Sir Alex Ferguson's side had to survive a major scare in the first-half when Daniele De Rossi blasted a penalty high over the bar. But the Premier League champions moved through to the last four with relative ease, especially after Carlos Tevez headed them into a 1-0 lead on the night in the 70th minute, increasing their aggregate advantage to 3-0.

With Sunday's visit of Arsenal in mind, a much-changed United started positively and could have put the tie beyond the Romans before the ten-minute mark.

Park Ji Sung dragged wide in the sixth minute before Carlos Tevez miscued a header wide a minute later.

Wes Brown was also off-target with a free-header from Ryan Giggs' corner before the Welshman put Owen Hargreaves through on goal in the tenth minute. Goalkeeper Doni was up to the task though, making a fine block as the England midfielder attempted to chip home.

Mirko Vucinic had the visitors' first chance when his angled drive was blocked by Edwin van der Sar before Mancini's low effort from outside the box was also saved by the Dutch stopper.

Hargreaves was in fine form and he provided the ammunition from the right-hand side for Giggs and Anderson, who both drew fine saves from Doni but United were stunned in the 29th minute when Roma were awarded their penalty.

Mancini ran at Brown in the United box before the England full-back slid in with a challenge, seemingly winning the ball cleanly. The referee, who had a perfect view of tackle, thought otherwise and awarded Roma a spot-kick.

Justice was done however when De Rossi blasted high over the bar into the Stretford End, much to United's relief.

Marco Cassetti was inches away from pouncing on a rebound after Van der Sar had fumbled Vucinic's long-range shot early in the second half before Mikael Silvestre, on his return from a serious knee injury, made a fine block from Taddei's goal-bound shot as Luciano Spalletti's side looked to give themselves a lifeline.

The tie was over though in the 70th minute when Tevez headed United in front.

Hargreaves, who had provided several wonderful crosses throughout the night, delivered again from the right, and Tevez stooped to head past Doni to ensure United's passage through to the semi-finals.

With progression assured, Ferguson took the chance to hand Gary Neville a comeback from the ankle injury which has kept him out for the last 13 months. The United skipper took back the armband for the last ten minutes as the Red Devils saw out their record 11th-consecutive Champions League victory.