MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) -- Manchester United produced one of their finest ever performances in European competition to overwhelm Roma 7-1 at Old Trafford and reach the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time since 2002.
United, trailing 2-1 from the first meeting in Rome, had never previously overturned a first leg deficit in five attempts in the competition but did so in remarkable style to win the tie 8-3 on aggregate.
It was the biggest victory in a quarterfinal match in either the European Cup or Champions League since Real Madrid beat Sevilla 8-0 in 1957-58, clocking up a 10-2 aggregate victory.
It was also the biggest winning margin in a Champions League knockout round game and Roma's heaviset defeat in Europe.
Three goals in a scintillating eight-minute burst early in the first half swept Alex Ferguson's side towards the semifinals to face either Bayern Munich or AC Milan and sustained their hopes of repeating their 1999 European and domestic treble.
Michael Carrick, Alan Smith and Wayne Rooney had United 3-0 up after 20 minutes before Cristiano Ronaldo (44th and 49th) scored either side of the break.
Carrick then netted a spectacular second and after Daniele De Rossi pulled one back, Patrice Evra had the final word with their seventh goal nine minutes from time.
It was a breathtaking performance by United and their manager Sir Alex Ferguson praised his team afterwards.
"It was a fantastic performance. We showed great confidence after two defeats in the last week. All great teams get over these mishaps and we did that tonight," he said.
Ferguson sprung a tactical surprise by playing Rooney, Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs as a three-man attacking midfield unit to support Smith, recalled for only his fourth start of the season, as the lone striker.
The idea worked like a dream as the trio ran Roma ragged in a blistering opening quarter that settled the tie. Ronaldo got things moving when he rolled the ball into the path of Carrick, whose quickfire shot from outside the box left goalkeeper Doni rooted as the ball flew past him.
That would have been enough to send United through on the away goals rule but they were in no mood to settle.
In the 17th minute Rooney combined with Giggs to send Smith through and the striker put every moment of suffering from a year of injury hell into his unstoppable finish.
Less than two minutes later Old Trafford was in raptures as Giggs was given time and space to cross low from the right for Rooney to touch in the third.
The Italians, second in Serie A with a parsimonious defence, were all over the place and could have conceded again as Ronaldo shot wide and Doni saved a point-blank header from Carrick.
Their only worthwhile effort at goal was a well-struck free-kick by Francesco Totti that Edwin van der Sar saved well.
Instead it was United who finished on the offensive as Ronaldo was offered the channel he loves down the right and duly accepted the offer before driving in the fourth.
It had been an incredible half and it took only two minutes of the second period for United to extend their lead.
Again Giggs was the provider as his perfectly-measured low cross was turned in by Ronaldo for the Portuguese winger's 20th goal of a sparkling season.
Roma eventually roused themselves and a Mancini effort was scrambled off the line by the hard-working Darren Fletcher but it was the briefest of respites as, on the hour, Carrick drove home a superlative sixth from 25 metres.
Roma got on the scoresheet with a lovely volley on the turn by De Rossi but United restored their astonishing six-goal margin when substitute defender Evra scored again with a low shot from the edge of the box nine minutes from time.
Arrests
Meanwhile, trouble flared before the match with police having to separate rival fans.
A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman told Reuters: "We've been required to deal with a number of small and isolated incidents. We have made some arrests in order to maintain peace at the ground."
There were 18 arrests, seven for stealing goods from the Manchester United megastore, she added after the match.
A spokeswoman for the Greater Manchester ambulance service said one male had been taken to hospital with a slight head injury.
Police had been prepared for trouble following disturbances at last week's first leg when Italian police launched themselves at United fans at the Olympic Stadium in Rome and were widely condemned for their actions.
The trouble on Tuesday, quickly contained by the police, came after a calm afternoon in the city center where fans of both sides mixed amicably in the spring sunshine.
The atmosphere turned nastier at the ground with small scuffles involving isolated groups of fans and police.
The police quickly moved in and divided fans, creating a no-go area and the situation was soon under control.
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
United, trailing 2-1 from the first meeting in Rome, had never previously overturned a first leg deficit in five attempts in the competition but did so in remarkable style to win the tie 8-3 on aggregate.
It was the biggest victory in a quarterfinal match in either the European Cup or Champions League since Real Madrid beat Sevilla 8-0 in 1957-58, clocking up a 10-2 aggregate victory.
It was also the biggest winning margin in a Champions League knockout round game and Roma's heaviset defeat in Europe.
Three goals in a scintillating eight-minute burst early in the first half swept Alex Ferguson's side towards the semifinals to face either Bayern Munich or AC Milan and sustained their hopes of repeating their 1999 European and domestic treble.
Michael Carrick, Alan Smith and Wayne Rooney had United 3-0 up after 20 minutes before Cristiano Ronaldo (44th and 49th) scored either side of the break.
Carrick then netted a spectacular second and after Daniele De Rossi pulled one back, Patrice Evra had the final word with their seventh goal nine minutes from time.
It was a breathtaking performance by United and their manager Sir Alex Ferguson praised his team afterwards.
"It was a fantastic performance. We showed great confidence after two defeats in the last week. All great teams get over these mishaps and we did that tonight," he said.
Ferguson sprung a tactical surprise by playing Rooney, Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs as a three-man attacking midfield unit to support Smith, recalled for only his fourth start of the season, as the lone striker.
The idea worked like a dream as the trio ran Roma ragged in a blistering opening quarter that settled the tie. Ronaldo got things moving when he rolled the ball into the path of Carrick, whose quickfire shot from outside the box left goalkeeper Doni rooted as the ball flew past him.
That would have been enough to send United through on the away goals rule but they were in no mood to settle.
In the 17th minute Rooney combined with Giggs to send Smith through and the striker put every moment of suffering from a year of injury hell into his unstoppable finish.
Less than two minutes later Old Trafford was in raptures as Giggs was given time and space to cross low from the right for Rooney to touch in the third.
The Italians, second in Serie A with a parsimonious defence, were all over the place and could have conceded again as Ronaldo shot wide and Doni saved a point-blank header from Carrick.
Their only worthwhile effort at goal was a well-struck free-kick by Francesco Totti that Edwin van der Sar saved well.
Instead it was United who finished on the offensive as Ronaldo was offered the channel he loves down the right and duly accepted the offer before driving in the fourth.
It had been an incredible half and it took only two minutes of the second period for United to extend their lead.
Again Giggs was the provider as his perfectly-measured low cross was turned in by Ronaldo for the Portuguese winger's 20th goal of a sparkling season.
Roma eventually roused themselves and a Mancini effort was scrambled off the line by the hard-working Darren Fletcher but it was the briefest of respites as, on the hour, Carrick drove home a superlative sixth from 25 metres.
Roma got on the scoresheet with a lovely volley on the turn by De Rossi but United restored their astonishing six-goal margin when substitute defender Evra scored again with a low shot from the edge of the box nine minutes from time.
Arrests
Meanwhile, trouble flared before the match with police having to separate rival fans.
A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman told Reuters: "We've been required to deal with a number of small and isolated incidents. We have made some arrests in order to maintain peace at the ground."
There were 18 arrests, seven for stealing goods from the Manchester United megastore, she added after the match.
A spokeswoman for the Greater Manchester ambulance service said one male had been taken to hospital with a slight head injury.
Police had been prepared for trouble following disturbances at last week's first leg when Italian police launched themselves at United fans at the Olympic Stadium in Rome and were widely condemned for their actions.
The trouble on Tuesday, quickly contained by the police, came after a calm afternoon in the city center where fans of both sides mixed amicably in the spring sunshine.
The atmosphere turned nastier at the ground with small scuffles involving isolated groups of fans and police.
The police quickly moved in and divided fans, creating a no-go area and the situation was soon under control.
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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