Manchester United 1 Barcelona 0 (agg 1-0): A Paul Scholes screamer was enough to see off the challenge of Frank Riijkaard's Barcelona tonight and send Manchester United into the Champions League final where they will meet either Chelsea or Liverpool in an all-English affair.
Scholes struck in the 14th minute in a tense affair that saw both teams create and squander chances. Injury had denied United the services of Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney before kick-off but in their absence Park Ji-Sung and Wes Brown excelled.
With two games remaining in the Premier League and United level on points with Chelsea, the result leaves Ferguson's men on course for the double and possible showdown in Moscow with the same side that can deny them the league.
After a lively start from Barcelona when, on a number of occasions, Lionel Messi and Samuel E'too had threatened to jink their way through the home defence, United took the lead through an old reliable in the 14th minute.
A reckless clearance from Gianluca Zambrotta allowed Scholes time to take a touch and pick his spot in the top right hand corner, well out of the reach of goalkeeper Victor Valdes.
With the firepower at Barcelona's disposal United were always going to want a second and began to boss possession with their opponents a little shell-shocked. Their dominance proved in vain, however, though Park shot narrowly wide after a pull back from Ronaldo.
Barca, safe in the knowledge a goal would see them through, began to get on the ball again and Deco went close on two occasions. However, only Messi could force a genuine save out of Edwin Van Der Sar, after he beat Scholes with ease and turned inside Evra before curling a shot towards the bottom corner.
United's makeshift defence looked rattled at times as Barca tried to pick their way through, but Nani served notice at the other end when he flashed a header just wide from Park's cross.
The half ended as it began, with assaults on both defences, but it was United who held the upper hand at the break.
Barca emerged with intent but their final ball continued to let them down.
The teams traded blows again on the hour when Deco was denied from close range by the impressive Wes Brown before Milito's stray pass allowed Ronaldo and Nani to break, but the latter blazed his shot over the bar after a one-two with his compatriot.
Rijkaard's response was to introduce Thierry Henry for Andres Iniesta on the left-hand side of the Barcelona attack, but it was Deco again who threatened from distance after Carrick was carded for cynically stopping Messi.
Ronaldo was next in the book after two fouls on Zambrotta in as many minutes and the winger was predictably scornful of the correct decision by German referee Herbert Fandel.
Bojan replaced E'too with 20 minutes remaining and Ferguson then replaced Nani with Ryan Giggs and Scholes with Darren Fletcher.
With the end in sight United refused to commit many forward and Henry forced Van Der Sar to gather after he connected with Xavi's corner. The former Arsenal striker then tried a trademark curler to the back post but it was easily fielded.
United were under immense pressure from their opponents at the death but there was no way past Brown and co in a defiant defence that appeared hell bent on return to the final after a nine year absence.
Manchester United: Van Der Sar, Hargreaves, Ferdinand, Brown, Park, Carrick, Scholes, Nani, Tevez, Ronaldo. Subs: Kuszczak, Anderson, Giggs, O'Shea, Fletcher, Silvestre, Welbeck
Barcelona: Valdes, Zambrotta, Milito, Puyol, Abidal, Xavi, Toure, Deco, Messi, Iniesta, E'too. Subs: Jose Pinto, Henry, Gudjohnsen, Bojan, Edmilson, Thuram, Sylvinho
