master tactician he is. I particularly enjoyed watching an opposing manager so emotional about the game and his response to the goal shows me that all passion is not lost in football. I thought SAF was as gracious in defeat as Tim Howard and John O' Shea in their defending. More of the same please next year. Keep up the good work.
Big Bird & SAL the KID no B#10 million boost for you now.
CTID.
Don't you think that it's better you start thinking that MU is just one team of reach human players? Try to show more fair-play next time... FC PORTO show a magnificent team, at least better than MU. Congratulations FC Porto!! Sir Fergusson try to be a gentleman, don't talk about a reality that you don't know nothing about (I mean Portugal and portuguese people!), leave football and start training horses (maybe this way, in your life, you win samething in a European competition. MUfans - I love you!!!
So mel gibson, I think this time you have nothing to say.... Just think about how bad is your team or better, just support another team or forget about football. U can support some bowling or fishing team, it's good for your health. MU only gives you headache
it was not a very good football game, but was good enough to make me laugh in the end. anyway, people should know about what theyre talking about before making stupid comments about football teams that they never seen before, just because the english teli doesnt show it
At least you cant blame Diego Forlan - the MU back 4 are useless
I think that MU didn't played good but inspite of this it deserved to pass, and it was the mistake of uefa that the referee was a Russian, when there played a russian footbalist Dmitry Alenichev.
My brother (an Arsenal fan) has actually convinced me that its time for a new manager. This may be a knee-jerk reaction, but he makes some great points. We all want new players to rebuild the team, so why not have a new manager as well. Fergie will just buy his own players, and the new managers will have to use them. We've hit rock bottom, and if it is going to take time for us to get back to the top, i would rather we had a new young, fresh manager there who can take us all the way. The biggest mistake for Fergie is to build us up to be one of the best, and then to see the fall of us again. We need to maintain our position, and changes have to be made. Our team is the worst we've seen in years, Fergie transfer dealings have been disgraceful. Only real class signing in the last three years is Ruud Van Niestlerooy. Forlan, Kleberson, Djemba, Fortune, these players would not have got into the team of 1999. I doubt it will happen unless someone at United is strong enough to realise a change is needed. Take our tilte away from last year, we've been poor for the last three years. In Europe we haven't progressed, we've gone backwards. In the league Arsenal have overtaken us, and everyone else has caught up. Its easy to say new signings are needed, and that money can just be thrown at it. But i don't know how Fergie thinks anymore. Why didn't we sign Duff, Southgate when we sold Stam. Why not Scott Parker. Chelsea signings have been better than ours, why? forget money. How are we going to attract new players. We are relying on United's name and history. Look at the AC Milan team, that is a team you know can win the CL. We kept one clean sheet since Rio's ban, thats pethetic. Real Madrid have all the great players, a team that can win the CL. We need to rebuild, and whether it should include Fergie i'm not sure. Candidate's for the the job, the Porto manger, as much as people might not like to hear it. If not him then O'Neil, but i would prefer a tactician. Not Capello or Errikson, forget the old men. New generation includes a new young manager. Fergie is the one who says that there is no one bigger than United, prove it.