Arsenal 1 - 3 Manchester United

Can anything or anybody stop Manchester United in their determination to retain the Champions League title?

Arsenal were devastated, when first Ji-Sung Park after 8 minutes, and then Ronaldo after 11 minutes, demoralised them with two quick fire goals. This was not the way it was supposed to be, as the home side started out with most of the possession in the first 7 minutes or so, but that was soon to change, and how! The industrious Park, took full advantage when the hapless Kieran Gibbs, stumbled at a crucial moment, and let him in. It would be hard to name a more alert and energetic player than Park, and it will not be easy for Gibbs to forget that he started the rot.

Please Click Here to visit the Worldsoccer-Online Web Site

Three minutes later United were able to double their lead with the sweetest of free kicks from Ronaldo, who was leading the attack from a centre forward position, he seemed to relish. There is not a better striker of free kicks in the game, and after being brought down by Van Persie, he rifled the ball home from about forty yards out. It was a wondrous goal from a wonderful player, some say the best in the world, and it is easy to see where they are coming from.

United played as a team with discipline and flair, and could easily have gone further ahead after 18 minutes when Wayne Rooney forced a smart save from Almunia. Unfortunately, for them Arsenal were being outclassed and the longer the game went on the more it showed.

The second half started, pretty much the same as the first half finished, with United continuing to dominate. They were rewarded for their persistency after 61 minutes, when they delighted their fans with a move involving Park, Rooney, and the redoubtable Ronaldo. It was exquisite football, starting deep in their own half as the United trio sprinted towards the Arsenal goal. In the last seconds the unselfish Rooney delivered the ball to the Portuguese supremo, who simply couldn't miss from that range.

There was no way back for Arsenal, although they did score a goal from a dubious penalty decision, when Fabregas went down to a tackle from Fletcher, who was harshly red carded. It was questionable whether it was even a foul, never mind a sending off decision, but it will keep the luckless Fletcher out of the final in Rome. It was the one blot for United, who are on their way to another milestone, after a glorious display of football.

Tags:
Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United
soccer and football
Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United