Much to everyone’s surprise, the white Pele, Wayne Rooney was in the starting line-up. Sir Alex said he would not play unless he was 100 per cent. Rooney was accompanied by a very strong United side, including Nani and Valencia on the wings and Carrick, Fletcher and the young Irish midfielder Darron Gibson in the middle. While Rafael replaced Neville at right back. Sir Alex opting for youth and speed over experience.
Bayern also posted a strong line-up that included both Robben and Ribery on the wings, with Olic up top.

With all eyes on Rooney, It was 22 year old Darron Gibson who would give United a dream start after receiving a square ball and firing from 23 yards out. The strike would surprise even the keeper as it snuck in on his near post and after only 3 minutes United were up 1-0.

And if you notice Nani’s ability to play off the ball with Rooney, it was almost as impressive as his wonder goal only 4 minutes later. It certainly helped that the Bayern defense was rooted with absolutely no communication over who was picking up Nani. Also, credit Valencia for putting in a great ball from the right after toying with Badstuber

Rooney would have a scare as he tweaked his ankle when he collided with van Buyten. But after several minutes of playing through it he looked to have walked it off.

34 minutes in, Rafael would be played a great through ball, and nowhere else was his inexperience more evident then on this particular run. Had that been Dani Alves, Maicon, or Sergio Ramos this play would have resulted in a goal. Rafael was in, and when he should just be thinking “get to goal” he pauses takes a moment to look over his right shoulder, almost as if he was checking with Sir Alex about what to do and then proceeds to take it down and hit a shot wide, when he should’ve played it square to Rooney.

United would make it 3-0 because of Bayerns laziness on defense. Bayern lacked the discipline to get back on defense after losing the ball in the first half. Rafael would take a quick throw to Valencia and after a bit of individual skill from Valencia and a good ball back to Nani, he would hit his second of the night.

United seemed to be in cruise control and that not always a good thing, much like the 1st leg of the Barca vs Arsenal game. United took their foot off the gas and it didn’t take long for Bayern to capitalize on some lax defending from United. Although Carrick did look to be beat too easily, it was also Vidic and Ferdinand who failed to get back behind the keeper.

3-1 at half, Bayern were one goal from the semi-finals.

United made no changes at halftime.

And after only 5 minutes, a mistake that would cost United a spot in the semi-finals. Rafael was sent off for his second yellow card offense. Which prompted a substitute, and the player sacrificed would be Rooney. O’Shea would come on at right back.

Sir Alex switched to a 4-4-1 with Nani as a lone striker and Gibson at left wing. At this point he should have kept Nani on the left and subbed in Berbatov or Macheda.

Nani had a couple of chances to complete his hat-trick, once setting himself up for a volley and another after a brilliant through ball from Evra but was not successful.

United would have two other chances to make it four and put this one away, one in the 65th minute by Carrick,  and another by Gibson both of which hit it miles over the cross bar.

And in the 74th minute Robben would have one of the best goals of this years Champions League campaign. A goal that could have been prevented if only Van der Sar had put someone on the FRONT POST! You gamble when you don’t put someone on both front and back post. 9 times out of 10 you won’t use them, but that one time could be a goal of this magnitude!

Bayern would do a good job of trying to keep possession, and if Berbatov is the striker coming off the bench to try and rescue your team, you might as well hang it up. He doesn’t have the pace or presence to carry a team.

Maybe the wonder start was at fault because United got too comfortable, or Rafael’s rookie mistake that cost United a spot in the semi-final.

Either way, football is the only sport where you could win and lose, all in the same match.

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