| Daniele De Rossi blasted a penalty over the bar as Roma exit the Champions League at Old Trafford for the second year running.
After the 2-0 first leg result at the Olimpico and with Francesco Totti still injured, Sir Alex Ferguson felt the semi-final ticket was already in his pocket and rested stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra. All the Giallorossi could do was try to overturn a disastrous home defeat in an arena where they lost 7-1 last season.
Ju-Sing Park spring the offside trap on a Ryan Giggs through ball to flash an angled drive off target, then Carlos Tevez's header from a counter was wide and Wes Brown turned over from a corner.
Owen Hargreaves looked certain to score when he was sent clear, but Alexander Doni held his ground for a splendid save with an outstretched leg.
Soon after Roma had a similar opportunity, as Daniele De Rossi surged between defenders into the box for Mirko Vucinic's angled drive that was denied by Edwin Van der Sar's shin. As the move continued, the former Juventus goalkeeper smothered an Amantino Mancini follow-up.
Another cracking Doni save was needed to parry from an unmarked Giggs after Hargreaves had got away down the right channel. A looping Vucinic header was easily dealt with, but it was tougher for Juan to perform a crucial tackle on Hargreaves clear on goal as he was mid-shot from eight yards.
Doni blocked an Andreson strike from outside the box, but Van der Sar had his palms stung by a Vucinic screamer. The move continued and Mancini started a step-over, but Wes Brown committed himself to a tackle. Replays suggest he may have got the ball, but it didn't matter as De Rossi ballooned a penalty well over the bar. It was a morale-sapping moment for the Giallorossi.
They had another good chance not long after, as Rodrigo Taddei's pass ended up behind De Rossi from seven yards, but his backheel was charged down with some fortune.
Perrotta was crowded out in the area from Vucinic's through ball and Van der Sar plucked a cross off the foot of Perrotta from six yards before the break. Rio Ferdinand started limping after aggravating an already existing foot injury and Vucinic got a nasty knock to his hip, but both were able to continue.
Roma should have taken the lead three minutes after the restart, as Van der Sar parried a Vucinic snapshot into the path of Marco Cassetti, but Ferdinand did just enough to crowd him out and allow the goalkeeper to recover.
Park's first touch let him down in a promising position, but Cassetti fell very awkwardly on to his left shoulder and seemed to pull it out of its socket. He was stretchered off in great pain and made way for Max Tonetto.
With his first touch Tonetto swept a fine cross into the box for Taddei and Mikael Silvestre had to come sliding in to block off the shot. From the resulting corner Van der Sar grabbed a Juan header out of the air.
Roma were pushing forward now in a desperate bid to get back into this quarter-final. Vucinic and Mancini exchanged passes on the counter, but Van der Sar read the play and rushed out to clear.
They started to string together corners and from one the ball missed Juan's head by inches from six yards, as it was deflected off Pique's back. Ludovic Giuly replaced Pizarro, moving Perrotta to midfield.
However, just as Roma were going close to a goal, Manchester United scored with a clinical finish. Tevez spread the play for Hargreaves and got into the six-yard box for a glancing diving header.
Rooney and John O'Shea came on for the final 15 minutes, while Gary Neville made his comeback after 13 months out. The Giallorossi fans did not lose heart and loudly sang the Roma theme while De Rossi drilled over from distance and Vucinic had another effort charged down.
Park could have made it 2-0 in the final minute, but Doni rushed out and did just enough to deflect it over the bar.
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