Sir Alex Ferguson believes Edwin Van der Sar was influential as Man Utd booked their place in the Club World Cup final.
United boss praises influential goalkeeper
Sir Alex Ferguson believes goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar was influential as Manchester United booked their place in the Fifa Club World Cup final.
Van der Sar made a number of key saves as United went on to beat Asian champions Gamba Osaka 5-3 on Thursday and will now face South American champions Liga de Quito in Sunday's final.
With United leading 2-0 the game exploded into life with six goals in the last 16 minutes with substitute Wayne Rooney helping himself to two.
United took the lead through a Nemanja Vidic header from a Ryan Giggs corner. Cristiano Ronaldo added a second, again from a Giggs corner, to send Ferguson's men into the interval with a two-goal cushion.
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Osaka halved the deficit after 74 minutes through Masato Yamazaki before a Darren Fletcher header in the middle of two strikes from Rooney fired United into a 5-1 lead.
The J-League side scored again from the penalty spot with Yasuhito Endo capitalising after a Gary Neville handball in the 85th minute and claimed the last goal of the game when Hideo Hashimoto fired home.
The United boss was quick to praise his keeper despite the Dutchman conceding three goals and thought that his side were deserved winners.
"It was a terrific match, an amazing game, the people got their money's worth," Ferguson said.
"The football from both teams was very good. For me Edwin Van der Sar was our best player, his saves helped secure the victory for us.
"We are in the final and I think we deserve to be there."
