The evening of April 7, Manchester's Old Trafford Stadium.
The second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal knockout tie. Manchester United hosted Real Madrid.
Just three minutes into the match, Manchester United launched a rapid counterattack. Giggs played the ball out to the left, trying to exploit the space behind Marcelo. Nani surged forward, and just as he was about to receive the ball, Vermaelen raced back and slid in from the left side of the penalty area, getting there first. It was a clean, decisive tackle that sent the ball out of play.
It was a superb tackle, earning Vermaelen cheers from the Real Madrid players.
But unexpectedly, Rafael took the throw-in, and Nani used his speed to force his way past Real Madrid's defense before chipping the ball into the penalty area.
Rooney missed the ball near the penalty spot, but Cristiano Ronaldo charged in at the far post, leaped high, and headed the ball into the goal guarded by Casillas. One-nil!
Manchester United's early assault had paid off!
The entire Old Trafford Stadium began to boil over!
Just four minutes later, Manchester United launched another counterattack from the front. Giggs passed to Rooney, who moved the ball out to the right. Nani once again used his speed to tear open Real Madrid's defense on the left.
This time, Vermaelen could not reproduce his earlier brilliant performance. Although he stayed tight behind Nani, he still could not stop him from crossing to the far post. Cristiano Ronaldo followed up and calmly tapped the ball home, making it two-nil!
The aggregate score was three-three!
Manchester United had an away goal. Real Madrid had been completely overturned!
"Oh my God!"
"Cristiano Ronaldo is the god of Old Trafford tonight!"
"This is unbelievable! Just seven minutes into the match,