Champions League 2006-2007: Larsson legacy is ticket to the next round

There has been a debate among Manchester United followers as to the effectiveness of Henrik Larsson since the 35-year-old Swede plumped for an English sabbatical at Old Trafford in January. A degree of scepticism has shaped that argument, but Larsson skewed future memories favourably in his direction last night when he rose to nod in the 72nd-minute goal that takes United into their first Champions League quarter-final for four years. It was by no means an unforgettable strike but it was the high point of an otherwise forgettable game and its significance will increase the longer United stay in the competition. However, that cannot be guaranteed if they replicate some of the sluggishness on display against a Lille team that is tenacious but far from electric. That is Larsson's concern no more. After Saturday's FA Cup tie at Middlesbrough, Larsson will be present here for the Uefa charity match next Tuesday, but then he is gone, back to Helsingborgs. Sir Alex Ferguson said "forget that" on Tuesday when asked if he might be able to delay the process by which Larsson returns and Ferguson reiterated the impossibility of that last night. "Helsingborgs have their priorities," Ferguson said, "and Henrik has promised that to them. He's got his family, too, there's no point in going on about it. I've spoken to the man and he's going back. That, unfortunately, is that." Ferguson is one who does not doubt the Larsson effect. This was the Swede's ninth start in his loan spell and his decisive header, from a sublime run and cross from Cristiano Ronaldo, was his third goal and his last competitive touch in the red shirt at Old Trafford. What is troubling Ferguson is that in the space of a week, as United enter the final weeks of what remains a possible treble, he has lost three strikers. Yesterday's news that Louis Saha's scan on his hamstring discovered damage that will keep him out for a month - up to six matches - follows the loss last week of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to knee surgery. Solskjaer could be fit again quickly but with regulations apparently forbidding the calling back of Giuseppe Rossi from loan at Parma, it was therefore symbolic that when Larsson departed to a rousing ovation, Alan Smith was his replacement. Smith was lively and sharp in his 15 minutes but he has begun just two games this season, both in the Carling Cup. There was, moreover, a new injury to Darren Fletcher on Tuesday in training that will mean two months out and then, as a contest that never truly caught fire petered out, Mikaël Silvestre dislocated a shoulder in a heavy fall. He was carried off on a stretcher. Throw in the fact that Paul Scholes is suspended for Saturday, plus the Premiership home games with Bolton and Blackburn, and United's European progress has come laced with anxiety. When available again Scholes is at least an attacking option. Here he was deployed in a three-man support unit for Larsson and particularly in the first half, Scholes drilled holes in the Lille defence. Larsson's non-control meant that the best of these passes, in the eighth minute, was squandered, but the two linked intuitively six minutes later. Wayne Rooney, on the left last night, was found by Scholes and it took a brave block from Matthieu Chalme to deny United an early opener. From the resulting corner John O'Shea, goalscoring hero of Anfield, rose unchallenged to nod a header on to the crossbar and with Lille neat but blunt, matters looked fair for United. Considering the verbal butting that has gone on since the first leg, this turned out to be grudge match missing a grudge. Peter Odemwingie bloodied the nose of Nemanja Vidic but that was 27 minutes in. Shortly before that Jean Makoun wasted a promising headed chance and there was then a comedy moment when Scholes attempted to take a quick free-kick in the style of Ryan Giggs. The stadium laughed as Lille flapped. But the ground fell quiet at the start of the second half. Lille had to score, of course, and Odemwingie came closest just two minutes in with a miscued header that fooled Edwin van der Sar and struck a post. An away goal then and the whole occasion would have been changed. As it was Gary Neville and Rooney were merely two of the United players with arms outstretched in pleading frustration as their passing game disintegrated. It is at times like that when personal inspiration is necessary. Larsson provided it, spinning on to a short pass, finding Scholes, who switched the ball out to Ronaldo. Booked earlier for an apparent dive, Ronaldo burst past his marker, reached the byline and sent in a come-hither cross. Larsson's forehead did the rest. A sweet finish. Champions League hero Henrik Larsson departed Old Trafford to a standing ovation Larsson 72' - It's United's first shot on target and it's hard on Lille, but it was a brilliant goal. Receiving the ball from Larsson on the halfway line, Ronaldo jinked his way up the left wing at terrific speed, yet still managed to dig out a pinpoint cross from the touchline to his team-mate. From nine yards out there was little doubt Larsson would glance the ball into the far corner - he's been one of the best headers around for the past decade. References: football.guardian, youtube.com, teamtalk.com