Tuesday April 26, 2011 Semifinal Finished Veltins-Arena

Schalke 04 0 - 2 Manchester United

  • Giggs 67’
  • Rooney 69’

No comments yet | Write your comment

  1. Ferguson hails 'finest' Neuer

    Ferguson hails 'finest' Neuer

    Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson said Manuel Neuer's goalkeeping performance was the "finest" he has seen and also hailed Ryan Giggs. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Schalke 04
    • Manchester United
    • 90'+2 There goes the final whistle and United take a giant stride towards the final at Wembley!
    • 90' Giggs with another chance to grab a second and United's third! But he can't take it!
    • 88' Oooh! Evra surges forward to run onto Nani's ball through! He fires goalwards, but his effort bounces just wide of the upright!
    • 86' Fergie is laughing and joking down on the touchline! And why not? His side have done all expected of them tonight.
    • 85' United have taken a giant stride towards their third final in four years tonight...
    • 83' And then United take off Rooney, Nani coming on in his place.
    • 82' But before he can, Drazler comes on to replace Jurado for Schalke.
    • 81' Nani is waiting to enter the fray...
    • 80' Escudero cracks off a great effort on target! But Van der Sar is equal to it!
    • 78' Raul, despite having netted five times in his first season with the German club after his long distinguished career with Real Madrid, has been anonymous tonight.
    • 76' United are still probing for a third goal that would surely kill off this tie.
    • 75' Farfan sends a free-kick wide of the post... that's pretty much the best Schalke can offer at the moment.
    • 74' United are looking towards the weekend's Premier League fixture with Arsenal already with those substitutions.
    • 73' And United make a change: Anderson for Hernandez and Scholes on for Park.
    • 73' Change for Schalke: Escudero on for Sarpei.
    • 72' Valencia looks to take on Sarpei, but the Ecuadorian loses out this time.
    • 71' Finally, United's pressure has told. And it has to be said, they deserve nothing less.
    • 69' GOAL! ANOTHER FOR UNITED! Rooney this time gets on the scoresheet as Hernandez plays the ball through to him and he fires low past Neuer to double United's advantage!
    • 69' Are the floodgate going to open now?
    • 68' Giggs fires a volley wide of the mark as he nearly grabs two goals in a minute!
    • 67' GOAL! THERE IT IS! UNITED LEAD THROUGH GIGGS! Finally, United find the back of the net! Rooney slips a delightful pass through for the veteran to run on to and he fires first-time under Neuer to give United a deserved lead!
    • 64' Van der Sar is brought into rare action! But the Dutchman is still awake and equal to Edu's shot!
    • 63' Valencia clears it but only as far as Raul, who dinks the ball towards the back stick... Ferdinand is forced into putting behind for another corner!
    • 62' Schalke win a corner! Amazing!
    • 60' Carrick's having a great game in the middle of the park, by the way. He's not getting much resistance from the hosts in all fairness, but nevertheless he's dictating play.
    • 59' Valencia is flagged offside and the United winger isn't happy about that one.
    • 58' Yellow for Fabio as he brings down Jurado on a rare Schalke sortie forward.
    • 56' Schalke are aiming to be the fourth German team to reach a Champions League final after Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen and the second in a row after Bayern last season.
    • 54' A goalless draw for United would be a good result away from home in a Champions League semi-final, but given their dominance, it would be viewed as an opportunity lost if they were not to score at least one goal.
    • 53' Change for Schalke: Kluge on for Baumjohann.
    • 52' Here come Schalke though... Jurado fires a volley wide of the mark!
    • 51' United have started the second half in as determined mood as they ended the first... surely it's just a case of when, rather than if they score.
    • 50' United finally have the ball in the back of the net as Neuer is finally beaten! But it won't count! Hernandez was offside!
    • 49' Here come United again, with Giggs...
    • 48' Giggs! Must be! No! He did the hard part, taking Valencia's cross before cutting back inside to make some room for a shot... but it's his right foot and his effort is tame and wide of the post!
    • 47' Carrick! Ooh! He heads on target from the free-kick but that man Neuer is there once again to tip over the bar!
    • 46' Hernandez's sharpness is too much for Jurado, who gives away an early foul in this second half.
    • 46' Back under way in Gelsenkirchen!
    • 45' There goes the half-time whistle, without hardly any added time, and the teams head in at the break goalless, mostly thanks to some heroic goalkeeping from Manuel Neuer.
    • 44' Giggs is through on goal here! But again Neuer foils United! He stands up well and makes the save!
    • 43' It goes short, but nothing comes of it.
    • 42' Rooney does really well to play in Giggs on the overlap... his centre is intended for Valencia but it doesn't reach him as Papadopoulos heads behing for a corner.
    • 42' Van der Sar plays a pass out from goal that is nearly intercepted by Raul! Very close that one!
    • 41' Park slides in on Matip... free-kick to Schalke and the Korean can count himself lucky not to have his name taken, given his earlier foul too.
    • 40' Baumjohann then tries his luck from distance... but it's easy for Van der Sar in the United goal.
    • 39' Schalke have a weak penalty claim as Valencia nudges Baumjohann off the ball in the box... no chance says the Spanish ref!
    • 38' Fabio! Should be the opener, but the Brazilian fires over the bar as the ball drops nicely for him 10 yards out!
    • 37' United are getting through at will now... surely it's only a matter of time before they break the deadlock...
    • 36' Valencia links up well with Giggs to unlock the Schalke defence again! Hernandez brings a save out of Neuer before Giggs miscues the rebound on the volley! Park nearly gets to it but doesn't really know wether to head of swing a boot at it!
    • 35' Edu is pulled up for a foul on Park...
    • 34' Metzelder's lack of pace is exposed by Rooney's sharp turn... he brings the United man down and he gets booked for his indiscretion.
    • 33' Schalke have won only one of their last six games against English teams and have not scored in any of their last three. They lost at home to United's neighbours Manchester City 2-0 in the last such meeting in the UEFA Cup two seasons ago.
    • 32' What a ball from Giggs for Rooney! But the England striker fails to put it under control and Neuer is able to claim.
    • 31' Park tries to turn in the centre circle, but is dispossessed and Schalke can break now... Vidic steps across to take the ball off Farfan and the move breaks down.
    • 30' United pour forward again, propelled by Carrick... Hernandez tries to cross twice, but both time it's cleared.
    • 29' The good news for United fans is that Schalke are being opened up with apparent ease so far.
    • 28' Giggs! Ooh! What a chance! The veteran, who is all alone from Vidic's cross, heads downwards but is denied by Neuer! Awful defending there by Schalke!
    • 27' He really is looking a threat tonight, young Hernandez.
    • 26' Hernandez is in again! He displays a great first touch and he holds off the challenge of Matip before getting his shot off, but it's dragged wide of the far post from a narrow angle!
    • 25' Evra piles into Uchida, rather unnecessarily, and Schalke have a free-kick.
    • 24' Schalke, unbeaten in their last nine European games, a club record, have scored 10 goals in their last three but have not kept a clean sheet in any of the last five. They have won all five home games in the Champions League this season, scoring at least twice on each occasion.
    • 23' As the corner comes over the whistle goes and the referee has spotted a United infringement.
    • 22' Rooney and Hernandez prise open the Schalke defence.... but instead of shooting this time, Hernandez opts to play a square ball to Rooney... it's telegraphed and they have to settle for a corner.
    • 21' Hernandez! Ooh! Into the side netting! Neuer seems to have it covered but Chicarito is such a livewire, the hosts will have a job keeping him quiet tonight.
    • 20' Twenty minutes gone and United can be very pleased with how they have started.
    • 19' Park curls a ball in from the right but that's a good defensive header from Matip.
    • 18' Park slides in on Uchida a little late... no malice of course from the Korean, but a foul nevertheless.
    • 17' United are keeping the ball well at the moment and the crowd begins to whistle their frustration...
    • 16' Rooney stands up a cross to the back post, but Neuer is there to claim.
    • 15' United could be three up already if were not for Neuer!
    • 14' Park slips it through for Hernandez... no flag! Great chance as the Mexican turns onto the ball... but his shot is again well saved by Neuer!
    • 13' Rooney goes down under a challenge by Metzelder and United have a free-kick.
    • 12' Farfan wins a corner off Evra, which is taken quickly... cleared and United break with Fabio! What a run by the Brazilian... he goes all the way! But his final pass square is deflected into Neuer's arms..,
    • 11' United just play the ball around a little now as they keep possession and look to build slowly from the back.
    • 10' It's been a cracking opening to the game - very open and entertaining so far!
    • 9' Farfan now cuts inside Evra before firing wide of the mark!
    • 8' Valencia gets past his man to the byline from where he delivers a cross... cleared this time.
    • 7' United have started very brightly indeed.
    • 6' Valencia now finds Hernandez with a lovely ball forward! The Mexican manages to get a shot off on goal but this time it's easy for Neuer.
    • 6' Oooh! Park stings Neuer's fingers with a crisp shot from just inside the box! Hernandez threatens on the rebound, but the flag is up quickly for offside!
    • 5' Neuer appears to be going to Bayern Munich this summer though, so United will have to look elsewhere for a replacement for Van der Sar.
    • 4' Neuer claims the ensuing corner and already the Germany keeper has given a glimpse of just why he's rated so highly by Alex Ferguson.
    • 3' Oooh! Rooney tests Neuer with a deflected shot that seems to be arrowing towards the top corner! Neuer pulls off a great save to tip over!
    • 2' Farfan is pulled up for hand ball and United can build from the back now.
    • 1' Schalke signal their intent early on as Baumjohann picks up a failed clearance by Giggs and lets off a shot on target! It's straight at Van der Sar, but a decent start nevertheless!
    • 1' Here we go! United get us under way in the Champions League semi-final, first leg!
    • 19:43 Here come the teams, to that famous Champions League ditty. Schalke in their traditional blue shirts and white shorts, United is their usual red shirts and black shorts.
    • 19:42 At yesterday's pre-match presser, Alex Ferguson admitted to a degree of envy regarding other clubs record in Europe. With a third final appearance in four years up for grabs in this tie, now is as good a time as any to start redressing the balance.
    • 19:40 Schalke defender Christophe Metzelder said that his side were 'very nervous' ahead of the game tonight. Good news for United - the Germany defender is prone to mistakes at the best of times. Video: Schalke 'nervous' of United'
    • 19:35 Amazingly, United, unbeaten in their last 11 Champions League matches, have not conceded a single goal in any of their five CL away games this season. They have kept 13 clean sheets in their last 18 CL away matches.
    • 19:30 United, beaten by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals last season, have won only seven of 19 Champions League games against German clubs though they have won four of the last five and six of the last eight. They have scored on each of their last eight visits to Germany though they have won only twice in those games.
    • 19:25 That might have something to do with their domestic form - they dropped to defeat against Kaiserslautern at the weekend and currently lie in 10th place. That kind of league position is completely at odds with their European form, mind, and as United know all too well, German opposition are always going to be a tough nut to crack. Euro Club Index
    • 19:20 Arsene Wenger doesn't give the German side much chance of progressing past United tonight.
    • 19:15 And for United, the big news is that Fabio starts ahead of Rafael at right-back, with John O'Shea missing out altogether and the Brazilian's brother Rafael on the bench. In-form Javier Hernandez starts alongside Wayne Rooney with Dimitar Berbatov back in Manchester while Ryan Giggs and Park Ji-sung starting in midfield and Nani on the bench.
    • 19:10 So, defender Benedikt Hoewedes doesn't make it for Schalke but Kyriakos Papadopoulos starts and fit again Peer Kluge is on the bench.
    • 19:05 And tonight's referee is Carlos Velasco Carballo (Madrid).
    • 19:00 The teams are in... SCHALKE: Neuer, Uchida, Matip, Metzelder, Sarpei, Farfan, Papadopoulos, Jurado, Baumjohann, Raul, Edu. Subs: Schober, Escudero, Plestan, Kluge, Charisteas, Karimi, Draxler /// MANCHESTER UNITED: Van der Sar, Fabio Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Park, Rooney, Hernandez. Subs: Kuszczak, Anderson, Smalling, Nani, Scholes, Rafael Da Silva, Evans
    • 18:55 United, on the other hand, are regular customers at this stage of Europe's premier club competition: this is their fourth semi-final in the last five years.
    • 18:50 Schalke head into the tie very much the underdogs, having slipped under the radar somewhat this season. Ten things you need to know about Schalke
    • 18:45 Manchester United travel to Gelsenkirchen to face German outfit Schalke in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

  • Summary

    • 90'+2 There goes the final whistle and United take a giant stride towards the final at Wembley!
    • 88' Oooh! Evra surges forward to run onto Nani's ball through! He fires goalwards, but his effort bounces just wide of the upright!
    • 80' Escudero cracks off a great effort on target! But Van der Sar is equal to it!
    • 69' GOAL! ANOTHER FOR UNITED! Rooney this time gets on the scoresheet as Hernandez plays the ball through to him and he fires low past Neuer to double United's advantage!
    • 68' Giggs fires a volley wide of the mark as he nearly grabs two goals in a minute!
    • 67' GOAL! THERE IT IS! UNITED LEAD THROUGH GIGGS! Finally, United find the back of the net! Rooney slips a delightful pass through for the veteran to run on to and he fires first-time under Neuer to give United a deserved lead!
    • 50' United finally have the ball in the back of the net as Neuer is finally beaten! But it won't count! Hernandez was offside!
    • 48' Giggs! Must be! No! He did the hard part, taking Valencia's cross before cutting back inside to make some room for a shot... but it's his right foot and his effort is tame and wide of the post!
    • 47' Carrick! Ooh! He heads on target from the free-kick but that man Neuer is there once again to tip over the bar!
    • 44' Giggs is through on goal here! But again Neuer foils United! He stands up well and makes the save!
    • 38' Fabio! Should be the opener, but the Brazilian fires over the bar as the ball drops nicely for him 10 yards out!
    • 36' Valencia links up well with Giggs to unlock the Schalke defence again! Hernandez brings a save out of Neuer before Giggs miscues the rebound on the volley! Park nearly gets to it but doesn't really know wether to head of swing a boot at it!
    • 28' Giggs! Ooh! What a chance! The veteran, who is all alone from Vidic's cross, heads downwards but is denied by Neuer! Awful defending there by Schalke!
    • 26' Hernandez is in again! He displays a great first touch and he holds off the challenge of Matip before getting his shot off, but it's dragged wide of the far post from a narrow angle!
    • 21' Hernandez! Ooh! Into the side netting! Neuer seems to have it covered but Chicarito is such a livewire, the hosts will have a job keeping him quiet tonight.
    • 14' Park slips it through for Hernandez... no flag! Great chance as the Mexican turns onto the ball... but his shot is again well saved by Neuer!
    • 6' Oooh! Park stings Neuer's fingers with a crisp shot from just inside the box! Hernandez threatens on the rebound, but the flag is up quickly for offside!
    • 3' Oooh! Rooney tests Neuer with a deflected shot that seems to be arrowing towards the top corner! Neuer pulls off a great save to tip over!
    • 19:00 The teams are in... SCHALKE: Neuer, Uchida, Matip, Metzelder, Sarpei, Farfan, Papadopoulos, Jurado, Baumjohann, Raul, Edu. Subs: Schober, Escudero, Plestan, Kluge, Charisteas, Karimi, Draxler /// MANCHESTER UNITED: Van der Sar, Fabio Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Park, Rooney, Hernandez. Subs: Kuszczak, Anderson, Smalling, Nani, Scholes, Rafael Da Silva, Evans

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

    Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account.

    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      - -
      Yellow Card - -
      Yellow Card Substitution Out73′ - -
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out53′ - -
      - -
      - -
      Substitution Out83′ - -
      Strikers
      - -
      - -
      Subs
      Substitution In53′ - -
      Substitution In73′ - -
      Substitution In83′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      Yellow Card - -
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      - -
      Goal - -
      - -
      Substitution Out73′ - -
      Strikers
      Goal Substitution Out83′ - -
      Substitution Out73′ - -
      Subs
      Substitution In73′ - -
      Substitution In73′ - -
      Substitution In83′ - -

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account