LONDON, Aug 28: Manchester United averted a financial disaster by advancing to the group stages of the Champions League with a 5-0 third qualifying round, second leg win over Zalaegerszegi Tuesday.
The Hungarians had led 1-0 from the first leg but were swept aside by a rampant United who secured a comfortable 5-1 aggregate win at Old Trafford.
United were 3-0 up within 21 minutes thanks to goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy, David Beckham and Paul Scholes but took their foot off the pedal for the remainder of the first half.
Van Nistelrooy doubled his tally from the spot 14 minutes from time after being fouled by Zalaegerszegi goalkeeper Sasa Ilic.
The former Charlton player followed through on the Dutchman with his studs when collecting a high ball and was harshly sent off.
Second-half substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer netted United’s fifth with a cool finish after being set up by Ryan Giggs’ precision pass to complete the rout.
United, who stood to lose 30 million dollars had they crashed out of football’s most lucrative competition, were at their brilliant best with record signing Rio Ferdinand starting his first competitive.
Results
Inter Milan (Ita) 2 (Di Biagio 31, Recoba 44) Sporting Lisbon (Por) 0
Inter Milan win 2-0 on aggregate
Fenerbahce (Tur) 0 Feyenoord (Ned) 2 (Ono 49, Buffel 89)
Feyenoord win 3-0 on aggregate
Bayern Munich (Ger) 3 (Ballack 26, Elber 71, Salihamidzic 74-pen) Partizan Belgrade (Yug) 1 (Cakar 72)
Bayern Munich win 6-1 on aggregate
Sparta Prague (Cze) 4 (Poborsky 56, Jarosik 59, 64, Mares 84) Genk (Bel) 2 (Dagano 25, Sonck 57)
Aggregate score 4-4, Genk win on away goals
Playing later
Man Utd (Eng) 5 Zalaegerszeg (Hun) 0
Aggregate 5-1
