Report: United 4 Schalke 1

United turned on the style to make absolutely certain of a place in the 2011 UEFA Champions League final, firing four goals past Schalke in an enthralling semi-final second leg at Old Trafford.

Antonio Valencia and Darron Gibson put the Reds well and truly in the driving seat with two first-half strikes and although Jurado pulled a stunning goal back for Schalke, also before the break, Sir Alex Ferguson's double chasers went on to win comfortably thanks to a second-half brace from the outstanding Anderson.
To single out the South American or any of the triumphant United stars would be misleading, however - this was another tremendous team effort with 14 players making a contribution to the cause and perhaps giving their manager some more selection dilemmas in the exciting days and weeks ahead.

Sir Alex stayed true to his word and made changes – eight, in fact, from the side that slipped up at Arsenal. Only Edwin van der Sar, Anderson and Nani were asked to start again as the boss picked a side with Sunday against Chelsea in mind. Wayne Rooney, reported to have a tight hamstring on Tuesday, was out of the 18 altogether but his now-regular strike partner Javier Hernandez was named among a strong group of substitutes.

There was a subdued start to the match, with the atmosphere nothing like as electric as it was for the last semi-final second leg to be staged at Old Trafford – against Barcelona in 2008. The circumstances here were very different of course, with the cushion of two away goals blunting any edge this contest might have had.

Only a couple of flashes from the opposite number 17s gave the crowd something to get excited about in the opening 10 minutes – Nani using some great close control to surge between two Schalke players and win a corner; then Jefferson Farfan firing the first shot of note inches wide as van der Sar dived right to monitor its flight.

Farfan’s right boot also caused Darron Gibson some discomfort in his midriff when the latter crunched into a challenge on the Peruvian international. When play resumed, with Gibson happily not requiring the attending stretcher, Dimitar Berbatov threatened to reprise his West Ham party-piece of last season with a drag-back close to the left-hand byline. Only the alertness of Manuel Neuer, United’s first-half nemesis from the first leg in Germany, prevented the Bulgarian’s low ball locating Valencia.

There was no such intervention when the latter was picked out again in the 26th minute. Japanese right-back Atsuto Uchida lost possession as Schalke tried to press forward and he was punished instantly, as Gibson received the ball from Anderson and delivered the perfect sliderule pass into Valencia’s path. The Ecuadorian barely broke stride as he slipped the ball under Neuer to notch United’s third goal of the tie, and his third strike of the season.

The goalscorer and provider swapped roles as the Reds swiftly doubled the advantage on the night. Anderson was again their accomplice, receiving a throw-in to his feet inside the area and flicking it on. One touch from Valencia forwarded the ball to Gibson who struck it first time into the net via Neuer’s leg and the right-hand post. The seemingly superhuman goalkeeper of last week had been made to look very ordinary.

United were now 4-0 up on aggregate - and cruising? We thought so until a moment later when Schalke pulled a goal back in spectacular style. Chris Smalling’s attempt to play out from the back was cut out and when Uchida’s right-wing cross careered off the pack of Jonny Evans, Rafael and Raul, Jose Manuel Jurado hammered the ball past van der Sar with his venomous left foot. The Old Trafford crowd, now illuminated by a couple of red flares in the Schalke section, had witnessed a goal rush and three almost became four when Valencia’s effort was cleared off the line by centre-back Benedikt Howedes with Neuer beaten.

While the German side still had a tall order in terms of the tie, they had at least made a fist of it on the evening. But although a couple of Schalke free-kicks and a flurry of bookings for Anderson, Paul Scholes and Gibson, threatened to further loosen United’s grip on the game, the Reds were worthy 2-1 leaders at the interval.
Schalke sent on their first sub for the restart, replacing Alexander Baumjohann with the Brazilian striker Edu. But it was an Edu compatriot in red who nearly added to the scoreline when the irrepressible Anderson was teed up by Berbatov. United's number eight would surely have scored past most keepers with his curling left-footer but Neuer, suddenly back to his best, flew to his left and flicked the shot wide with his top hand, his right.

With an hour gone, and the 4-1 lead not under any apparent threat, the United fans serenaded their heroes past - Andy Cole, Nicky Butt et al - and present, and began to sing of Wembley. The repertoire was only interrupted by a roar for Anderson's eventual goal - tucked low to Neuer's left after a great run and cut-back by Nani - and by greetings for Evra and Fletcher when they joined in the fun as subs for Rafael and Scholes. Then came United's fourth goal on the night, sixth on aggregate, when Valencia broke down the right, fed Berbatov, and the Bulgarian - in his last action before making way for Michael Owen - slid the ball to Anderson for a first-time finish at the far post.

There was still time for excellent saves at both ends - Neuer denying Owen, and van der Sar thwarting Edu - but any more goals would have spoiled a sated crowd already relishing a Saturday-night date with Barcelona on May 28. Bring it on.