Cristiano Ronaldo's astounding early goal left Sir Alex Ferguson
to go head-to-head with old rival Arsene Wenger for a place in the
Champions League Final as they beat Porto 1-0 in the Dragao Stadium
to win 3-2 on aggregate.
The emergence of Chelsea and Liverpool may have taken the edge off
battles between Manchester United and Arsenal over the past few years.
But the renewal of hostilities promises to be almost as spectacular
as the Ronaldo strike that created it.
The sixth-minute effort was his 20th goal of the season and only
his second in the Champions League since completing that astonishing
haul of 42 in last year's final in Moscow.
There was certainly no doubting it was worthy of winning any game,
and earning United the accolade of becoming the first English team
to beat Porto on their own ground.
As almost a side issue, it also keeps the Red Devils on track to
win the quintuple in a season they have brought back to life at
just the right time.
In calling for the spirit of Turin `99, Ferguson also knew if that
momentous evening was to be repeated, he would have to go through
the agony of being two goals down before a famous victory could
be achieved.
|
