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Ronaldo leaves Arsenal gasping

He creates an early goal, then scores two

— PHOTO: AFP

THE STAR: Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo (centre) was simply outstanding during the UEFA Champions League semifinal match against Arsenal on Tuesday.

LONDON: Cristiano Ronaldo shot Manchester United to its second successive Champions League football final on Tuesday. He created an early goal, then scored two as United comfortably beat Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium and won the two-leg semifinal 4-1 on aggregate.

United advanced to the final on May 27 in Rome where it will play either Chelsea or Barcelona.

United’s victory on Tuesday reflected its mastery, which stemmed from its greater know-how throughout the team. Yet if ever there was a player born to stardom, it is Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro.

His father gave him the second name Ronaldo because he liked Ronald Reagan as an actor. Ronaldo, who was born on the Portuguese island of Madeira, has been accused of possessing the thespian. There is also athleticism, great skill and a growing appreciation of team play.

Ronaldo generally plays in the wing, but United manager Sir Alex Ferguson sprang a surprise by asking him to play as a central striker. In Ronaldo’s inventive mind, that gave him a licence to roam wherever instinct took him.

In the eighth minute, he raced past Johan Djourou down the left side and passed the ball along the ground to Park Ji-Sung in the Arsenal penalty area. Just as Park received the ball, Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs lost his footing on the grass that was slick after being watered to enable the ball to roll on. Park received the pass and scored.

Less than four minutes later, Ronaldo artfully won a free-kick and devastatingly scored from it.

United’s players testify to the effort that Ronaldo puts into combining power, precision and trajectory on his free-kicks.

Before Ronaldo takes free-kicks, he assumes a stance that is theatrical, bordering on arrogance. His arms are spread, his face locked in concentration. Upon the referee’s whistle, he runs 10 paces and hits the ball in such a way that it gathers speed as it dips towards the goal.

Astonished

Maybe Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia moved toward his left a fraction too late. Maybe he was astonished by the flight of the ball. Anyway, he was beaten.

“The shot was quite difficult to save because the ball moved a little bit,” Ronaldo said. “I just try to do my best to put the ball in the net and it was a good goal.”

So, after barely 10 minutes of play, the euphoric atmosphere inside the Emirates Stadium was flattened.

“We do not have the feeling that we played a semifinal in the Champions League because it was over after 10 minutes,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. “The most disappointing thing is that the game was over before it even started.”

The coup-de-grace came in the 61st minute. United’s third goal was a classic breakaway, a sweeping move the length of the field. Nemanja Vidic headed the ball clear of his penalty area, Ronaldo flicked the ball onward with a back-heel, then Park passed it through the central area, and Wayne Rooney accelerated down the left.

When Rooney was ready, who should be sprinting into the Arsenal area? Ronaldo of course. The finish, with Ronaldo’s instep, was his 25th goal of this season in all competitions, his 67th in two seasons.

The only negative for United came in the 75th minute when defender Darren Fletcher was issued a red card for a tackle on Cesc Fabregas in the penalty area. Robin van Persie converted the penalty kick.

Heartbreak for Fletcher

Meanwhile, UEFA, on Wednesday, ruled out a reprieve for Fletcher over the red card that means he will be suspended for the final.

The result: Arsenal 1 (van Persie 76-pen) lost to Manchester United 3 (Park 8, Ronaldo 11, 61). Manchester United wins 4-1 on aggregate . — Agencies

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