Park Ji Sung wheels away after putting United ahead
Ronaldo fires in his goal-bound free kick
Ronaldo celebrates his spectacular free-kick
David Beckham in the stands at The Emirates
Ronaldo tucks in United’s third
Darren Fletcher sees red
They would not be trading up, they would be trading down!
The rumours will not go away, despite denials, that Ronaldo is bound for Real Madrid with Kaka arriving from AC Milan.But Ronaldo is the World Player of the Year for a reason. He is the best and no amount of money or any other player could compensate if he left Old Trafford.
The Portuguese star’s sensational double ensured United made it to Rome with the chance to become the first team to retain the Champions League crown. In Porto he scored with a stunning 40-yard drive to get his team through their quarter-final.
Here, from a free-kick a yard further out, Ronaldo found the target once again.
His second goal, United’s third, was very different but equally brilliant. He started and finished the move, racing 70 yards to crash a shot into the roof of the net.
The only downside to United’s triumph was the 75th-minute dismissal of Darren Fletcher, who brought down Cesc Fabregas in the area and was shown a straight red card. That means he is out of the final.
The Scot did just get the ball. But it was still a rash challenge from behind and, like Paul Scholes and Roy Keane who missed United’s 1999 success, he will have to watch from the stands.
Arsenal rode their luck in the first leg to escape with a 1-0 deficit. But they had no such fortune this time round, as their suspect defence caved in.
Young Kieran Gibbs, so impressive since coming into the team in place of the injured Gael Clichy, caught the defensive jitters which allowed United to take a stranglehold on this semi-final, second leg.
Poor Gibbs was about to clear a low cross from Ronaldo on eight minutes when he slipped on the turf always specially watered to aid the Gunners’ slick passing.
Park Ji Sung could not believe his luck, as the ball arrived at his feet with Gibbs sprawling in front of him. The Korean took a touch then slid a close-range shot over the helpless Manuel Almunia.
It was a massive boost for United, who were cursing after the home leg with only John O’Shea’s effort to show for their superiority.
Alex Ferguson was always confident his team would score in North London, though he could not have imagined it would come quite so easilyWenger had predicted ‘a magnificent performance’ from his youngsters. He proclaimed boldly: “If they score one, we will score three.”
He did not specify what they would do if United scored two. And by the 11th minute their task had become impossible, as Ronaldo bagged a cracking second after being brought down by Robin van Persie.
The moment Ronaldo lined up the free-kick, even though he was so far out, you could sense the anxiety round the ground.
As he unleashed his right-foot strike, the ball rose then dipped before beating Almunia diving to his left.
Almunia was the hero of the first leg, making three amazing saves to keep the score down, and there was much debate about him becoming England’s keeper when he qualifies through residency this summer.
But he should have got across to save Ronaldo’s kick and it begged the question whether he is any better than the other more English keepers Fabio Capello has available.
Wayne Rooney’s 25-yard curler was finger-tipped round a post by Almunia as United kept coming.
There was not much the managers could say to their players at half-time. Wenger would have been asking for a miracle, Fergie simply that his men did not blow it. Almunia saved another Ronaldo shot but, on the hour, United were well and truly home and dry — and what a goal it was.
It came from an Arsenal corner, which Nemanja Vidic headed clear. Ronaldo fed Park, who in turn picked out Rooney on the left.
Ronaldo kept his run going and was in the box to take Rooney’s return pass and leave Almunia grasping thin air.
Van Persie’s late penalty, converted after Fletcher’s foul on Fabregas, was no consolation.
So the Champions League has eluded Wenger again and the Arsenal trophy cabinet will be bare for another year.
Meanwhile, United should start ordering extra supplies of silver polish. The Quadruple is still on.
