Manchester United are through to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League after a 1-0 win over Lyon.
Ronaldo effort enough for Red Devils
Manchester United booked their place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League with a scrappy 1-0 win over Lyon at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo again proved to be their saviour as his strike just before half-time was enough to see off the French champions.
United dominated possession throughout the first-half, but struggled to break down a rugged Lyon side who appeared content to sit deep and hit their opponents on the break.
Wayne Rooney cut an isolated figure up front on his own and saw little of the ball against a solid pairing of Cris and Sebastian Squillaci.
With the game drifting towards a stalemate at the break, a rare moment of confusion at the back from Lyon allowed Ronaldo to put the Red Devils in front.
Wes Brown sent in a low cross from the right, and as the ball ricocheted to the Portuguese winger eight-yards out he swept a firm effort past a sprawling Gregory Coupet.
United continued to pose little in terms of an attacking threat during the second period and almost paid for their lack if endeavour on 74 minutes.
Karim Benzema held the ball up well on the right and his lay off to Kader Keita saw the substitute drive a low effort off a post.
With Lyon then beginning to throw men forward, Hartem Ben Arfa gifted Wayne Rooney an opportunity to seal the game with a sloppy back pass.
The England striker was closed down well though by Coupet and United eventually scraped into the last eight.
Enthusiasm
Sir Alex Ferguson's side were highly motivated from the off and Patrice Evra let his enthusiasm get the better of him when he was booked after just four minutes for a foul on Benzema.
United made a swift break in the 10th minute and there was a buzz of anticipation around the ground as Ronaldo collected the ball.
The Portugal winger cut inside only to see his effort blocked by experienced Brazilian defender Cris.
Scuffed
United had stepped up the pressure and Michael Carrick picked out Darren Fletcher in the 16th minute but he rattled a shot from distance wide of the post.
Ronaldo then weighed up a free-kick but scuffed his effort. The ball broke to Rooney but he too failed to find the target.
Two minutes later the Dutch goalkeeper had to look alert to parry Kim Kallstrom's rasping effort as the French visitors suddenly stepped up the pace.
Stunned
Lyon were beginning to knock the ball around and the home fans were getting anxious. However, it was United that made the breakthrough to go 2-1 ahead on aggregate thanks to Ronaldo's 30th goal of the season in all competitions.
Nani started the move and sent Brown clear on the right. He found Anderson, whose effort was blocked. The ball broke to Ronaldo, who beat Coupet at the near post and stunned Lyon.
That goal from Ronaldo had given United the boost they needed and Nani saw an effort blocked in the 49th minute.
Lyon were anxious to get back in the game and a minute later Juninho tried his luck from distance but failed to test van der Sar.
Frustrated
Then Evra picked out Carrick and he fired in a shot that was deflected to safety. Lyon launched a swift counter-attack in the 66th minute with United almost paying for their carelessness.
Benzema got away and released Clerc but the move broke down when he delivered a weak cross-cum-shot into the area.
Stretched
Ferguson brought on Carlos Tevez for Anderson in the 71st minute in a bid to extend their lead.
Rooney then tried to release the striker with a cross only to see it blocked before Lyon almost grabbed the equaliser.
Substitute Keita showed good pace in the 74th minute but saw his shot come back off the post. United hit back and Rooney should have scored following a poor back pass from Ben Arfa only for Coupet to block his chip.
Rooney was again out of luck in the 87th minute with Lyon stretched as they went in search of the equaliser. While the England striker was left frustrated the consolation was that United completed the job.
