Champions League: United joy marred by Beckham injury

Manchester United 3 Deportivo La Coruna 2

Manchester United’s joy at progressing to a Champions League semi-final against Bayer Leverkusen was marred by another injury to David Beckham.

The England skipper came off with a suspected broken bone in his foot during the first half of United’s second-leg win over Deportivo La Coruna at Old Trafford.

The Reds still managed to win without Beckham as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who replaced him, scored twice and Ryan Giggs once.

Laurent Blanc scored an own goal for Depor, who had Lionel Scaloni and Pedro Duscher sent off, and Djalminha scored their second at the death.

Van Nistelrooy, who bounced a downwards header over the bar just before half-time, went close again and Molina saved his header from Fortune’s left-wing cross.

Depor made their first change when Dutch striker Roy Makaay came on for Victor. Makaay went up front as Depor switched to 4-4-2.

The Spanish Cup winners put United under a concerted period of pressure to see if the Reds would crack.

But United came through this anxious spell unscathed before Solskjaer scored his second of the night to regain the lead with a low shot.

The 56th-minute goal ended Depor’s lingering hopes of a comeback and it had Veron’s fingerprints all over it.

The Argentinian, who has failed to live up to his £28.1million price tag for much of the season, played an exquisite ball with the outside of his foot across the pitch to Solskjaer on the left.

The Norwegian controlled it beautifully before firing home left-footed from the narrow angle on the left.

Depor were reduced to 10 men two minutes later when Scaloni was sent off dissent.

It was the defender’s second yellow after a case of mistaken identity had seen him enter the book in the first period when it was, in fact, Duscher who had committed the offence on Beckham.

United added to Depor’s agony when Giggs scored a fine virtuoso goal on 69 minutes.

Romero fell on his backside as he attempted to close Giggs down and the Welshman advanced into the area from where he fired home left-footed.

United might have had a fourth and van Nistelrooy headed against the underside of the bar from Giggs’ cross.

Duscher’s luck finally ran out on 75 minutes when he was sent off for a second bookable offence to leave Depor with just nine men.

Djalminha salvaged some pride for Depor when his free-kick was deflected home in stoppage time.