It came down to a moment that distilled a career’s frustrations and majesty. A loose ball, a first touch and the Ginger Prince of Old Trafford applied the type of swerving finish that re-defined a career.

It was the kind of spectacular finish that home fans may have been dreading for in truth, that Paul Scholes thirty yarder was the first time United had got into Catalan territory. From the off Barca settled into a steady rhythm as United, clearly stunned by the absence of totems Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney, watched in awe as their opponents set about the game in the manner they had ended the first leg.

Yet Scholes’ timely touch and sublime swerving effort suddenly brought belief back to a side only recently denied by title rivals Chelsea, with many pundits predicting a sour end to an otherwise glorious season. Make no mistake, that moment at a stroke saved United’s season and brought the defining moment to a club legend’s long career.

United’s consistent failure to reach the final (this was the reds 10th semi – that’s more than Liverpool you know) had weighed heavily in the run-up and the team news didn’t help, yet from that moment, with a goal lead to defend, United were an entirely different proposition. By fiercely closing down Barca attacks before they had really gained momentum United were allowed a larger share of possession as Nani and Park went close.

Barca regained momentum as the half closed with Deco smacking a couple of shots narrowly wide. Yet the second half rarely saw the Catalans get in behind United’s defence, the exception Messi’s driven cross and Bojan’s brief sight of goal before the excellent Wes Brown snuffed out the chance.

By that time however United, after a close thing involving Tevez and some quality possession play from the front four, were down to time-wasting tactics, hoofed clearances and hope. As Fergie’s death defying leap from his seat at the whistle confirmed United’s trip to Moscow – all thoughts turned to the man who missed out so cruelly last time round.

Paul Scholes was so happy with life that he made his excuses to the ITV cameras and was probably home and showered in time to watch his effort on News At Ten. Yet the man whose glorious career had hitherto failed to provide a truly defining moment, now had it.

All Hail The Ginger Prince of Old Trafford.