The great debate over the past few months surrounding Manchester United centred on whether their fitful though successful form disguised the depth or shallowness of their powers.
Last night, at last, United delivered a compelling verdict. Fiorentina, a side of undoubted quality, were dumped in the deep end by a combination of United's searing team play and individual precocity. Roy Keane embodied the former, Ryan Giggs the latter. By the end United were in the last eight of the competition and Fiorentina were looking burnt out.
That was an apt simile for a night that began with a power failure, crackled like electricity in a thunderstorm, and which illuminated this season's Champions' League for the first time.
Alex Ferguson, who had called for two things: crowd noise and a "big" performance from his players, got both. Now United's priority is to win a point next week in Valencia and ensure they top the group, thereby avoiding Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the draw on Friday week.
No opposition will want to encounter United on this form. Even before Fabio Rossitto's 63rd minute dismissal Fiorentina were a beaten side, Dwight Yorke's header six minutes later merely confirming United's superiority. But Fior entina were an attacking revelation and Gabriel Batistuta re-inforced his considerable reputation with a spectacular early opener.
Andy Cole nabbed the all important equaliser and in doing so equalled Denis Law's United European Cup tally of 14 goals. It was a fact nearly lost in the excitement of a classic game.
In the opening 10 minutes Batistuta thrashed the side netting with an opportunistic strike, Mark Bosnich saved at the feet of Rui Costa, Francesco Toldo blocked from Yorke at the other end and Giggs embarked on the first of a series of swerving dribbles.
By the half-hour there was enough footage to fill a highlights programme twice as long. Both sides attacked as if this was a semi-final with United wisely seeking out Giggs at every moment.
In the 15th minute the rejuvenated Welshman collected the ball on the left touchline 40 yards out. He had one thought only - charge. Displaying velcro-tight ball control Giggs proceeded to turn the accomplished Moreno Torricelli inside out and when the cross came in from the byline, Keane lashed it. It took a purple curtain of Fiorentina players to smother the shot. Keane was to be given a reprieve.
Before it came, though, Batistuta was to remind Europe of his ability. It was, he said beforehand, three weeks since his last goal and when he swivelled onto the ball there seemed little likelihood of that situation changing. But Jaap Stam was suddenly nowhere and 35 yards out, Batistuta unleashed a twisting drive that flew past Bosnich at 65 miles an hour. Fantastic.
It was a severe blow to United's chin, but they stood their ground and then advanced again on the Italians. Five minutes later Cole pulled down a Gary Neville pass in a position as unpromising as Batistuta's had been. But, like the Argentinian, Cole switched direction under pressure and fired in a shot. It lacked the other's ferocity but it still beat the amateur dive of Francesco Toldo.
And then came Keane's second chance, Berg's towering header rebounding off the crossbar into Keane's path six yards out. He hit it like he enjoyed it, the ball crashing in off a post.
Spurred on by Rui Costa Fiorentina surged again after the interval but much momentum was lost by Rossitti's sending-off. It topped a good night for United. Even the yellow card shown to David Beckham before half-time means he only misses Valencia.
MANCHESTER UTD: Bosnich, G Neville, Berg, Stam, Irwin, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Yorke, Cole. Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Butt, Sheringham, P Neville, Solskjaer, Fortune, Silvestre. Booked: Beckham. Goals: Cole 20, Keane 32, Yorke 70.
FIORENTINA: Toldo, Repka, Adani, Pierlini, Torricelli (Tarozzi 75), Di Livio (Amoroso 75), Rossitto, Rui Costa, Heinrich, Batistuta, Mijatovic (Chiesa 62). Subs Not Used: Taglialatela, Fircano, Okon, Bressan. Sent Off: Rossitto (61). Booked: Torricelli, Adani, Pierlini. Goal: Batistuta 16.
Referee: Ryszard Wojcik (Poland).
