Manchester United have eased their way into the Champions League final after beating German outfit Schalke 4-1 at Old Trafford and 6-1 on aggregate.
Man Utd made nine changes to the team that won 2-0 in the first leg last week. The changes made no difference as Valencia and Gibson scored two goals the in the space of five minutes in the first half to double the aggregate lead.
Jurado hit back with a goal for Schalke but they offered little else in an attacking threat throughout the entire game. Anderson scored a second half brace to send Manchester United off to Wembley in style.
The second half saw Man United go into party mode as the Premier League leaders dominated the game and they ensured Sir Alex Ferguson will take his team to his fifth Champions League final.
The opening goal came in the 26th minute as Schalke gave the ball away cheaply on the half way line. Darron Gibson pounced to slip in a pinpoint pass through for Antonio Valencia to race clear of the Schalke backline. The Man United winger then coolly slotted under one time Man United target Neuer in the Schalke goal.
Man United’s second came five minutes later when Gibson fired hard and low from the edge of the area. Neuer failed to get two hands behind the shot and the ball bounced off him and then the post before crossing the goal line. Schalke hit back almost immediate in the 35th minute after some good build up play on the edge of the Manchester United box the ball fell to Jurado who slammed the ball past a helpless Van Der Sar.
The second half started slow but the home team soon got on top as Anderson curled and effort at goal but it was well saved by Neuer.
Even Schalke’s hero of the first leg and one time Man United target Neuer could do nothing to stop the Man United machine. United began to move through the gears with some slick quick passes to cut through a very poor Schalke side. The inhabitable soon happened and Neuer was picking the ball out of his net for the third time on the night as Nani’s run and cut back was well slotted home by Brazilian Anderson in the 72nd minute.
With the party in full swing at Old Trafford Anderson added his second in the 76th minute of the game and Man United’s forth. A typical Man United break away saw Berbatov slide the ball across for Anderson to put the icing on the cake.
Chris Smalling’s reputation continued to grow as the young defender looked solid and continually broke up Schalke attacks. The centre back nearly made his night perfect as he turned the ball into the net only to find the offside flag waving.
The second string Man United players where all looking to play their way into the squad for the up coming finale to the season. Which will see Man United take on Chelsea in what could be a title decider at the weekend, and of course the trip to play Barcelona at Wembley in the Champions League final.
Watch all the goals here
