CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Boavista 0 Man Utd: Wanting to avoid Real Madrid in the quarter-finals was simply a case of Manchester United applying sound logic last night, and the sense of relief at having achieved their aim will doubtless be reciprocated within the plush corridors of the Bernabeu.
There is a fearlessness about Alex Ferguson's players at present, a belief they are reaching their formidable best with the most impeccable sense of timing, and here in Oporto last night they simply overwhelmed the Portuguese champions.
In doing so United rounded off Group A with a flourish, finishing ahead of Bayern Munich to make sure they cannot be paired with Real in Friday's draw, while setting up a one-in-three chance of facing Liverpool in a two-legged clash.
Another certainty is that they will not have to renew acquaintances with Bayern, who beat Nantes 2-1 last night, just yet.
But it was a Spanish inquisition against the reigning champions that Ferguson wanted to avoid most of all.
"Far better to meet Real in the final," he had said beforehand, and his players responded by taking immediate control of a tie that, judging by the expanses of empty seats around this compact stadium, Boavista considered to be little more than a sideshow.
To say Boavista were going through the motions would be an unflattering reflection on United's dominance throughout an opening half in which they scored twice.
Yet it spoke volumes for the level of indifference here that one of the Lego-like stands was totally empty, with the exception of a few ball-boys, and a certain amount of apathy seemed to have spread among some of the home players.
Certainly the marking was virtually non-existent as David Beckham swung over his second corner in quick succession in the 14th minute. The ball arched into a congested area where Laurent Blanc sidefooted his first goal since scoring against the same opposition at Old Trafford in December.
That served as the catalyst for a sustained period of United pressure that made further goals look inevitable.
Sure enough, just before the half-hour Ryan Giggs broke forward at pace and dissected the home defence with a neat one-two with Beckham. His shot was parried by Ricardo but the ball fell invitingly for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to notch his 19th goal of the season, equalling his best total for the club.
At this stage it was hard to remember that United's injury list incorporated their two most costly recruits, as well as arguably their most influential player.
Paul Scholes was outstanding in midfield, removing any suggestion that Juan Sebastian Veron would be missed, while Nicky Butt was not far behind, deputising as well as ever for Roy Keane. Ruud van Nistelrooy might have accepted some of the chances that fell Diego Forlan's way, but the Uruguayan was a willing replacement.
The interval failed to break United's rhythm and, on 50 minutes, another sweeping move culminated in Solskjaer playing Scholes through. As Scholes shaped to shoot, the substitute Martelinho clipped his heels for a clear penalty that should have warranted a red card.
Only a yellow was produced by the Austrian referee Konrad Plautz, but his generosity was not matched by Beckham whose penalty was struck was power and precision.
After that it was simply an exercise in damage limitation for the home side, United being so much on top that, with all their substitutes used, an injury to Solskjaer meant they could afford to play the last 15 minutes with 10 men.
Mission accomplished, and the fact Blanc and Scholes avoided the bookings that would have seen them suspended for the first leg of the quarter-final made United's night all the sweeter.
BOAVISTA: Ricardo, Frechaut, Turra, Pedro Emanuel, Soares da Silva (Martelinho 34), Loja, Petit, Silva (Goulart 21), Sanchez, Duda, Serginho, Goulart (Marcio Santos 59). Subs Not Used: Khadim, Avalos, Pedro Santos, Jorge Couto. Booked: Martelinho, Pedro Emanuel.
MAN UTD: Barthez, Gary Neville, Blanc (O'Shea 73), Johnsen (Phil Neville 73), Silvestre, Beckham, Butt, Scholes (Stewart 59), Giggs, Solskjaer, Forlan. Subs Not Used: Carroll, Irwin, Fortune, Djordjic. Goals: Blanc 14, Solskjaer 29, Beckham 51 pen.
Referee: Konrad Plautz (Austria).
• A late Claudio Pizzaro goal gave Bayern Munich a 2-1 win over Nantes last night. Hassan Ahamada struck for Nantes in the 54th minute. The home side levelled four minutes later with a headed goal by Jens Jeremies.
