Man Utd: - 5 Zalaegerszeg - 0:CHAMPIONS LEAGUE/Final qualifying round: Doubting Alex Ferguson and his players has always been a fool's pastime. A tie reeking of danger became a cakewalk for Manchester United last night and they will go into Friday's Champions League draw in Monaco as second favourites only to Real Madrid.
In an increasingly money-obsessed industry, the financial implications will be enormous. The Champions League is a treasure chest for the haves and have-yachts of Europe (qualification: £15 million; reaching the final: £50 million) whereas the UEFA Cup is little more than its poor cousin. In terms of finance alone, last night was the difference between digging gold or iron pyrites.
In terms of kudos, it is impossible to measure. Missing out on a European Cup final in his native Glasgow was a galling experience for Ferguson last season and, with Old Trafford designated as this season's final venue, there is the potential yet for an exhilarating finale to the manager's 17th season in office. May 28th, 2003, will already be circled in Ferguson's calendar.
Zala will return to the small industrial town of 60,000 people between Lake Balaton and the Austrian border and reflect on their finest hour at the Ferenc Puskas stadium a fortnight ago. Yet their aspirations of inflicting one of the most humiliating results in United's history were all but extinguished inside the opening 20 minutes last night, after they were overcome by a sudden attack of stage-fright and a ferocious spell of pressure from United that suggested they were insulted just to be involved in the qualifying stages.
United were 3-0 up and suddenly a tie reeking of danger had taken on a new complexion. It was beginning to feel slightly preposterous that anyone had seriously believed United had ever felt threatened by opponents with such limited experience, a side captained by a reformed alcoholic and whose record signing cost £145,000 - a fortnight's wages for Beckham.
This was United at their most awesome and vindication of Ferguson's decision to play Paul Scholes behind Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Ferguson was delighted his men had put in an excellent display and could now look forward to another campaign among Europe's elite clubs. He told BBC1: "I think the desire in the first half gave us the foundation - in the first half the speed of the passing and the movement was excellent."
By his own admission, it is not the position that Scholes prefers, but his alertness and intelligence consistently menaced United's opponents and only five minutes had elapsed before his vision had created the opening goal, an exquisite flick dissecting the visiting defence for Van Nistelrooy to run clear and aim a sure shot beyond the oncoming Sasa Ilic.
So far, so good, and things were to improve dramatically. Ryan Giggs was fouled 30 yards from goal and, with one swing of that trusty right boot, Beckham had sent his free-kick into the top corner of Ilic's goal. It was the sort of goal that perhaps only he is capable of and Old Trafford acclaimed a wonderful moment.
At that stage, it seemed that United could score with every attack but they had to wait another six minutes before extending their lead further. At first, it appeared as though Scholes had got the ball stuck beneath his feet from Beckham's cross but, as Zala's defenders left it to one another, he managed to squeeze a shot into the bottom corner.
Scholes went off five minutes into the second half after suffering an ankle injury. But that apart, there was little to trouble the home side.
Roy Carroll, deputising for the injured Fabien Barthez, was seldom troubled. Rio Ferdinand, belatedly making his competitive debut, was assured alongside Laurent Blanc in defence before being replaced by John O'Shea midway through the second half. And Roy Keane was there, as always, to chastise anyone he felt was slacking just a little.
He need not have worried. United eased to the finishing line, the only minor disappointment being that Diego Forlan, a player who is beginning to earn comparisons with Ralph Milne, was not allowed the opportunity to register his first goal after Ilic, very harshly, was sent off 15 minutes from time.
Ilic and Van Nistelrooy had clattered into each other as the goalkeeper gathered a bouncing ball. There did not appear to be too much malice involved but Van Nistelrooy stayed down and the Portuguese referee, having consulted one of his assistants, awarded a penalty and brandished a red card.
Forlan, on the field only three minutes, looked as though he was going to take the kick but common sense prevailed and Van Nistelrooy added his second of the night.
Forlan then had a goal disallowed before Solskjaer rounded things off nicely, latching on to Ryan Giggs's pass before scoring United's fifth. Did we ever doubt them?
Guardian Service
MANCHESTER UNITED: Carroll, Phil Neville, Ferdinand (O'Shea 68), Blanc, Silvestre, Beckham (Forlan 72), Keane, Veron, Scholes (Solskjaer 50), Giggs, van Nistelrooy. Subs Not Used: Williams, Chadwick, Stewart, Tierney. Goals: van Nistelrooy 6, Beckham 15, Scholes 21, van Nistelrooy 76, Solskjaer 84.
ZALAEGERSZEG: Ilic, Csoka, Urban, Budisa, Szamosi, Babati (Turi 75), Darko Ljubojevic (Farago 59), Molnar, Vincze (Balogh 64), Kenesei, Egressy. Subs Not Used: Sabo, Kral, Koplarovic, Joszi. Sent Off: Ilic (74). Booked: Molnar.
Referee: C Cortez Batista (Portugal).
(United win 5-1 on aggregate)
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