Fergie confident of away goal

JOHN O’SHEA emerged Manchester United’s unlikely and unsung hero in last night’s Champions League, semi-final victory against Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Despite the team containing the attacking riches of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, it was the Reds’ right-back who conjured a rare and all-important match-winning goal.

Though United have a slight advantage, it leaves next Tuesday’s return at the Emirates Stadium finely poised as United may live to regret their failure to put the tie to bed last night.

O’Shea and Reds’ manager Sir Alex Ferguson both believed the semi- final ought to be over as they should have won by a far wider margin.

They peppered the Arsenal goal, especially in the opening period, in which keeper Manuel Almunia produced four top-drawer saves to almost single-handedly keep his side in the tie.

O’Shea, whose only other goal this season came in the semi-final of the Carling Cup, said: “We possibly should have had more goals when you look at the chances we had.

“To be fair, their keeper made a couple of great saves, but we kept a clean sheet and we know we are capable of scoring an away goal.”

Ferguson was also reasonably satisfied, saying: “The most pleasing aspect is that before the game we talked about winning without losing a goal and I think that is a key thing.

“Our performance level was very good and we have given ourselves a good chance, though the tie is not over. But we have players who can score goals and we will have a goal threat at their ground.”

The Reds manager praised O’Shea, saying: “John is one of the great professionals of our time as he never complains and is happy to play anywhere.

“His contribution has been at left-back, centre-back, midfield and right-back, he is so versatile.

“If we are to go to the final, and if you asked me whether he would be in the team, I would have to say yes.”

If United reach Rome, O’Shea’s contribution will be immense because he may never score a more important goal than last night.

It came in the 17th minute after Michael Carrick whipped the ball back across the face of goal from an Anderson corner and O’Shea struck a delightful shot into the top corner.

Yet by that time United could have been well ahead as Almunia had already pulled off a super save to keep out Rooney’s point-blank header and a double stop to deny Tevez.

Almunia also produced heroics to keep out a Ronaldo header which looked destined for the net as Arsenal - unbeaten in 20 Premier League games - were lucky to reach the break only one down.

The second half lacked the intensity of the opening period but United still had chances as Ronaldo’s piledriver from 30 yards struck the crossbar and former Reds defender Mikael Silvestre had to head clear from under his own bar.

Arsenal only had a couple of little sniffs at goal, but they never seriously troubled United who extended their record-breaking unbeaten run in the Champions League to an amazing 24 games.