Scholes sees United through

A Paul Scholes rocket was enough to send Man Utd into their first Champions League final since 1999 and ensured Barcelona went crashing out of the Champions League semi-final last night at Old Trafford.

Paul Scholes scored Red Devils' only goal at the 14th minute during the Champions League semifinal second leg at Old Trafford stadium.

Ferguson: it was fantastic

"Well, we're there and the important thing is they we are there and it doesn't matter who we play," Ferguson said. "That will look after itself when it comes around.

"We needed a fantastic performance tonight and I think we got one. With our play at times up front we could have scored three or four goals."

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Barcelona threatened in the opening two minutes, however, when Lionel Messi darted past one defender and was brought down by Scholes near the corner of the area.

But the free kick was blocked, and United soon punished the missed opportunity as Paul Scholes found some space, took the ball onto his right foot and thumped the ball past Victor Valdes and into the top right corner.

Fergie: a fantastic goal from Scholes

"It was a fantastic goal," Ferguson said. "I don't think we can expect Paul Scholes to score 10-15 goals a season like he used to do when he was younger.

"But he certainly delivered one tonight for us. It makes up for the all the goals that he can't score because of his age now. It was a marvellous moment for him."

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Barcelona almost conceded again almost immediately when Valdes fumbled Nani's free-kick and Park Ji-Sung was unfortunate to see a side-footed shot slide inches wide after being set up by Ronaldo.

Barcelona pressurised for much of the first half with Lionel Messi impressing throughout.

Gaby Milito came agonisingly close to connecting with Xavi's freekick, whipped in at pace from the right just before the break, but United were doing a good job of restricting their opponents to shots from distance while continuing to threaten on the counter-attack.

Nani was prevented, by the close attentions of Puyol, from diverting Ronaldo's cutback goalwards early in the second half and then blasted high after working his way into the box.

Thierry Henry and Bojan Krkic came on for one final hopeful salvo, but it was too late and Man Utd have completed a historic result and a brilliant trip to Moscow for an all-English final ensues.