Champions League round-up: Man United take first-leg lead | inside World Soccer

Champions League round-up: Man United take first-leg lead

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Man United
Manchester United logo
1 - 0
Arsenal logo
Arsenal
John O’Shea 18



Despite total dominance, defending champions Manchester United head to Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final next week with only a slender advantage through John O’Shea’s 18th-minute strike.

United dominated from the off and Wayne Rooney could have had them ahead with only a minute on the clock had Manuel Almunia not managed to claw out his looping header which was dropping in the corner.

Almunia then pulled off a wonder save from a close-range shot by Carlos Tévez, then got up again to block the rebound.

But he had no chance from the resulting corner. Michael Carrick beat a defender on the left and his cross deflected off Alex Song to the unmarked O'Shea, who smashed the ball into the roof of the net from six yards.

Almunia made another incredible save to keep out Cristiano Ronaldo’s point-blank header and he was there again diving to his left to block the winger’s effort from the edge of the box.

Ronaldo then went agonisingly close to increase the lead as he cracked the crossbar with a 30-yard thunderbolt which left Almunia rooted to the spot.

Substitute Ryan Giggs, making his 800th appearance for the Red Devils, did have the ball in the net with just over 10 minutes remaining, but he was adjudged to have strayed offside.


Man United v Arsenal goal & highlights



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