This was United's 11th straight home win in the Champions League, a new record, and set up a semi-final clash with Barcelona.

United looked comfortable throughout even with Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo and Paul Scholes starting on the bench.

Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson even felt comfortable in playing Rio Ferdinand who had seemed doubtful with a serious foot injury sustained at the weekend against Middlesbrough.

These two teams had met six times in the last 12 months and the trend continued with Roma looking second best throughout. Yet United almost paid the price for missing a host of chances in the first period when Roma where awarded a penalty in the 28th minute.

Wes Brown was harshly adjudged to have clipped the Brazilian Mancini.

Amidst a torrent of boos from the Stretford End Daniele de Rossi blasted high over the bar and with it went the Italian's chance of progressing.

The all important goal arrived in the 70th minute when Carlos Tevez glanced home a delicate header from an Owen Hargreaves cross.

The roar which greeted the strike almost equalled that of the appearance of Old Trafford legend Eric Cantona at half time.

The United boss was pleased to have progressed.

"I'm delighted to be in the semi-final and the fact it's against Barcelona certainly makes it an attractive tie.

"Hopefully by that time we will have a full fit squad for the game which should give us a better chance.

"The fixture against Arsenal on Saturday was the reason we kept some of the more established first teamers on the bench. Yet two of their replacements, Hargreaves and Ji Sung Park had excellent games - Hargreaves was probably man of the match.

"It shows to me that they can come in and do a job."