A second-string Manchester United cruised into a dream Champions League final against Barcelona on Wednesday with a 4-1 victory over German side Schalke 04.
Leading 2-0 after the first leg, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson could afford to make nine changes to his starting line-up and still see his team qualify for the May 28 final at Wembley with something to spare.
The result put United into their third Champions League final in four years, and gives Ferguson's side the chance to avenge their loss to Barcelona in the 2009 final in Rome.
A slow start saw Schalke have the first half-chance of the night after only seven minutes, Jefferson Farfan sending a low shot fizzing just wide of the upright after seven minutes.
United broke the deadlock in the 26th minute, Gibson threading an exquisite ball through to release Valencia, who calmly finished past Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
It got better for Gibson five minutes later when his thunderous low shot from the edge of the area beat Neuer, who should have done better, and flew in off the post to make it 2-0 and effectively kill the tie.
Schalke were given a glimmer of hope on 35 minutes when Smalling conceded possession cheaply and the ball ended up at the feet of Jurado, who lashed a fierce shot beyond van der Sar.
But even then United might have stretched their lead by half-time, Valencia ghosting past his marker and Neuer only for his goal-bound shot to be cleared off the line by Howedes.
United's dominance continued after the break, and Schalke had Neuer to thank once again for preventing a third goal, the German international diving at full stretch to tip an Anderson shot wide.
Anderson made it 3-1 on the night after 72 minutes, capitalising on a surging run from Nani before netting his second four minutes later, tapping in from close range after good work from Valencia and Berbatov.
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| Pep Guardiola |
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| Darron Gibson |
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| Jose Manuel Jurado |
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| Antonio Valencia |
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| Anderson |
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| Sir Alex Ferguson |
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