Manchester United gave first-time semi-finalists Schalke a harsh lesson in Champions League football on Tuesday in Gelsenkirchen, absolutely battering the German side throughout the ninety minutes, and affording to miss countless chances before winning the game 2-0. It was Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney who got the goals for the visitors, and though the team in red were miles ahead of their opponents, the man of the match surely was the Royal Blues' goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who made save after save from the barrage of United attacks, and kept the goal tally to a respectable figure. With the authoritative performance, Manchester United took a giant stride towards making their third final in four years, while the defeat put Schalke on the brink of an exit after a memorable year in Europe's elite club competition.
Schalke manager Ralf Rangnick made several changes to the side that lost in the Bundesliga at the weekend, naming many of his star players who were rested with this crucial clash in mind. The German kept faith with Manuel Neuer, who earlier in the week had declared that he would not extend his contract with the Royal Blues beyond the current one which runs out in 2012. Benedikt Howedes lost his race against time to be fit for the game, meaning Joel Matip shifted back to center-half alongside Christophe Metzelder. Attacking full-backs Atsuto Uchida and Hans Sarpei flanked the duo, with Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Alexander Baumjohann playing in the heart of midfield for the hosts. Jose Manuel Jurado and Jefferson Farfan were very successful throughout the tournament on the wings, and they continued in their respective positions, with Champions League all-time top scorer Raul Gonzales in a shadow striker's role behind Edu.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson went with an attacking 4-4-2 formation, playing the in-form Javier Hernandez alongside the talismanic Wayne Rooney. Park Ji-Sung got yet another European start after being overlooked at the weekend, with Antonio Valencia pipping Nani to the right winger's spot. Ryan Giggs has recently moved infield for the Red Devils, and again lined up in the center of midfield alongside Michael Carrick, both of whom were rested for their game against Everton on Saturday. At the back, skipper Nemanja Vidic partnered Rio Ferdinand, who got his second start in four days, with Patrice Evra resuming regular duties at left back. The biggest surprise in the eleven was the inclusion of Fabio da SIlva at right-back, the Brazilian getting the nod over John O'Shea to cope with the pace of Schalke's wingers. His brother Rafael da Silva, on the comeback trail from injury, was left on the bench.
The natural attacking intent of both sides was evident right from the outset, with neither team worried about playing it safe on a big semi-final day. Baumjohann picked Giggs' pockets 20 seconds into the game and chanced his luck from distance, the ball going straight down Edwin Van der Sar's throat. Immediately at the other end Rooney had a chance of his own, as his deflected shot seemed to be destined for the top corner before Neuer made a fantastic save to keep the ball out. The German goalkeeper was clearly the busiest man on the field, as he had to parry Park's effort a couple of minutes later, as the South Korean waltzed into the box before firing a low shot. The visitors found their rhythm early on in the game, dominating proceedings, and had another good chance in the 14th minute when Park slipped a ball through for Hernandez. The Mexican, usually a safe finisher, couldn't beat the German keeper, who single-handedly was keeping the hosts in the game in the early stages.
The Schalke team were getting caught on the ball time and time again, with their defence looking very ordinary to say the least. Hernandez, who missed more than one gilt-edged chance, tried finding Rooney when he was played through by his strike partner, with Metzelder able to hack clear before the ball reached the England international. The Mexican clearly did not have his shooting boots on, missing the target after controlling the ball minutes later. Giggs had yet another clear-cut chance when he got a free header on goal, but though his downward header wrongfooted Neuer, the goalkeeper was able to thrust out his right hand to make the save.
It really looked like offence versus defence, as Valencia and Giggs linked up to create yet another chance for the visitors. The ball again came to Hernandez, who for the umpteenth time, was denied by Neuer. From the rebound, both Park and Giggs came close, but Schalke still held on the clean sheet, although reeling and struggling desperately to stay in the game. It was Fabio's turn to spurn a good opportunity next, as the fullback ran onto Hernandez's cutback, but blazed his shot from 10 yards out over the bar. Neuer was drawn into action again a minute before the break, when Giggs was through on goal after some good interplay with Rooney. One would have expected the experienced campaigner to keep his head and slot past the goalkeeper, but Neuer, not for the first time, stood up well and got a hand to it, thus denying Manchester United a cricket score as the teams went in for halftime.
If the home fans thought that their team would improve after the break, then they were wrong, as United continued in the same vein, creating glorious chances and then not capitalising on them. Michael Carrick had his first scoring opportunity of the game when he headed towards goal from a Giggs freekick, but was again denied by the unbeatable Neuer, who tipped over the bar. Seconds later, Giggs had yet another chance, as Valencia's low drilled cross went through a couple of Schalke defenders before reaching him. The Welshman cut inside and side-stepped a couple of Schalke players before sending a tame shot wide of goal.
United finally had the ball inside the Schalke net on 50 minutes, but to their disbelief it was ruled out for offside as Hernandez was ahead of the defence when Evra sent a diagonal pass through to the Mexican. The goal, though disallowed, showed that the inspired keeper could indeed be beaten, and after thoroughly battering the Royal Blues for more than an hour, Ryan Giggs, who uncharacteristically had missed a couple of sitters earlier, finally opened the scoring for the Red Devils. It came through Rooney, who was having a brilliant game, as the England striker slipped a ball through for Giggs, who took advantage of the total lack of communication between the center-halves to pass the pass under Neuer into the net, much to the relief of Sir Alex on the bench.
One could sense the floodgates opening, and soon Schalke were two goals behind, this time Rooney getting on the scoresheet. Hernandez was at the center of the move, chasing a long ball and running at the defence before playing it through to Rooney, who evaded Uchida's attempts to put him off before smartly knocking it past Neuer, just rewards for Manchester United's industry throughout the game. Substitute Sergio Escudero finally tested Van der Sar, who was a by-stander for most of the game, in the 80th minute, shooting with his left foot well, but the Dutch goalkeeper always had it covered and confidently held on to it. Most of the action though was still unfolding in Schalke's half, and Evra could have added to the score two minutes before the end of regulation time, but missed the goal by a couple of inches with his shot from the left. Referee Carlos Velasco Carballo finally blew the whistle, putting the hosts out of their misery and putting United ever so close to their third final in four years.
It was more Manuel Neuer than Schalke that was playing against Manchester United, as the German keeper had a blinder of game, stopping numerous goal-bound chances that could have made the final score a major embarrassment for the home team. The rest of the side, especially the defence, completely went missing, with even the experienced Raul completely anonymous. On the contrary, Manchester United had a dream game, with their play flowing with confidence and coherence. They kept 66% of the possession, had a score of chances to add to their two-goal tally, and looked good value for their win. If anything though, their finishing could have been better, as many of their usually safe finishers like Giggs and Hernandez, missed chances that they should have put away.
The tie now moves to Old Trafford in a week's time, with United massive favourites to advance to the final, which is to be played at the new Wembley Stadium. Schalke will not count themselves out, having won handsomely away from home before, having beaten Inter Milan 5-2 at the San Siro in the quarters. However, on the basis of their performance at the Veltins Arena, history is unlikely to repeat itself.
Teams :
Schalke (4-4-1-1) - Nueur, Metzelder, Matip, Uchida, Sarpei (Escudero 73'), Papadopoulos, Baumjohann (Kluge 53'), Jurado (Draxler 83'), Farfan, Raul, Edu
Manchester United (4-4-2) - Van der Sar, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Fabio, Carrick, Giggs, Park (Anderson 73'), Valencia, Rooney (Nani 83'), Hernandez (Scholes 73')
Final Scoreline :
Schalke 0 - 2 Manchester United
Manchester United Scorers : Giggs 67’, Rooney 69’
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