Champions League round-up: Man United book all-English semi-final date with Arsenal | inside World Soccer

Champions League round-up: Man United book all-English semi-final date with Arsenal

Thursday, April 16, 2009

FC Porto
FC Porto logo
0 - 1
Manchester United logo
Man United

Cristiano Ronaldo 6


Manchester United are through to the last four of the Champions League after becoming the first English team to win in Porto in 13 attempts, thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's sixth-minute wonder strike.

The Red Devils arrived in Portugal facing an uphill task after conceding a late equaliser in a 2-2 first-leg draw at Old Trafford.

And it was the hosts who began on the front foot as Hulk sent a skidding free-kick to test Edwin van der Sar in the third minute.

The strike appeared to offer United a further indication of the task they were facing and Ronaldo responded in sensational style three minutes later.

Picking the ball up inside the Porto half, he was allowed to run on a few steps before rifling a right-footed rocket from 40 yards to leave Helton helpless.

The goal settled United and Michael Carrick decided to have a go from distance on 12 minutes but was just wide.

United could have doubled their lead a minute before the break but Nemanja Vidić, who loves to get forward and score from set-plays, somehow fired the ball over from three yards out.

Porto were applying their all to the task, but unlike in 2004, there was no late leveler this time.


Porto v Man United goal & highlights




Arsenal
Arsenal logo
3 - 0
Villarreal logo
Villarreal
Theo Walcott 10

Emmanuel Adebayor 29

Robin van Persie(pen) 69



Arsenal produced an impressive performance to book their place in the semi-final of the Champions League after sweeping past Villarreal 3-0 and 4-1 on aggregate.

Theo Walcott gave the Gunners a perfect start when he opened the scoring on 10 minutes. Emmanuel Eboué slipped the ball forward from the right and Cesc Fàbregas' flick allowed Walcott to run through on goal, with the winger chipping home high over goalkeeper Diego López.

The hosts were inches from adding a second goal in the 29th minute after Robin van Persie’s free-kick was beaten out by López and Emmanuel Adebayor's follow-up header was hacked off the line by Gonzalo Rodríguez.

It was 2-0 on the hour-mark when van Persie sent through Adebayor, who took one touch before prodding the ball into the bottom corner with the outside of his right foot.

Any chance of a Villarreal fightback disappeared on 69 minutes when when Walcott won a penalty after being fouled by Diego Godín, and Sebastián Eguren was sent off for protesting too much.

Van Persie stepped up and smashed home the kick to seal an emphatic victory and a date with defending champions Manchester United.


Arsenal v Villarreal goal & highlights



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