Newcastle 1-4 Man Utd

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Manchester United booked an FA Cup final meeting against rivals Arsenal after breezing past a lacklustre Newcastle at the Millennium Stadium.

Ruud van Nistelrooy's flicked finish put Sir Alex Ferguson's side ahead.

A near-post Paul Scholes header doubled the lead just before half-time and Van Nistelrooy's sidefoot shot confirmed the Red Devils' dominance.

Shola Ameobi steered in an effort for Newcastle but Cristiano Ronaldo's shot ended their faint hopes of a comeback.

A vibrant Manchester United had stormed out of the blocks with their slick passing and movement too much for Newcastle to handle.

Van Nistelrooy curled in a low shot which had keeper Shay Given scampering across to save and gather at the second attempt.

Ferguson's side appeared to have been given a penalty when Cristiano Ronaldo went down over a Steven Taylor challenge but referee Mike Riley was instead pointing at the winger for diving and he was booked.

Man Utd were consistently profiting down Newcastle's right and their pressure finally told when Van Nistelrooy converted Ronaldo's low cross to end his barren run of eight games without a goal.

The FA Cup holders pressed for a second and Quinton Fortune volleyed a Gabriel Heinze cross over the bar while a powerful Wayne Rooney strike slipped through Given's grasp before dribbling just wide.

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A second did come when Ronaldo crossed and the influential Scholes stole in ahead of the Newcastle defence to head home.

There was little to give Newcastle fans hope and when Nicky Butt gave the ball away in midfield United took full advantage to add a third and send them further into despair.

Van Nistelrooy slotted home as the tie looked all but over after 58 minutes.

But Ameobi slid a shot through the legs of keeper Tim Howard to reignite the Magpies hopes as they exerted some rare pressure on United.

Given was still the busier keeper and he tipped a Van Nistelrooy chip over while also keeping out a Rooney effort.

And Ronaldo's close-range strike after Van Nistelrooy unselfishly found him unmarked 10 yards out completed a comfortable and impressive United victory.

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

Booked: Milner, Robert.

Goals: Ameobi 59.

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

Booked: Ronaldo, Brown, Heinze.

Goals: Van Nistelrooy 19, Scholes 45, van Nistelrooy 58, Ronaldo 76.

Att: 69,280

Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).