Seeing red: United fury as Nani dismissal sets up Champions League exit

5 Mar 2013 21:51

Real Madrid score two goals in four minutes shortly after midfielder is controversially sent off for a high boot to advance to the quarter-finals

Nani state: The devastated United star can't believe the ref's decision

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Incandescent with fury, sick to the pit of his stomach, too fearful of what he might say to even talk about it.
Rarely has Sir Alex Ferguson in all his decades of management, reacted with such intensity, such sheer, seething, disbelieving fury.
The fact that Fergie did not trust himself to get through an inquisition without bringing the hounds of UEFA hell down upon him spoke for Old Trafford as a whole.
What could, should, would have been one of Manchester United's greatest nights had been transformed by the sort of decision you surely do not expect at this level, their European dreams shattered.
As Fergie, wound up by Jose Mourinho's injury-time grandstanding, pointed at Turkish whistler Cuneyt Cakir, his face a snarling mass of righteous indignation, he was breathing fire, beside himself.
And understandably so, the red card Cakir had brandished in Nani's face a game-changer, choker, heart-breaker.
Yes, Nani's foot was high as he challenged Alvaro Arbeloa after Patrice Evra hoofed up towards half-way.
Yes, too, contact was made under the former Liverpool defender's heart.
But both players only had their eyes on the ball. There was no malice, no intent, indeed no sign of any repercussions as both men lay on the floor to receive treatment.
In Barcelona last season, Cakir had pulled out a red card and flourished it in the face of John Terry, and the video evidence proved the Turk was right to do so.
This time, though, each video repeat only strengthened the view that it was a shocker.
And one which had stunning, irreversible, irrecoverable repercussions, ensuring the night will not be remembered for Mourinho, for Cristiano Ronaldo's tie-winning return, even for Wayne Rooney's omission although we have not heard the last of that.

Spurred on: Tottenham old boy Modric was a goal-scoring Real sub

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 Instead, it will for ever be recalled for the look of sheer horror on Nani's face, Ferguson's reaction at the time and at the finish, his post-match "distraught" no-show and Rio Ferdinand's mocking applause in the referee's face, the United players ordered to match the manager's silence.
It was beyond harsh.
Until Cakir chose to make himself the story, United had done everything right, the better side.
Three minutes after the break, Fergie's decision to play Nani on the left looked like it was going to prove a managerial masterstroke, along with his deployment of Danny Welbeck behind Robin Van Persie and turning back to Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
When Nani's low ball in took a small touch off Welbeck but a far bigger and more decisive one from Sergio Ramos' shin, to set the Real net billowing, United were, deservedly on course for the last eight, perhaps for Wembley and the final in May.

Face facts: Rooney and United will have to try again next season

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 Welbeck, preventing Xabi Alonso from setting the platform and also springing forward, was superbly, Ronaldo peripheral.
Only the upright had denied Vidic from a first half header, only the swift reactions of Diego Lopez, preventing Welbeck repeating his Bernebeu goal after Van Persie's shot was parried.
But Cakir changed the game and Mourinho struck with his cobra's instincts, sending on Luka Modric.
Rafael brilliantly stopped Gonzalo Higuain at point-blank range but Madrid had momentum, quality, belief.
And even as Fergie left his seat to urge the home crowd to build a wall of sound, they took advantage.
Modric played in to Ronaldo, received the return ball, eased away from Michael Carrick and let fly from 22 yards, the bend, pace and angle beating David De Gea off the inside of the post.

Quietly does it: Cristiano Ronaldo's celebration was less than wild

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 Before United could settle, they were down - and effectively out.
Mesut Ozil, a constant fizz-ball of energy, by-passed Evra with an outrageous back-heel and Vidic could not prevent Higuain smashing through the six-yard box.
Ronaldo, alert and alive to the situation, peeled off behind Rafael, sliding in to stab home, seemingly ion the brink of tears behind the goal as he declined to join his team-mates' celebrations.
Enter, too late for it to really make a difference, Rooney.
Carrick's header was superbly kept out by Lopez, Rooney blazed over, Vidic was also thwarted by the Real keeper while Ramos escaped a stone-cold penalty when he downed Evra.
It was not to be and Madrid, Ronaldo to the fore, might have added to the misery as it became kitchen sink time.
Ferguson would not have appreciated Mourinho sidling up to him in the dying seconds, offering his hand and striding along the touchline before it was over.
United had only resentment, Ferguson raging against the dying of the light. Mourinho had the victory.
* BORUSSIA DORTMUND are also into the last eight, sweeping Shakhtar Donetsk aside 3-0 in Germany to win the tie 5-2 on aggregate.
Felipe Santana, Mario Goetze and Jakub Blaszczykowski got the goals that put the Ukrainian visitors out.