Manchester United produced a convincing 2-0 win at Schalke 04 in the Champions League semi-final first leg.
United dominated for the vast majority of the match but were denied time and again by a magnificent performance from Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Ryan Giggs finally opened the scoring for United in the 67th minute, before Wayne Rooney put the seal on a convincing 2-0 win for the Red Devils.
Schalke came into this game on the back of a 7-3 aggregate win over defending Champions Inter Milan, and had the first shot on goal when Alexander Baumjohann had his effort saved by Edwin van der Sar. Rather than being a sign of things to come for Schalke, it signaled a period of long United dominance.
Neuer was forced to produce three good saves within the first 10 minutes as he saved a deflected Rooney effort, before saving smartly from Park Ji-Sung and Javier Hernandez.
Hernandez was again denied by Neuer before the Mexican striker spurned two more chances to open the scoring. The teams would go in 0-0 at half-time, but not before Neuer saved yet again from Hernandez and produced to saves to stifle Giggs.
French left-back Patrice Evra surged forward for United early in the second half but his header was deflected over the crossbar by the impressive Neuer.
Schalke finally found a footing in the game and a dangerous Raul cross was cleared by Rio Ferdinand, before Goncalves Edu forced a good save from Van der Sar.
The deadlock was finally broken midway through the second half when Rooney played Giggs through and the ageless Welsh winger slotted between Neuer’s legs to finally beat the German international goalkeeper. The goal saw the 37 year old Giggs overtake Filippo Inzaghi and become the Champions League’s oldest ever goal scorer.
Two minutes later United doubled their aggregate lead when Hernandez set up Rooney and the England striker lashed a smart finish into the bottom corner.
Schalke tried to find a way back into the game, but the closest they came was a Sergio Escudero shot that was well dealt with by Van der Sar.
United will now return to Old Trafford on May 4th defending a 2-0 aggregate lead and are heavy favorites to go on and face Real Madrid or Barcelona in the semi-finals.
SCORING SUMMARY
MAN UTD – Ryan Giggs (Wayne Rooney) 67’
MAN UTD – Wayne Rooney (Javier Hernandez) 69’
LINEUPS
SCHALKE – Neuer, Sarpei (Escudero 72), Papadopoulos, Metzelder, Uchida, Matip, Baumjohann (Kluge 53), Jurado (Draxler 82), Raul, Goncalves Edu, Farfan.
MAN UTD – Van der Sar, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Fabio Da Silva, Giggs, Park Ji-Sung (Scholes 73), Carrick, Valencia, Rooney (Nani 83), Hernandez (Anderson 73).
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Manuel Neuer (Schalke 04).
Attendance: 54,000.
Schalke came into this game on the back of a 7-3 aggregate win over defending Champions Inter Milan, and had the first shot on goal when Alexander Baumjohann had his effort saved by Edwin van der Sar. Rather than being a sign of things to come for Schalke, it signaled a period of long United dominance.
Neuer was forced to produce three good saves within the first 10 minutes as he saved a deflected Rooney effort, before saving smartly from Park Ji-Sung and Javier Hernandez.
Hernandez was again denied by Neuer before the Mexican striker spurned two more chances to open the scoring. The teams would go in 0-0 at half-time, but not before Neuer saved yet again from Hernandez and produced to saves to stifle Giggs.
French left-back Patrice Evra surged forward for United early in the second half but his header was deflected over the crossbar by the impressive Neuer.
Schalke finally found a footing in the game and a dangerous Raul cross was cleared by Rio Ferdinand, before Goncalves Edu forced a good save from Van der Sar.
The deadlock was finally broken midway through the second half when Rooney played Giggs through and the ageless Welsh winger slotted between Neuer’s legs to finally beat the German international goalkeeper. The goal saw the 37 year old Giggs overtake Filippo Inzaghi and become the Champions League’s oldest ever goal scorer.
Two minutes later United doubled their aggregate lead when Hernandez set up Rooney and the England striker lashed a smart finish into the bottom corner.
Schalke tried to find a way back into the game, but the closest they came was a Sergio Escudero shot that was well dealt with by Van der Sar.
United will now return to Old Trafford on May 4th defending a 2-0 aggregate lead and are heavy favorites to go on and face Real Madrid or Barcelona in the semi-finals.
SCORING SUMMARY
MAN UTD – Ryan Giggs (Wayne Rooney) 67’
MAN UTD – Wayne Rooney (Javier Hernandez) 69’
LINEUPS
SCHALKE – Neuer, Sarpei (Escudero 72), Papadopoulos, Metzelder, Uchida, Matip, Baumjohann (Kluge 53), Jurado (Draxler 82), Raul, Goncalves Edu, Farfan.
MAN UTD – Van der Sar, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Fabio Da Silva, Giggs, Park Ji-Sung (Scholes 73), Carrick, Valencia, Rooney (Nani 83), Hernandez (Anderson 73).
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Manuel Neuer (Schalke 04).
Attendance: 54,000.
