MANCHESTER UNITED failed their A level at Old Trafford last night, or else they missed out on finishing school. Either way Borussia Dortmund will play the holders Juventus in this season's Champions League final.
After an early goal by the 20 year old Lars Ricken had doubled Dortmund's aggregate lead, leaving United to score at least three times to go through, yet another series of missed chances let the English champions down.
And even when goalkeeper Stefan Klos was beaten, inspired defending by Juergen Kohler kept the ball out.
Cup Winners' Cup success not withstanding, this was English football's biggest night in Europe since Liverpool's appearance in the final of the 1985 European Cup had turned to tragedy at Heysel. To United had fallen the chance to put straight a once proud English record.
Their task was far from simple, despite the narrowness of Dortmund's win in the Westphalia Stadium a fortnight earlier. The experienced Germans were well versed in the niceties and nuances of mainstream Europe.
Alex Ferguson employed an attacking format similar to that which had overwhelmed Porto in the quarter finals except that Ryan Giggs, United's inspiration then, was on the bench. Andy Cole and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were reunited up front, with Eric Cantona in support.
Dortmund had both their main strikers, Karlheinz Riedle and Stephane Chapuisat, back after the pair had missed the first leg injured. Kohler, moreover, was restored to their defence.
United's start was predictably brisk and aggressive; Dortmund's response. equally predictably, was more measured. Cole saw a well struck volley ricochet wide off Kohter and Solskjaer actually had the ball in the net after seven minutes only for the goal to be disallowed for an infringement by David May.
Old Trafford roared its encouragement, but soon afterwards United's hopes suffered the blow many had feared. Dortmund's goal was simple enough. Andreas Moller's carefully angled low pass from the right caught the defence square and Ricken turned smartly to drive a shot past Peter Schmeichel's right hand, helped by a slight deflection.
Now an ominous calm settled over Dortmund's football as they kept possession and tried to reduce the tempo of the game. At the back the command of Kohler was increasing all the time and already United were badly missing Giggs and Roy Keane.
Yet they should have scored after 17 minutes. Solskjaer found Cole in space on the right and his low centre beat Kros, reaching Cantona at the far post. All it wanted was a tap in but the Frenchman scuffed his shot, which was blocked by Kohler.
The longer the game progressed the more composed Dortmund's football became. Their defenders were showing a lot of experience under pressure, bringing the ball out comfortably and linking with Moller and Ricken to set up smooth counterattacks.
Still, United should have kept themselves in the contest with at least one goal before half time. In the 33rd minute Cole, again playing well, met David Beckham's centre with an excellent header which sailed beyond Klos only for the alert Kohler to nod it over the bar.
The half ended with Cole, sent in on the right by Nicky Butt, wafting his shot wide when he should have found the target. The moment typified United's evening, a good idea let down by poor execution.
Their aim improved in the second half. In the 52nd minute Klos, rushing out to block Cantona, was beaten by a precise shot. Kohler, needless to say, was on the line to clear it. Klos then did better in keeping out a fierce shot from Cole but it was significant that in the next instant Schmeichel had to deny Moller as Dortmund counterattacked.
Giggs's groin injury delayed his arrival until the last half hour, by which time Manchester United were playing for their pride.
Giggs was guilty of a bad miss from an awkward volley in the 77th minute.
It nearly ended up 2-0 but for Schmeichel, who came out and saved from Wolfgang Fieirsinger when May was caught.
