United 3 Aalborg 0
Sir Alex Ferguson sprung a major selection surprise by handing a debut to 18-year-old Rafael Da Silva. Rafael caught the eye with a couple of sizzling shots which might easily have ended up in the Aalborg net.
Berbatov was still searching for his first United goal. It seemed his duck would be broken after just six minutes when Cristiano Ronaldo half-blocked Karim Zaza's clearance but the Bulgarian could not adjust his body quickly enough to turn the ball into an empty net. Then Nemanja Vidic nodded Nani's corner onto Rio Ferdinand shortly afterwards but the defender's shot was saved by Zaza.
It was largely one-way traffic, although United's momentum was briefly halted by a worrying injury to Paul Scholes. Ferguson introduced Ryan Giggs, who created Rooney's opener. Nani flicked a pass into Giggs' path and the Welshman immediately spotted an opportunity to release his young team-mate. The 22-year-old darted past Michael Beauchamp and slotted home the opener. With Rooney tormenting, Ronaldo teasing and Berbatov creating problems despite failing to find the net, Aalborg were fully stretched and only a last-ditch tackle from Steve Olfers prevented Rooney turning home Berbatov's near-post cross.
10 minutes after the re-start, Berbatov was onto the loose ball in an instant, lashing it past Zaza as if his thunderous effort was merely routine.
From his central midfield station, Giggs was producing the kind of forceful bursts United have tended to rely on Scholes for. One such surge took him deep into the Aalborg box but he could only turn his shot into the sidenetting.
Berbatov and Ronaldo, whose contribution for once was overshadowed, went close to increasing United's lead, as did Carlos Tevez who on this occasion was deemed only to be good enough for a substitute's role.
Ferguson now has the striking strength he has yearned for since his first Champions League triumph in 1999. And in Berbatov he has another master of the spectacular, as he proved again with a brilliant scissor kick 11 minutes from time.
Ronaldo was desperate to get one too but, like Giggs earlier, could only find the side-netting after a solo burst near the end, leaving Berbatov to grab the headlines.
Berbatov was still searching for his first United goal. It seemed his duck would be broken after just six minutes when Cristiano Ronaldo half-blocked Karim Zaza's clearance but the Bulgarian could not adjust his body quickly enough to turn the ball into an empty net. Then Nemanja Vidic nodded Nani's corner onto Rio Ferdinand shortly afterwards but the defender's shot was saved by Zaza.
It was largely one-way traffic, although United's momentum was briefly halted by a worrying injury to Paul Scholes. Ferguson introduced Ryan Giggs, who created Rooney's opener. Nani flicked a pass into Giggs' path and the Welshman immediately spotted an opportunity to release his young team-mate. The 22-year-old darted past Michael Beauchamp and slotted home the opener. With Rooney tormenting, Ronaldo teasing and Berbatov creating problems despite failing to find the net, Aalborg were fully stretched and only a last-ditch tackle from Steve Olfers prevented Rooney turning home Berbatov's near-post cross.
10 minutes after the re-start, Berbatov was onto the loose ball in an instant, lashing it past Zaza as if his thunderous effort was merely routine.
From his central midfield station, Giggs was producing the kind of forceful bursts United have tended to rely on Scholes for. One such surge took him deep into the Aalborg box but he could only turn his shot into the sidenetting.
Berbatov and Ronaldo, whose contribution for once was overshadowed, went close to increasing United's lead, as did Carlos Tevez who on this occasion was deemed only to be good enough for a substitute's role.
Ferguson now has the striking strength he has yearned for since his first Champions League triumph in 1999. And in Berbatov he has another master of the spectacular, as he proved again with a brilliant scissor kick 11 minutes from time.
Ronaldo was desperate to get one too but, like Giggs earlier, could only find the side-netting after a solo burst near the end, leaving Berbatov to grab the headlines.
posted by Swanson Red at 12:19 pm
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