Manchester United 2 Real Madrid 3

Real Madrid win 3-2 on aggregate

Real Madrid produced ten minutes of magic at the start of the second half to add the gloss to one of their best European performancesof recent times.

Champions League holders Manchester United had not lost at Old Trafford all season but Real built on their deserved first half lead with two goals of supreme quality.

The first came in the 50th minute when a quick break across field saw Raul accept a through ball from Steve McManaman as the spare man on the right hand side of the United defence.

Raul went on the run and backed up Jaap Stam in front of him before curling a beautiful swerving shot into the far corner with his left foot.

Two minutes later and Real were back on their venomous attacking spree.

Captain Redondo ran down the left and beat Henning Berg with a reverse back heel past the defender. The move put him in space and he took the ball to te by-line and touched the ball to an unmarked Raul who clipped it into the net with the United defence nowhere in sight.

David Beckham beat two players on the right hand side of the penalty area to fire a drive into the top corner in the 62nd minute to give the holders some hope but Casilas beat away a point blank shot by substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the 80th minute to all but end their reign.

Steve McManaman fouled Roy Keane in the 87th minute to allow Paul Scholes a penalty goal with a high drive into the net but the clock was ticking down.

United handed Real the opening goal when a Salgado cross was turned into the net by captain Roy Keane in the 21st minute after the referee had waved play on following a foul by Paul Scholes on McManaman. Real Madrid started the game well and just got better until they peaked midway through the first session.

Roberto Carlos produced a long run down the left into lots of space in the 15th minute and his square pass went straight to Morientes who tried to steer the ball past Van der Gouw who dived to save low at his left.

The Dutchman needed all his ability only a minute later to produce a double save to deny the Brazilian who chased down a poor back pass from Gary Neville and ran into the penalty area at a narrow angle. The Real man tried to beat the ball beyond the goalkeeper but Van der Gouw saved twice at his feet.

The danger signs were there for the holders as Real produced great passes and movement to make regular trips upfield and press home an advantage that not conceding an away goal two weeks ago gave them.

United replied to the goal by speeding up their play.

Cole clipped a far post cross to Dwight Yorke only seconds after the goal had been conceded but Yorke's header was beaten away by Iker Casillas.

The 18 year old Real goalkeeper beat away shots o the run by Keane and Beckham and Karanka needed a great clearance to get the ball away from Yorke as he waited for the chance to shoot in front of goal.

United claimed a handbal by Karanka in the 37th minute and the Real defender certainly clipped a Cole header over the bar with his upraised hand after confusion at a corner but nothing was given.

David Beckham took a kick at Ivan Campo who recklessly responded by felling the United midfielder but referee Pierluigi Collina responded with a calm lecture for the pair rather than cards.

That incident stood out in a fast paced first session that saw few stoppages as both teams went on the attack.

Raul almost took advantage by a slip from Stam but fired over the bar from a driven cross and Steve McManaman saw a cross deflected by Stam onto the roof of the net in the 45th minute as Real prepared themselves for the ten minutes of genius after half time that would.

United will return in next season's Champions League as serious contenders again but they are unlikely to run into an away performance again of such complete quality and assurance as Real produced to be worthy winners of this quarter final.