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Scholes sets up all English Final

April 30, 2008

Manchester United secured a place in the Champions League final with a 1-0 win over Barcelona. It will be United’s first final in 9 years and the first ever all-English European Cup final with Liverpool and Chelsea fighting for the other place tonight.

Paul Scholes’ brilliant 35-yard strike after 14 minutes secured the win in a game where Barcelona dominated but were unable to muster many clear cut chances.

A rejuvenated Barca set the pace from the start and they could have had an early penalty when Scholes tripped Lionel Messi right on the white wash of the box, referee Herbert Fandel correctly called it as a free kick and not a penalty.

The goal after 14 minutes was totally against the run of play, Gianluca Zambrotta’s poor clearance found the Oldham born midfielder in space, striking across the ball Scholes found the top corner giving Victor Valdes no chance.

Barca came back with Deco have two shots from outside the box, one going over and one wide of Van Der Saar’s goal. Ji-Sung Park nearly grabbed a second for United but it looked set for a 1-0 win. Sub Thierry Henry headed straight at Van Der Saar in the second half as the Spainaird threw everything at the home team.

The United back four stood strong, without Vidic again with a centre back pairing of Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown keeping the Barca front line relatively quiet.

Liverpool face Chelsea tonight in the second leg of their match at Stamford Bridge with the game poised at 1-1.

Written by JPC · Filed Under Europe, Manchester United 


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