By David Hobbs
April 17 2005

Manchester United ensured they will re-visit Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in five weeks time as they eased past Newcastle United courtesy of goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy, Paul Scholes and Cristiano Ronaldo.

United Join Gunners in FA Cup Final

Newcastle United 1
Ameobi 59

Manchester United 4
Van Nistelrooy 19, 58
Scholes 45 
Ronaldo 76

Manchester United ensured they will re-visit Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in five weeks time as they eased past Newcastle United courtesy of goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy, Paul Scholes and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Red Devils now join Arsenal in the FA Cup Final following their 3-0 rout at the expense of former Old Trafford star Mark Hughes and his Blackburn Rovers side.

Ruud van Nistelrooy was the star of the show, finding the back of the net twice to put to bed any talk of him losing his golden touch due to injury. The Dutchman was unlucky not to find a hat-trick.

The striker broke the deadlock after twenty minutes and Paul Scholes doubled his side's advantage before the interval. Van Nistelrooy added a third on the hour but Shola Ameobi pulled one back moments later. Winger Cristiano Ronaldo put the game to bed with fourteen minutes to spare.

Newcastle, demoralized from their midweek Uefa Cup exit, looked tired as fatigue set from their European adventure. United's passing and movement proved too much for the Magpies to handle.

The Red half of the Millennium Stadium were up on their feet in jubilation as referee Mike Riley seemed to point to the spot following Cristiano Ronaldo's fall in the box.

Ronaldo fell theatrically on the edge of the area as Steven Taylor looked to have tripped the Portugal international. However, Riley made the right decision in awarding Newcastle a free-kick. 

After attempt after attempt, the pressure grew too much for Newcastle as Van Nistelrooy turned home Cristiano Ronaldo's cross to break the deadlock. Quinton Fortune could have added a second with a fizzing volley.

Scholes, dominating the midfield, rose high to meet Ronaldo's cross and head past a hapless Shay Given. United went into half-time with a two goal advantage.

Van Nistelrooy turned home United's third in the second half as Shola Ameobi rekindled any hope of silverware this season for his club seconds later.

The Dutchman could have secured himself a hat-trick if he decided to turn and shoot, but played the simpler option and teed up Cristiano Ronaldo for a deserved goal.

Newcastle fans still kept the great atmosphere going, despite seeing their team get demolished.

United will make another trip to South Wales in May, where they will hopefully pick up their only piece of silverware this term.

Final Score: Newcastle United 1 - 4 Manchester United
Att: 69,280

Newcastle United: Given, Carr, Boumsong, Taylor, Babayaro (A O'Brien 45), Milner (Kluivert 63), Faye (N'Zogbia 45), Butt, Robert, Ameobi, Shearer.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Ambrose.

Manchester United: Howard, Gary Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Heinze, Ronaldo (Smith 78), Keane, Scholes (Fletcher 78), Fortune, Rooney (Giggs 78), Van Nistelrooy
Subs Not Used: Carroll, Silvestre.

Refereed By: M Riley