Champions League

Manchester United are advancing to the Champions League final in Moscow next month after a nail-biting 1-0 victory over Barcelona at Old Trafford. The victory for the Premiership champions sets up an all-English final, the first time that has ever happened. But it was a difficult achievement. Barcelona came to Manchester needing a goal and looked to do that from the beginning.

The opening phase of the game was dominated by the visitors. Barcelona held a clear advantage in ball possession, and keeping ManU’s fans antsy in the first 10 minutes. But Barca defender and 2006 World Cup champion Gianluca Zambrotta gifted Paul Scholes in a moment’s lack of concentration.

Zambrotta’s clearance from his penalty box landed on the foot of ManU veteran who knew what to do with the ball in the 14th minute. He hammered it from some 22 metres away into the upper right-hand corner of Victor Valdes’ goal.

The strike naturally brought the home crowd to their feet. The sense of relief, though, was balanced by the fact that they would have to endure the tension of the Catalans’ pressure even longer. And it would come hard and heavy for most of the remainder of the match.

Argentine international Lionel Messi led the charge for Barcelona much of the time. But as in the first leg match, that final bit of genius or even possibly luck was missing. Substitute forward Thierry Henry had possibly the best opportunity but he placed a head ball in the 78th minute straight into the arms of Manchester keeper Edwin van der Sar. In the remaining time, Sir Alex Ferguson’s boys kept their nerves and will play in their first Champions League final since their famed comeback against Bayern Munich in 1999.

Their opponent will be a familiar one whomever they face. On Wednesday, Liverpool and Chelsea clash at Stamford Bridge after a 1-1 draw at Anfield last week.