Recap of how Manchester United went out of Champion’s League
Manchester United’s mission Munich certainly went wrong, Sir Alex Ferguson’s plans of taking his team through to the 4th consecutive European semi final went totally south as Bayern Munich gate crashed the old Trafford party.
United who had come back from Allianz arena last week with a one goal deficit in a 2-1 loss against Bayern Munich in the first leg of the quarter final, were looking to make the home advantage count as they needed just a one nil win to go through. Manager Sir Alex who had earlier resisted the option to even put Striker Wayne Rooney on the bench after his ankle injury last week, decided to start the match with the talismanic front men. Even though he was expected to be out for at least 2 to 3 weeks. But Rooney always eager to play managed to get into the starting lineup in just 7 days.
Manchester United started the match in spectacular fashion, as one of the 3 major changes from the weekend defeat against Chelsea, Darren Gibson surged forward assisted well by Rooney’s layoff, and with Bayern Defense focused on preventing Rooney from getting the return ball, Rooney acted as a decoy for Gibson who took the opportunity to put his right foot through the ball, and the away side’s keeper was more wrong footed then surprised, as the ball hit the back of the net, the opening goal gave great heart to the team and the home support, soon after just in the 7th minute of the game, Ecuadorian winger Antonio Valencia showed excellent control and precision as he bamboozled the Munich full back to send a dangerous ball across the goalmouth, Nani was on cue to back heel the ball into the bottom left corner as Bayern defense stood shocked. At this point red Devils were well on their way to the semi finals, and the 3rd goal almost assured the result beyond all doubts, as the same 2 players combined when Valencia once again bombed forward on the right wing and sent in a fast low cross Rooney opted to move out of the way to set up Portuguese Winger Nani for his second, who made no mistake using his right foot to calmly slot the ball into the roof of the net. Celebrations had already started at the theatre of dreams.
But scoring first and early has never been a good thing when it comes to European ties between Manchester United and Bayern Munich, as in the famous 99 European final it was the German side that scored first, but United won the final with 2 stoppage time goals. And in not too distant past just last week the reds started the match by scoring in the first minute, but lost the match due to 2 late goals.
And things were not too different here as after scoring the 3rd goal United took their foot off the paddle, and the lack of concentration showed as first legs villan Croatian Striker Olic once again powered through between the united defense brushing aside Michale Carrik and latched onto a long ball to make it 3-1 just before the break.
Amidst all of the chaos in the first half Wayne Rooney was seen limping and with grimace with pain after he was hit o the same foot midway through the first half. And united came back fearing the worst, but the striker made it back on after the break. But call it insanity or immaturity Manchester United’s Brazilian right back Rafael Desilva who was booked in the first half for an unwanted reckless challenge one again did the same as he tried to pull back Frank Ribbery and was eventually sent off. With more than half an hour of the game still to go.
Soon after Ferguson took of the injured striker Rooney who was starting to become a liability, and by now the home side were only looking to defend as one more goal would sent Munich through on away goals rule, and that is exactly what happened as Arjen Robben produced a magnificent strike off a corner as he threaded a needle through United defense curling the ball in the bottom right corner on a volley, the goal which had been long time coming meant Ferguson’s fears had come true, who then sent on Striker Berbatov and old warhorse Giggs in an effort to get a goal which would have sent them through, but with 10 men it was always going to be a difficult task.
While Bayern had already shut out shop by bringing on 2 additional defensive players. Which paid dividend as Manchester United’s record of never beating a german side over 2 legs remained and Bayern Munich went through to the champions league Semi finals on away goals rule as the tie ended 4 -4 on aggregate.
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