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MANCHESTER, England - Manchester United produced one of their finest ever performances in European soccer competition to overwhelm AS Roma 7-1 today and reach the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time since 2002.
United, trailing 1-2 from the first leg 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.
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 United's hopes of repeating their 1999 European and domestic treble.
Michael Carrick opened the scoring in the 11th-minute and further sweeping moves led to goals from Alan Smith (17th) and Wayne Rooney (19th) before Cristiano Ronaldo (44th and 49th) scored either side of the break.
Michael Carrick (60th) then netted a spectacular sixth and even though Daniele De Rossi pulled a goal back for Roma after 69 minutes, substitute Patrice Evra had the final word for United with their seventh goal nine minutes from fulltime.
- REUTERS
