Sir Alex Ferguson
blamed Bayern Munich's players for Rafael's red card as Manchester
United crashed out of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on away
goals.
The young full-back, booked in the first half for a petulant kick
on Mark van Bommel,
was dismissed by referee Nicola
Rizzoli on the 50th minute after pulling back Franck Ribery.
It proved to be the
pivotal moment in a match which United had looked in control of as they
roared into a 3-0 lead inside 41 minutes, swiftly overturning their 2-1
deficit from the Allianz Arena with goals from Darron Gibson
and a superb Nani brace.
But
Ivica Olic
pulled one back with a goal out
of nothing before the break, while Wayne Rooney
appeared to injure his right
ankle once again having been handed a shock start by Ferguson.
And the Scot was left
fuming by Bayern's tactics as they surrounded Italian official Rizzoli
following Rafael's tug on Ribery, with the 10 men unable to hold out as Arjen Robben
volleyed home a stunning goal
to seal a 4-4 aggregate draw and book a semi-final date with Lyon.