United see off Inter

Ferguson had beaten Mourinho just once in their 13 previous meetings, but goals from Nemanja Vidic and Cristiano Ronaldo eased United into the last eight of the Champions League.

Both goals were headers, and both came in the fourth minute of each half against the Serie A leaders, who twice hit the woodwork at Old Trafford via Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Adriano.

The Red Devils got their noses in front as Ryan Giggs floated over a corner and Vidic took maximum advantage of Patrick Vieira's ill-timed slip to steer a precise header into the bottom corner.

Ibrahimovic then looked dangerous when he found space between Rio Ferdinand and John O'Shea and rose to meet Maicon's curling free-kick. His header took the ball downwards, then back up, flicking against the bar with Edwin van der Sar beaten.

Ibrahimovic then turned provider, floating over a superb cross for Dejan Stankovic, who had got behind Patrice Evra only to scoop his far-post shot over when he should have done much better.

But four minutes after the restart Inter found themselves two adrift. The Italians seemed to have regained the initiative in the early moments of the second period but when Giggs and Paul Scholes presented Wayne Rooney with a decent crossing opportunity, Ronaldo rose to power home.

Any feeling the visitors might claw their way back was dispelled just before the hour, when Adriano, given his head in response to Inter's worsening position, volleyed against the inside of a post and saw the rebound bounce to safety.

Dimitar Berbatov and Rooney drew good saves out of Julio Cesar as United look to build on their lead, while the introduction of Luis Figo offered Inter another attacking outlet which resulted in Ibrahimovic accidentally turning another effort fractionally wide, admittedly after a couple of pretty dismal attempts at goal.

With the game won, United's swagger returned as Mourinho and Inter slipped slowly away.