Manchester, April 30:

A superb long-range strike from Paul Scholes sent Manchester United into the first all-English final of the Champions League after a nerve-tingling 1-0 win over Barcelona on Tuesday.

After a goalless first-leg, the midfielder’s 14th minute strike was enough to ensure United face either Chelsea or Liverpool in Moscow on May 21. Scholes has earned himself the chance to make up for the final he missed through suspension when United last lifted Champions League, in 1999.

Scholes deserved to savour the moment, as did the rest of a United side who made light of the absence of Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney with a mature display which made Barcelona pay a high price for their failure

to turn long periods of domination in terms of territory and possession into clear chances.

The contrasting domestic fortunes of the two clubs formed a backdrop to the match that was tilted significantly in favour of the visitors. Having already conceded loss in the battle for the Spanish title, Frank Rijkaard had been able to rest the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Samuel Eto’o at the weekend and his squad was further bolstered by the return of skipper Carles Puyo to the centre of defence.

In contrast, the hangover from Saturday’s Premier League defeat at Chelsea lingered long and painfully enough to deprive United the services of both Vidic and Rooney.

United fans’ disquiet over the absence of two of the cornerstones of the club’s success this season would hardly have been allayed by a nervy start in which Scholes tripped Messi dangerously close to the edge of the box and a wildly sliced clearance by goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar presented Eto’o with the chance to power threateningly into the box.

Yet it was United who went ahead after Rio Ferdinand emerged from defence to launch their

first serious foray into the visitors’ territory. The England defender found Ronaldo on the outskirts of the Barca box, under close supervision from Xavi. Xavi well-timed tackle succeeded in depriving Ronaldo but his intervention also presented Scholes with the kind of shooting opportunity he relishes.