2006/07 Manchester United FC 7-1 AS Roma: Report

Having lost the first leg 2-1 in Italy, Manchester United FC knew they needed a strong performance to overcome AS Roma in the return but not even Sir Alex Ferguson, who had said beforehand "we will score", can have predicted the deluge of goals that would flow at Old Trafford. It carried his side through to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

In a match graced by so many good goals it is hard to pick the best of them, but Michael Carrick's first of the night was certainly the most important as it evened the tie on aggregate and settled the nerves of a side that had not overturned a first-leg deficit in Europe since 1984.

Eleven minutes had gone when the England midfielder received Cristiano Ronaldo's pass some 25 metres out and unleashed a curling shot before Doni could set himself. Ahead on the night and on away goals, United's confidence grew as they doubled their lead six minutes later after a flowing move involving Gabriel Heinze and Ryan Giggs, whose pass Alan Smith rifled in on the half-volley.

As Roma came forward in search of their away goal, they were caught on the break by the pace of Ronaldo and Giggs, and the latter was again the provider when his cross was met at the far post by Wayne Rooney. And still the English side came, and a minute before the interval that man Giggs completed a hat-trick of assists, feeding Ronaldo who lashed a low drive in at the near post.

United were rampant. Ronaldo doubled his quota for the night shortly after half-time when Giggs (who else?) picked him out at the far post after Roma failed to clear a corner. Carrick grabbed a second himself with an arrowing shot into the top corner, and though Roma scored through Daniele De Rossi's smart strike, United had the last word, Patrice Evra firing in low off the near post.

"I've never seen a performance like that in my life," said United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. "It wasn't that Roma played badly; we were just very, very good." Nobody at Old Trafford could contest that.