United dumped out on away goals

Arjen Robben
12 April 2012

Wayne Rooney's surprise recovery could not prevent a night of Champions League misery for Manchester United as they crashed out on away goals after drawing 4-4 on aggregate with Bayern Munich, winning 3-2 at on the night at Old Trafford.

Rooney, surprisingly in the starting line-up after overcoming an ankle injury, had looked to have inspired a famous win when United went 3-0 up but the match swung at the start of the second half when Rafael was sent off for a second booking and a flare-up of Rooney's ankle saw him substituted.

Bayern then dominated and triumphed when Arjen Robben volleyed home the vital second away goal in the 74th minute.

Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to start Rooney paid dividends within three minutes as United seized the lead with the goal made by the United frontman and scored by Darron Gibson.

Rafael started the move with a pass infield and Rooney's lay-off to Gibson was perfectly weighted for the Republic of Ireland man to strike a low shot from 20 yards past Hans-Jorg Butt for his fifth goal of the season.

If that sent the Old Trafford crowd into early ecstasy, there was near-delirium when Nani's extravagant back-flick made it 2-0 in the seventh minute. Antonio Valencia was the creator, teasing Holger Badstuber before finding enough space to fire in the cross with Nani unmarked in the six-yard box and able to finish with a flourish.

Edwin van der Sar did well to block from Ivica Olic before another fabulous goal by Nani made it 3-0 four minutes before the break. Antonio Valencia burst down the right and hit a low cross that Rooney allowed to run for Nani to drill with glorious precision into the roof of the net.

It may have looked all over for Bayern but Olic secured a precious lifeline two minutes later after Michael Carrick was unable to deal with his strength and the striker beat Van der Sar from a tight angle.

There was a body blow for United five minutes into the second half when Rafael was given a second yellow card for pulling back Franck Ribery. The young Brazilian could have little complaint but looked disconsolate as he trudged off the pitch with head bowed.

After Rooney had been withdrawn Gibson shot straight at the Bayern keeper when he should have done better. And It proved a telling moment as Bayern went down the other end and scored to put themselves equal on aggregate but ahead on away goals. Ribery's corner picked out the Dutch winger unmarked on the edge of the box and he produced a technically-perfect volley that flew into the corner of the net.

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