Man Utd 3-2 Bayern (4-4 Agg)

Arjen Robben dumped 10-man Manchester United out of the UEFA Champions League on away goals as Sir Alex Ferguson's gamble on Wayne Rooney backfired against Bayern Munich.

The Red Devils looked to be cruising as they swiftly overturned Bayern's 2-1 first leg advantage and roared into a 3-0 advantage inside 41 minutes in their quarter-final showdown at Old Trafford.

Ferguson stunned everyone by naming Rooney in his starting XI just eight days after the 34-goal striker left the Allianz Arena on crutches after turning his ankle in the closing moments.

United, perhaps inspired by the England international's presence, started superbly and were two goals to the good inside seven minutes as Darron Gibson and Nani found the back of the net in style.

Rooney appeared to turn his ankle again midway through the half, but when Nani added a third in the 41st minute it looked as though United were on course for a place in the semi-finals.

However, Bayern, who had offered very little in attack, found a goal out of nothing before the break as Ivica Olic held off Michael Carrick's weak challenge to slot beyond Edwin van der Sar from a tight angle.

And the pendulum swung further in favour of the German giants in the 50th minute as Rafael, who had been booked for a petulant kick on Mark van Bommel in an otherwise excellent first half, saw red for pulling back Franck Ribery.

Rooney was clearly struggling and made way for John O'Shea soon after with United forced onto the defensive and into a reshuffle, but they could not hold out against the waves of Bayern attacks.

It took a goal of sublime quality to breach their rearguard, with Robben volleying home from the edge of the area following Ribery's corner from the right with 16 minutes remaining to set up a semi-final showdown with Lyon.

Source: Sky Sports
Date Published: 7 April 2010

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It was Fabio that was given a straight red for pulling down the last man When Wolves came to OT in the Carling cup.

- jonny

I'm not one for looking for scapegoats, but there is only a certain amount of time that you can keep harping on about past achievements. Whilst Carrick has been an important player over the past three years, that does not excuse consistently sloppy performances for the past year and a half. I rated him up there with Fabregas, Pirlo and even Xavi for a time, but he has fallen off badly and is nowhere near that class. I watched Barcelona outplay Arsenal at the Nou Camp, and whilst Messi stole the headlines, it was Xavi that stood out for me. He never gave the ball away once, was never caught in posession, provided so much creativity and bought so much balance to the midfield. I know its unfair to compare him to Carrick, but Michael was bought for his range of passing and creativity, yet he seems to offer so little and wasted possession more than any other player last night. Thats not what you want from your midfield playmaker. On the plus side, I don't think we are very far off from being a top side. I had my doubts about our midfield at the start of the season, but Nani and Valencia have really impressed me. I also believed we needed a creative midfielder, and I haven't changed my mind. Finally, if we are going to continue to use this 4-2-3-1 then I don't see where Berbatov fits in. Maybe its time to cut our losses and cash in whilst we still can. It seems like Veron all over again. Hopefully the return of Hargreaves and Anderson will improve us next season as I can't see us going into the transfer market in our current financial state.

- Menace

You might well be right fella! I just have a vision of red card for something stupid but it could well have been Fabio... anyone know for sure? You never know, but Carrick was poor first half for me, he did get a couple of useful pressure challenges in but he let people run by him too much and his passing was well below par. He was properly weak for the goal too. Scholesy will always offer something y'know? Or even Giggs. A change was needed I reckon just to keep them on the back foot.

- Jonesy

Jonesy, wasn't it his twin brother who was sent off previously? I thought Carrick was quite good in the first half until he was muscled out for their first goal. Second half he went downhill sharply, right enough. But would bringing a knackered Scholes on have improved things?

- Neil

Thought Nani was great last night, felt gutted for him personally after what he put in! Carrick had a shocker and rafeal was silyl to get sent off, crowding the ref or not he should have made the challenge like that. After the sending off i was crying out for fergie to put a striker on!! Whenever we won the wall back, (which wasnt often) there was no outlet for the players and i think fergie left it a little too late. Anyway onwards and upwards to Blackburn on Sunday. Think if we win our remaining games we will win the league. If we do win them all and dont win it, fair play to Chelsea, nothing else we can do now.

- m_u_f_c

Absolutely gutted, I'm sure we all are. It amazes me how we went out after the performance in the first half. But, we had ten men, we did only go out on away goals (which makes it even more gutting) and we had a lot of promising performances from some of our younger players. I though Rafael was superb in that first half, just a shame his inexperience got the better of him in the second and ultimately thats why we lost the game. I don't ever criticise Fergie, but if there is one part of his tactics that have annoyed me over his career is that he always leaves it too late to make changes. Bringing Berbatov into the game so late wasn't going to change much. He is not Rooney, he needs someone else to run for him and give him service in and around the box, he wont run all over the pitch for you. Why leave no recognised striker on the pitch when we took Rooney off? (maybe i answered my own question there). We invited them back into the game and gave them hope. Foot off the gas, there you go Bayern try get another one. And they did. Gutted, but as always supporing United we are spoilt. It's a shock when we lose, not when we win. Pains me to say it but, I think Chelsea will win the league, Barca will win the European cup. Thats what I thought at the beginning of the season, its only the inconsistencies from the the 'big 4' that gave me hope about our chances. Its not over yet of course, but after this last week, it really does feel like it.

- Matt

I completely agree about Carrick, Shaun, and I think if Hargreaves/Anderson had been fit it would have given him a really tough task to keep his place. While Gibson has something about him, I do feel we need a really clever creative midfielder in the mould of Scholes/Xavi/Iniesta/Schneider. Maybe the latter fits the bill? Or Joe Cole? If either Scholes or Neville are retained for next season, I feel their appearances should be strictly limited. With both O'Shea/Rafael fit, they are better options at right-back for five important league games. They've been great servants, but time catches up with everyone at some point and I do feel Fergie has been allowing a little too much sentiment to creep in with Neville in particular.

- Neil

Cracking post Neil. I do think Carrick is going slightly backwards at United, I don't have much blame for Berbatov last night, we were just lumping balls up to him. In Valencia and Nani we have two dangerous wingers, I would like to see them two start more often because last night they caused so many problems. Rafael has to be our starting right-back next season, he will learn from his mistakes and be a better player for it. Darren Gibson is starting to really impress me too, he is definitely going to be involved more next season with Scholes almost at the end of his career. The only player who had a bad game for us was Carrick, but it doesn't mean he is "pathetic" or a "joke" but he does need a kick up the arse to get him going again.

- Shaun

A great performance for 41 minutes but then our defence showed it's weaknesses yet again....Ferdinand is struggling imo..i thought Fletcher & Carrick both look tired last night and didn't control midfield as they were doing earlier in the season....It's a disgrace that we have to play a half fit rooney when we have a 30m player on the bench but we didn't strenghten in that area and we've now paid the ultimate price....I echo what has been said about nani & valencia brilliant performances by both and deserved semi final places.... Silly sending off however it was deserved, we can't moan about germans getting him booked we would and have done the same in the past.......still think there are some twist and turns in the prem and we have to win all 5....can we beat blackburn without rooney?

- Gary Norris

Im greatful to carrick for what he did but thats in the past and right now we seem to be standing still whenever he plays. He is going backwards and at a club like United we cant afford that. Time to bring some competition in and see how he reacts. when has he ever took a BIG games by the balls and turned it our way? al Keano, Scholesy and even Fletcher this season. As for the rest. Stupid by Rafeal in both yellows. The first was pathetic and the 2nd was a rookie error. He needs to learn from this seasons mistakes. Berbatov Berbatov Berbatov. What can i say? Quality player and a signing i was chuffed with BUT he jsut isnt right for us is he. 30m striker on the bench and we go with Nani as a lone striker and when he did come on, you jsut knew that he was never going to doing anything. Time to move on please SAF. Rooney was poor last night and looked like he may have been hiding how hurt he was after 10 mins. Cant fault his determination and spirit but he affected his game. Positives were Nani and Valencia. Both were outstnading but what pleased me the most was the hunger and determiantion they showed when our backs were against the wall, Nani especially. His performance deserved a semi final. Altho we won it really does feel like a loss and I even heard SAF say that this clubs rarely loses 3 in a row!! Hopefully we can show the spirit of last night and put the pressure on cheslea with 5 wins, althoguh i thnik this all depends on rooneys fitness.

- birchy