Manchester United may be relying on the FA Cup to salvage their season for the
second year running but Sir Alex Ferguson's side moved closer to a place in the
history books with a sixth round stroll at Southampton.
Never in their illustrious past have the Red Devils successfully defended the
world's oldest domestic cup competition despite winning it a record 11 times.
They are just two Millennium Stadium victories away from completing that feat
now, but Sir Alex Ferguson will know that no matter who his team meet in next
month's semi-final, they will surely pose a greater threat than the sorry Saints
did at St Mary's this evening.
Behind to Roy Keane's opener after just 87 seconds, Southampton provided just
the type of cannon fodder United must have prayed for as their looked to banish
the memory of another failed Champions League campaign.
Cristiano Ronaldo also got on the scoresheet before half-time, with Paul
Scholes netting at the start and end of the second period in a one-sided romp,
although the real star of the United show was Wayne Rooney.
At just 19, the £27million striker was the youngest player in the visitors
starting line-up but he assumed total dominance of the contest, dropping deep
when required, linking superbly with Ruud van Nistelrooy and even keeping his
notoriously fragile temper under control.
The only reason he failed to cap his immense personal contribution with a goal
was the heroics of Southampton own brilliant youngster, keeper Paul Smith, who
despite conceding three times, came closest to edging Rooney out of man of the
match honours.
It was about the only plus point on a sorry evening for Harry Redknapp's men,
who now resume their relegation fight, fearful of a return visit from the Red
Devils on the final day of the Premiership season.
For United, it kept alive their hopes of landing silverware, although their
victory has now ensured their eagerly-awaited clash with Chelsea must now be
postponed, presumably to a time when it may have no effect on the title's
destination whatsoever.
Coming so soon after they had forlornly chased AC Milan shadows at the San
Siro, United might have been vulnerable. Instead, from the opening seconds, the
visitors emphasised the massive gap in quality between the top end of Europe and
the lower end of the Premiership.
True, Keane's early hammer blow may have sucked some of the desire out of
Southampton legs but there seemed to be no lack of effort among the red and
white shirts, just that they spent the majority of the opening period on
retreat.
Smith justified his selection over fit-again Antti Niemi with two world-class
saves, denying Rooney twice, on both occasions with the aid of the woodwork.
The form of Southampton's young keeper could yet have a knock-on effect for
tonight's opponents, who are likely to be in the hunt for yet another
replacement for Peter Schmeichel in the summer, with Niemi, seated close to
Ferguson's vantage point on the home bench, a strong tip to find himself at Old
Trafford.
It certainly was not Smith's fault that Southampton's challenge had been
totally snuffed out within three minutes of the re-start.
Any chance the Saints keeper had of keeping out Keane's second minute effort,
after the Irishman had been allowed enough time to complete a complete 180
degree turn inside the home box, was lost when it flicked off Peter Crouch and
flew into the roof of his goal.
Smith's heroics seemed to be pointing towards a Southampton sucker punch at
some point, but Rooney, desperate to end his first season at United with a
winners' medal, was in determined mood.
Even so, England's teenage striker should not have been allowed to muscle his
way down the by-line in first-half stoppage time, then provided van Nistelrooy
with the cut-back he touched on to Ronaldo, who rasped his shot home.
A master of motivation, Redknapp would have been sorely tested to inspire any
hope in the home ranks as they discussed their bleak position at the break.
Whatever pearls of wisdom the Saints boss did impart were quickly rendered
worthless as more Smith heroics earned only bad luck for the hosts as his save
from van Nistelrooy triggered a succession of rebounds that ended with Scholes
being presented with an open goal.
Scholes converted a similarly easy effort near the end, nodding home van
Nistelrooy's cross, although by then total superiority had long been
established.
Teams
Southampton Smith, Cranie, Lundekvam (Davenport 45),
Jakobsson, Higginbotham, Telfer, Oakley, Anders Svensson,
Bernard (McCann 62), Camara (Phillips 80), Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Niemi, Nilsson.
Man Utd Howard, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre,
Heinze (O'Shea 60), Ronaldo (Smith 68),
Keane (Phil Neville 70), Scholes, Fortune, van Nistelrooy,
Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Carroll, Bellion.
Booked: Heinze.
Goals: Keane 2, Ronaldo 45, Scholes 48, 87.
Att: 30,971
Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).
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