Article by Mark Graham, Stats Nerd

Match Preview
UCL, Quarter Final, 2nd Leg, Manchester United 7 v 1 AS Roma, Old Trafford, Manchester, 19.45 GMT, Tuesday 10th April 2007.
Goals: Manchester United: Carrick (12), (60), Smith (17), Rooney (19), Ronaldo (44), (49), Evra (81).     AS Roma: De Rossi (69)
Attendance: 74,476

"You can shove your fuc** Ultra's up your Arse" the Stretford End sang as one of the finest ever displays of attacking football wiped the floor with if the truth be told a very good team.  A brace each from Carrick & Ronaldo and a goal a piece from Rooney, Smith & Patrice Evra saw United create a moment in United history booking themselves a semi final date with AC Milan.

The words amazing & unbelievable can be used many a time in this day and age in sporting events, but Manchester United surely can be one of the very few football teams worldwide, which can lay claim to be, over the years to have warranted the use of the aforementioned words.

As the game began to settle Roma in White began shooting from distance at any chance testing EVDS after his mistakes in Rome as Totti struck a powerful effort just wide, United didn't wait long before the Symphony of Destruction began after excellent work by Ronaldo saw the winger lay off a weighted pass to Carrick, who struck the ball 1st time curling & lofting his effort past Doni.

	So divine was United's play Jesus even made an appearance at Old Trafford alongside many other Gods Cheers Pete!!!!!

Choosing Alan Smith ahead of OGS, SAF opted to play Rooney out wide leaving to devastating effect Ryan Giggs to orchestrate most of United's attacks from a "free" roll.  The Italians had no response to Giggs and like a conductor orchestrated the demolition of Roma.

Heinze and Giggs exchanged before the Welshman fired in a teasing ball which eluded the Italian defender to fall for Smith who finished well for the goal that all United fans wanted.

Taking the Wolf (Editor: Pardon the pun) firmly by the horns Rooney joined the fun as United took the piss, Ryan Giggs crossed a exquisite ball for the on rushing Rooney who clipped the ball into the net, sending OT into hysterics.

With Darren Fletcher playing in central midfield where it has to be said the very honest lad can apply his trade, he hurried and harassed the Italians breaking up several attacks, giving the ball to to United's forwards.

Three nil up United almost paid for sloppy defending as Ex United target Philippe Mexes headed wide after a free-kick.

Roma were like a "rabbit in the headlights" as United's movement and pace was unanswerable, moving forward in search of any sort of goal made the 2nd placed team in Sirie A more vulnerable to Rooney, Ronaldo & Giggs counter attack & more pressure from the Reds saw Carrick almost score again with a header from a near post Giggs corner, finding his effort parried, the midfielder failed to adjust his body for the rebound.

Ronaldo then struck his 1st just before the half time whistle after being given time and space the electric winger found the net making it 4-0.

The 2nd half continued as it had left off and this time it was the Stretford End who were treated to more goals, early in the 2nd, Ronaldo converted another Ryan Giggs cross assist before Michael Carrick's on the hour "arrow from a bow" shot found the net from 25 yards out.

Demoralised & clearly shocked Roma did finally score as De Rossi's world class finish from Totti's cross beat EVDS.

The final nail in the coffin was Patrice Evra's low shot as the Frenchman playing in the right full back roll beat Doni again equalling the 7-1 score line against Waterford in October 1968 where the Law man Denis Law scored 4.

United Starting Line-up
Ratings in parenthesis
van der Sar (6); O'Shea (7), Brown (7), Ferdinand (7), Heinze (8); Ronaldo (9), Fletcher (9), Carrick (9), Giggs (9), Rooney (8) Smith (8)
Subs Used: Evra (7) for O'Shea (52 mins), Solskjaer (6) for Giggs (61 mins), Richardson (5) for Carrick (73 mins).
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Dong, Cathcart, Eagles.

United's Man of the Match
Ronaldo with two goals, Carrick with 2 fantastic strikes, Giggs with three assists, but Rants MOTM goes to Darren Fletcher for his inspiring midfield display, well done son!!!.

Keano16's Reaction
Whether you win 2-1 or 7-1 you qualify for the next round & it all starts again, the team feels like it has matured considerably since AC Milan beat us twice a couple of seasons ago.

The cold hard facts are in reality & only if we win we are 11 games from dare I say it.........................

Was Our Prediction Right?
No we said 3-1, United Rant 7 v 44 Wrong Predictions.

Milestones
Michael Carrick's 1st & 2nd UCL goals of his United career & 4th & 5th goals overall.
Alan Smith's 3rd UCL goal of his United career & 11th goal overall.
Wayne Rooney's 6th UCL goal of his United career & 53rd goal overall.
Cristiano Ronaldo's 2nd & 3rd UCL goals of his United career & 46th & 47th goals overall.
Patrice Evra's 1st UCL goal of his United career & 2nd goal overall.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 350th competitive appearance for United.
Cristiano Ronaldo's 180th competitive appearance for United.

Miscellaneous Info
United’s next match is on Saturday 14th April 2007 in the FA Cup Semi Final to be played at Villa Park, 17.30pm K.O.