Source: Telegraph
Cristiano Ronaldo superstrike sends Manchester United through to face Arsenal
As Manchester United fans twirled their scarves above their heads, as Porto's fortress finally fell to British opposition, Ronaldo's majestic early strike will live long in the memory. [LNB]The advantage gained, United played with great discipline, rarely risking possession, and restricting Porto to few attempts on goal as they progressed to a semi-final with Arsenal, conquerors of Villarreal. Throughout the season, Sir Alex Ferguson has made polite noises about Arsene Wenger, the suspicion being that the United manager did not consider Arsenal a real threat. Real friendship or phoney war? We shall shortly find out. [LNB] Related ArticlesChampions League actionWin Manchester United FA Cup semi-final ticketsSir Alex Ferguson takes heat off Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Porto testArsenal outplay Villarreal to reach last four date with Manchester UnitedChelsea and Liverpools Champions League classic thanks to dodgy keepersArsenal v Villarreal: Emmanuel Adebayor pledges loyaltyUnited will certainly relish the challenge, having responded superbly to the task of gaining the result they required, and ending Porto's 22-game unbeaten run at home against British opposition. If Ronaldo will claim the headlines, United's victory was rooted in the will to win of men like Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney, attackers who helped out defensively all the time. Rooney, all deft feet and the heart of a lion, continues to mature marvellously on the grand stages. [LNB]Even the delights of a day spent in the port-houses that cascade down the hill to the inky Douro could not compete with the joy that had intoxicated the United supporters after eight minutes here. Ferguson's side had started brightly enough, Wayne Rooney looking lively down the right, Dimitar Berbatov showing some neat touches upfront and Anderson snapping into tackles in midfield, but there had been little indication of the thunderbolt to come. [LNB]Only the weather had hinted at such a stunning development: hail lashed against the roof of this magnificent stadium while United fans clung to their scarves as the wind and the rain buffeted them. Then came Ronaldo, unleashing that lightning strike, conjuring up the type of exceptional goal that saw him crowned European Footballer of the Year. [LNB]Picking up possession 35 yards out, Ronaldo was afforded far too much room. Maybe Porto did not expect him to let fly from such a distance. Maybe their centre-halves, Rolando and Bruno Alves, had not anticipated one of the world's most accomplished wingers being deployed through the middle. [LNB]Yet this was a tactic Ferguson used to good effect in winning the Champions League last year, against Roma en route to Moscow and against Chelsea in the final itself. Ronaldo's aerial strength always makes him a menace in the central acres yet here he was deep and with the ball at his feet. Neither Rolando nor Bruno Alves stepped out to tackle the problem. Nor was Porto's anchorman, Fernando, alive to the danger. [LNB]Ronaldo was hardly waiting for an ambush party to gather. Catching the ball powerfully with his right, United's No 7 sent his shot flying from right to left past the startled Helton. Porto's keeper had constantly denied United at Old Trafford but was helpless here. Hardly surprising: Ronaldo's shot hit 64mph as it sped into the net. [LNB]As befits a player proud of his Sporting Lisbon heritage, Ronaldo relished the sight of Porto's net almost being ripped from the stanchions. Every one of his touches had drawn derision from the Dragao terraces so the moment was all the sweeter. Once again, Ferguson's strategy had been vindicated, particularly with Rooney delivering a prodigious shift on the right, tracking back to make tackles by United's corner-flag as well as charging forward. [LNB]Porto rallied. Lisandro tested Edwin van der Sar with an overhead kick but little was seen in the first half of the slick Porto movement that had so alarmed United at Old Trafford. Unlike last week, the champions of Europe were playing with steel as well as élan. Michael Carrick made some important challenges. Even Berbatov put in a tackle. [LNB]Here was the performance that Ferguson had demanded, brimming with organisation, adventure and an appreciation of the need not to concede possession. Ahead on aggregate, United remained acutely aware of the reality that a Porto goal swung the tie back in the hosts' favour. [LNB]So they hunted stealthily for a second. When the elusive Berbatov crossed from the right, Ryan Giggs met the ball first-time, bringing a scrambled save from Helton. [LNB]At times operating as 4-2-4, their width keeping Porto's full-backs pinned back, United also displayed real character to go with their attacking zeal. When Rooney tried to race away from Fernando, the England striker took a nasty chop to the ankle from the Porto ball-winner. Refusing to leave his team, United hobbled on, eventually running the knock off. [LNB]United finished the half toying with Porto. First, John O'Shea flicked on a Giggs corner and Nemanja Vidic missed a straightforward chance from close in. Then a wonderful passing move, including a sublime flick from Rooney, was ended only by Helton speeding from his line to spoil the United fun. [LNB]At the break, Ferguson told TV that "we have to go for that second goal'', pointing out Porto's quality. Yet as the clock ticked down, nerves rose within local hearts. Ball-boys threw balls back more quickly, passes went astray such was Porto's haste and occasional spiteful tackles flew in on Ronaldo. United, though, faced a real challenge. [LNB]One slip spelled oblivion. Mariano escaped Rio Ferdinand to send a header floating wide. Hulk drilled in a free-kick that Van der Sar held comfortably. United seemed to be soaking up the intermittent pressure, with Berbatov parading their committed nature with another tackle. [LNB]The Bulgarian was tiring so Ferguson withdrew him halfway through the second period, introducing Nani. United were now 4-2-3-1 and a real variety act: their attack was formed by three players more associated with wing-play and a centre-forward, Rooney, stationed wide.[LNB]Semi-final dates[LNB]Tues Apr 28 Barcelona v ChelseaWed Apr 29 Manchester United v Arsenal [LNB]Tues May 5 Arsenal v Manchester UnitedWed May 6 Chelsea v Barcelona [LNB]Final[LNB]Sat May 27 Stadio Olimpico, Rome.[LNB]
