Scholes makes up for missing 1999 triumph
The 25-meter strike in the 14th minute was the only goal between the two sides in two legs, making up for Cristiano Ronaldo's missed penalty at Camp Nou a week ago.
Scholes shunned reporters and exited Old Trafford by a side entrance, leaving his teammates to lavish praise.
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"It was a moment of quality from a fantastic player," centerback Rio Ferdinand said. "What a goal and a great time to get one."
Midfielder Michael Carrick has seen him produce similar deadly goals in training.
"It was an awesome strike," he said. "I think that has to be up there with one of his best, especially in a game of this magnitude. To cap off a night like this with a goal of that quality was brilliant."
As soon as the final whistle blew, United manager Alex Ferguson immediately marked Scholes for his starting lineup on May 21.
"Absolutely," Ferguson said. "He's one of the great players to come through the ranks here."
Scholes was part of an Manchester United's vaunted youth side featuring David Beckham and Gary and Phil Neville, which formed the spine of "Fergie's Fledglings" of the mid-1990s. In his league debut against Ipswich in 1994, Scholes scored twice.
Tuesday's decisive strike was just the second goal of the season for Scholes, and first since Aug. 15 in the Premier League against Portsmouth.
He missed much of the season with a knee injury, but re-established his credentials during his 101st Champions League appearance.
"It was a fantastic goal," Ferguson said. "I don't think we can expect Paul Scholes to score 10-15 goals a season like he used to do when he was younger.
"But he certainly delivered one tonight for us. It makes up for the all the goals that he can't score because of his age now. It was a marvelous moment for him."
A deafening roar swirled around Old Trafford as United counted the minutes to the final.
"The fans played their part and backed us the whole way and we dug deep," Ferdinand said.
United's trip to Moscow for the European club championship final comes 50 years after a plane crash in Munich decimated the club's "Busby Babes", who were returning from a European match.
Ferguson believes United can repeat it's 1999 triumph over Bayern Munich.
"I'm so pleased for everyone," the Scot said. "It's a great feeling, marvelous for this club. This club deserves to be in the final. It's fantastic."
Ferguson also is hoping Tuesday's victory injects energy into United's Premier League fortunes. United is tied on points with Chelsea top the English league, but leads with a superior goal difference with two games remaining.
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