Hernandez double sends United through
Reuters - Tuesday 15 March 2011, 22:15
MANCHESTER - Javier Hernandez
struck twice to lift Manchester United to a nervous 2-1 win over
Olympique Marseille on Tuesday and a place in the Champions
League quarter-finals for the fifth year in a row.
The Mexican striker scored from close range after five
minutes and he latched on to a Ryan Giggs pass to double the
lead 15 minutes from time.
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United defender Wes Brown headed an own goal with eight
minutes left to ensure a nervy finale but the Premier League
leaders survived to advance 2-1 on aggregate.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson bemoaned the loss of defenders
John O'Shea and Rafael da Silva to hamstring injuries during the
match following the withdrawal of his captain Nemanja Vidic
before kick-off.
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"It was nervy in as much as we lost two defenders in the
game which upset our balance," Ferguson told Sky Sports. "The
problem for us was their height and they were always a threat at
set pieces."
United striker Wayne Rooney said his team had deserved to go
through.
"We are delighted, it was a difficult game," Rooney said.
"We knew they were a big physical team but I think we deserved
it in the end."
STARTED STRONGLY
United, under pressure not to concede following a 0-0 draw
in the first leg in Marseille, started strongly and were
rewarded when Rooney's pinpoint cross found Hernandez who turned
the ball into an empty net.
Missing Vidic and Rio ferdinand, United coped comfortably
with Marseille's attack and Rooney and Hernandez enjoyed plenty
of possession without creating many clear chances.
Andre-Pierre Gignac and Soulemayne Diawara missed good
chances to equalise and the French side worked tirelessly after
half-time, pinning the home team back but lacking the craft to
threaten Edwin van der Sar's goal.
Substitute Antonio Valencia created the second United goal
with a deft through pass to Giggs whose neat cross was gleefully
swept home by Hernandez.
Marseille refused to lie down and they were rewarded when
Brown headed a corner towards his own goal and Paul Scholes was
unable to stop the ball crossing the line.
But United kept their shape well in the closing minutes and
remained on course for their fourth European Cup and a treble of
trophies this season.