Thursday, 24 April 2008

BARCELONA, 23 April (Champions League)


Cristiano Ronaldo May, unusual, but Manchester United are wasteful in the eyes of a place in the Champions League final.
The wing player Portugal missed a penalty after only three minutes at the Nou Camp and the chance to the side a valuable away goal.

Rafael Marquez shows his relief after Ronaldo's miss.
United were rarely as an attacking force after that but they go into the second leg at Old Trafford next Tuesday with quiet confidence.
Despite the absence of Nemanja Vidic, who rushed to the hospital on Tuesday evening with a stomach complaint, they defended resolutely and kept a clean sheet.
Ronaldo with 38 goals to his credit remained frustrated when Gabriel Milito treated within the penalty area in the second minute of the game.
Swiss referee Massimo Busacca had no hesitation on the point winkenden away protests from Barcelona.
Ronaldo strengthened to the penalty - only to see its efforts on the stand pipes.
He was left holding his head in his hands after missing a golden opportunity to give United a precious away goal.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, with Barcelona with the majority of possession.
Lionel Messi picked from Samuel Eto'o in the 13th Minute only for Paul Scholes - on his 100th Champions League appearance - to a crucial interception.
Ronaldo did not seem to suffer from a lack of confidence, but after blundering from the spot - and still players.
Barcelona pressed forward again in the 21st Minute and Rafael Marquez got his clear marker but his head is not trouble goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, back in the side bar after an injury.
Then Yaya Toure showed good skills for the home side and sent a good cross in the area of removed by Van der Sar.
Ronaldo felt he had another penalty in the 30th Minute when he bundled over by Marquez after Xavi had carelessly lost possession.
However, referee Busacca would have none of it and allowed play to continue so that the United wing player frustrated.
Barca were dictating the pace at this stage and Eto'o rattled in a shot after 34 minutes but Wes Brown a block of crucial importance.
Brown was brokerage Rio Ferdinand in the heart of the defence in the absence of Vidic with the return of Owen Hargreaves, on the right rear.
Brown showed little evidence that the knock forced him to train away from the main group last night.
Barcelona were spraying the ball around well, however, and won a free-kick in the 38th Minute.
But Deco got little power in his efforts and Van der Sar a comfortable save.
United hit back and was booked in the 44th Marquez Minute after tripping Ronaldo, when he tried to rise again.
Ronaldo dusted itself down, but sent his effort from an acute angle wide of the post-war period.
Barcelona were quickly on the offensive at the beginning of the second half and Messi saw his effort blocked in the 47th Minute, before Van der Sar did well to tip over Gianluca Zambrotta's long-range shot.
Eto'o skipped away from Ferdinand and tried to pick out Messi - but Michael Carrick was perfectly positioned and clearance.
Eto'o got clear in the 52nd Minute, but sent his effort into the side netting before Deco tested Van der Sar three minutes later with a low drive.
The Dutch goalkeeper was equal to Xavi's effort from 20 metres before Messi - who had only recently returned from injury - has been replaced by Bojan Krkic in the 63rd Minute.
Bojan was no less a threat than the Argentinians, scored the winning goal in the quarter-finals-final first leg against Schalke.
United were finding it difficult to any attacks, Ronaldo, Rooney and Carlos Tevez fairly isolated front.
Former Arsenal favourite Thierry Henry was in the action after 77 minutes with Deco coming off.
Henry quickly the tempo of the game and rattled in a shot after 83 minutes, Van der Sar blow away.
The United goalkeeper then got his body behind a Henry free-kick as United stayed for a creditable draw.

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