Ronaldo misses penalty; Barcelona salvages draw

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Keywords: Barcelona, Manchester United

Barcelona: Cristiano Ronaldo missed an early penalty on Wednesday, and Manchester United missed its chance to leave Barcelona with an important away goal after a 0-0 draw in the Champions League.

Ronaldo's penalty, which went wide in the second minute of the first leg of the semifinals, could haunt the two-time champions when they host Barcelona in the second leg next Tuesday at Old Trafford.

United was awarded the penalty at the Camp Nou when defender Gabriel Milito handled Ronaldo's header inside the area. But Ronaldo side-footed the ball wide with Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes going the other way.

Barcelona, looking for its second European Cup in three seasons, controlled play after the penalty, and both Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o had chances against the English leaders.

Eto'o put a shot into the side-netting in the 53rd after Andres Iniesta had back-heeled Messi's pass to him on the right. Iniesta had a penalty appeal waved off in the 71st.

United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar got his hands up in the 83rd to deny Thierry Henry's hard shot from the left, and the Netherlands goalkeeper stopped Henry's curling free kick from outside the area two minutes from the end.

Man United has won just once in 17 matches in Spain.

Paul Scholes made his 100th appearance in the competition alongside Michael Carrick, who displaced England midfielder Owen Hargreaves at right back. Wes Brown partnered Rio Ferdinand at center back after Nemanja Vidic was left out of the lineup with a stomach problem.