CRISTIANO RONALDO failed to convert a penalty kick in the third minute, and Manchester United tied Barcelona 0-0 at Camp Nou stadium Wednesday night in the European Champions League semifinals.

    Ronaldo sent his kick wide as Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes went the other way, costing the English Premier League leaders a chance to leave Spain with an important away goal. The kick was awarded after Barcelona’s Gabriel Milito handled Ronaldo’s header inside the penalty area.

    “I’ve scored 38 goals this season and it doesn’t matter if I miss one or two,” Ronaldo said. “I just try to do my best.”

    The teams meet again Tuesday at Old Trafford in the second leg of the total-goal series, with the winner advancing to the May 21 final at Moscow.

    “I didn’t score — no problem,” Ronaldo said. “Now I’m going to score in Manchester.”

    Manchester United, which has won just once in 17 matches in Spain, appears to have the advantage playing at home.

    “If we win, we’re through. And with the record at Old Trafford, the atmosphere, the fans — we have a good chance,” Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said.

    In the other semifinal, Chelsea scored in the fifth minute of injury time for a 1-1 tie at Liverpool on Tuesday.

    Barcelona, looking for its second Champions League title in three seasons, controlled play after the penalty, and both Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o had good chances.

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

    “I’m not disappointed. We played a big game,” Eto’o said. “The shame was just not scoring. If we play the same way, we have possibilities of getting to the final.”

    (SD-Agencies)

    CRISTIANO RONALDO failed to convert a penalty kick in the third minute, and Manchester United tied Barcelona 0-0 at Camp Nou stadium Wednesday night in the European Champions League semifinals.

    Ronaldo sent his kick wide as Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes went the other way, costing the English Premier League leaders a chance to leave Spain with an important away goal. The kick was awarded after Barcelona’s Gabriel Milito handled Ronaldo’s header inside the penalty area.

    “I’ve scored 38 goals this season and it doesn’t matter if I miss one or two,” Ronaldo said. “I just try to do my best.”

    The teams meet again Tuesday at Old Trafford in the second leg of the total-goal series, with the winner advancing to the May 21 final at Moscow.

    “I didn’t score — no problem,” Ronaldo said. “Now I’m going to score in Manchester.”

    Manchester United, which has won just once in 17 matches in Spain, appears to have the advantage playing at home.

    “If we win, we’re through. And with the record at Old Trafford, the atmosphere, the fans — we have a good chance,” Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said.

    In the other semifinal, Chelsea scored in the fifth minute of injury time for a 1-1 tie at Liverpool on Tuesday.

    Barcelona, looking for its second Champions League title in three seasons, controlled play after the penalty, and both Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o had good chances.

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

    “I’m not disappointed. We played a big game,” Eto’o said. “The shame was just not scoring. If we play the same way, we have possibilities of getting to the final.”

    (SD-Agencies)