Oh what a night.
As predicted in March, United have booked a place in the UEFA Champions League finals in Rome. And we couldn’t have done it in a more convincing fashion.
The game ended after it barely started thanks to a two goal blow from United within 11 minutes.
Park made things seem impossible for the Gunners 8 minutes into the game after netting United’s first on the night.
There was an intentional build-up to the first goal although Gibbs losing his footing in the penalty area with Park lurking behind, was a welcomed break in favour of Man United.
Ronaldo broke off from his market with a diagonal sprint from the middle and initiated a through ball from Anderson on the left. Chasing the ball down, Ronaldo did what he had to do and pulled the ball back into the danger area.
There wasn’t any support at the near post and it looked as if the attack was going to fizzle out without any event. That is until Gibbs slipped just as he was about to land possession of the ball and a grateful Park was fortunate enough to be there to follow-up and masterfully put the ball past an advancing Almunia for United’s precious away goal. Arsenal now need 3 goals to win.
3 minutes on, Ronaldo was clattered from behind and earned United a freekick 40 yards out. I’m betting Anti-Ronaldo’s were quick to scoff his attempt to beat Almunia from that far out as sheer ignorance of the limits of man. That he is not as good as he thinks he is.
But typical Ronaldo, he defies logic and sense when the time calls for it. He powers the ball home at Almunia’s near post, the keeper’s dive in the right direction proved to be in vain and United sealed the deal there and then. Arsenal need an impossible haul of 4 goals and nothing less to advance to Rome.
But United were not quite done yet. On 61 minutes, after a clearing header from Vida, Ronaldo added an exquisite backheel to direct the ball into Park’s path and United were on the counter-attack.
We smell North London blood.
In his stride, the South Korean spots Rooney on the left making a run and slides it expertly to match the Englishman’s run. Rooney then only needed 2 touches to decide what to do with the ball and brilliantly put in a perfectly-weighted pass on to a sprinting Ronaldo for the Portuguese to make it an even more miserable night for the Gunners with United’s 3rd at the Emirates.
The unbelievable night was however blemished by an sending off of United’s up and coming midfield maestro. The referee made a bad call and from what I’ve read, there seems to be no way around the red card and Fletcher will miss the trip to Rome.
I’m sure that I’m not the only United fan who is devastated by this news and lets hope the rest of the lads will be able to dedicate a win in Italy to Darren.