Man Utd 1
Scholes 14
Barcelona 0
Man Utd 1 Barcelona 0 (1-0 agg) April 29 2008
Paul Scholes ended a nine year wait by firing Manchester United into the Champions League final.
Scholes' 14th-minute strike ensured Moscow will host an all-English affair on May 21, with league challengers Chelsea or old rivals Liverpool set to provide the opposition.
Scholes famously missed United's Champions League win in 1999 and has had to wait almost a decade to get another chance at European glory.
The hosts had been on the backfoot early on, rarely venturing into Barcelona's half when Xavi slid in to tackle Cristiano Ronaldo.
Inexplicably, Xavi tried to force a pass to Yaya Toure, only for Scholes to pounce on the loose ball.
The United midfielder last scored in Europe in October 2006, but there were no signs of rustiness as he belted an absolutely unstoppable 30-yard shot past Victor Valdes.
Wes Brown and Nani both had great chances to double the lead and Park Ji-Sung missed the goal by inches as the home side looked to consolidate their advantage and put the tie beyond Barcelona.
As matters stood the sides went into the break with only the one goal seperating them and there must have been a palpable aura of nervousness in the United dressing room.
Barcelona may not have dominated possession in the same way they did in the first leg but, with Lionel Messi in particular looking very dangerous, United still had a huge task ahead of them.
With Samuel Eto'o a formidable battering ram, Lionel Messi weaving his magic on the right wing and Deco a regular threat from deep positions, United spent long periods chasing around the park, attempting to douse fires as they arose.
Just as they were six days ago, Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown - an unused substitute in 1999 - paired together at the heart of United's defence with Nemanja Vidic injured, were towers of strength, bonded in a common desire to keep Barcelona at bay.
Yet even they could not prevent Deco unleashing two skimming half-volleys which went narrowly wide.
With Wayne Rooney not even fit enough to be risked on the bench in case of emergency, Ronaldo was pushed up front, with Park out wide, a move which benefited the South Korean, if not the new PFA Player of the Year.
Ronaldo did provide the cross that Nani thought he had prodded goalwards, only for Eric Abidal to touch it wide as United started the second period with an intent, desire and dominance absent from game-and-a-half.
Valdes then produced a fine stop to deny Carlos Tevez as United attempted to turn the screw, knowing full well that, as Thierry Henry took the field, an away goal would send Barcelona through.
It was a position made for attack and counter-attack and finally, the players of whom so much is expected gave free rein to their talents.
Park was inches away from nodding home at one end, Deco's free-kick deflected wide at the other when many in the stadium feared it was on its way in. Messi; toying and teasing, Ronaldo; striking fear into Barca hearts every time he touched the ball.
Henry, so often the scourge of United in his memorable Arsenal days, must have felt he had the equaliser as he met Deco's corner with a firm header, and again when he curled a shot goalwards from the edge of the box but on both occasions Edwin van der Sar saved.
The tension was almost unbearable, made worse due to prolonged treatment for Patrice Evra. But in the end, Herbert Fandel blew his whistle. United were back where Ferguson believes they belong and Scholes had his reward.