United smash seven in Roma romp

Trailing from the first leg, the Red Devils were supposed to be on the brink of a European exit against the formidable Italians.

Instead, Michael Carrick and Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice and Alan Smith, Wayne Rooney and substitute Patrice Evra got one each as they romped to their biggest European win since 1968.

Carrick set United on their way in nerveless fashion, collecting Ronaldo's square pass, then advancing on the Roma goal before gleefully dispatching a curling shot into the top corner.

The home crowd were still buzzing when Carrick laid an exquisite pass to Rooney, who instantly flicked the ball onto Ryan Giggs. The Welshman's through ball deflected off Cristian Chivu to Smith. In smashing home his shot, the Yorkshireman was banishing 14 months of injury hell.

Roma were still reeling when they were hit by another thunderbolt as Ronaldo released Giggs, whose cross was flicked into the far corner by Rooney.

Ronaldo collected the ball from Giggs two minutes before the break, attacked Chivu with his usual directness and slammed the ball into the bottom corner to make it four.

Rooney began the second period with a fizzing shot Doni flicked over. Giggs' corner was half cleared but when Rooney ferried a pass back to the Welshman, he drilled a low cross to the far post where Ronaldo was waiting to bundle it home.

A sixth followed on the hour as Carrick collected Gabriel Heinze's pass and arrowed a shot into the top corner which was even better than his first effort.

Daniele de Rossi pulled one back for Roma but Evra soon cancelled it out to complete the rout.