FIXTURES
RESULTS
SQUAD
PHOTOS
OLD TRAFFORD
GUEST
BOOK
PREV SEASONS
BETTING
LINKS
United lived up to that prediction on Tuesday by killing the tie with three goals in the opening 21 minutes from Ruud van Nistelrooy, David Beckham and Paul Scholes.
Van Nistelrooy and substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer added further goals in the second half after visiting goalkeeper Sasa Ilic was sent off in the 75th minute.
The only setback United received was a worrying injury to England midfielder Paul Scholes, who was carried off on 50 minutes after a tackle.
"It's an ankle injury. I think he'll be out for two weeks," Ferguson told Sky Sports.
Nervous United fans, fearing an embarrassing and costly early exit from Europe, were given a lift before kick-off when new signing Rio Ferdinand was passed fit for his competitive debut. The England international missed the away leg after injuring an ankle in a pre-season friendly.
He could hardly have had an easier introduction to life at Old Trafford as United dominated the first half against their shell-shocked opponents.
The Hungarian plan to shackle van Nistelrooy was in tatters with just six minutes gone.
Scholes flicked Roy Keane's through ball past stationary defender Igor Budisa to send the Dutch striker clear, and as Ilic raced from his goal to narrow the angle, van Nistelrooy effortlessly slotted the ball home.
Nine minutes of incessant attacking later, United went ahead on aggregate as England skipper David Beckham drilled home a trademark free kick from 25 metres out.
Ryan Giggs was fouled 30-metres from goal and the England captain stepped forward to fire the ball into Ilic's top left hand corner.
The rearguard cracked again on 21 minutes as Beckham found Scholes with a low cross from the right and the midfielder scored at the second attempt after a wild swing landed back at his feet off Budisa's outstretched leg.
Another defensive mistake offered Giggs the chance to make it four, only for the Welsh striker to fire his 18-metre effort straight at Ilic.
Krisztian Kenesi came close to giving Zalaegerszegi a lifeline on 40 minutes with a curling free kick into the United box that evaded everyone and forced keeper Roy Carroll into an instinctive save. Ferdinand came off just after the hour mark to allow young defender John O'Shea a rare run-out with the first team.
The game then turned sour for the visitors, who were harshly punished for an innocuous looking challenge by Ilic on van Nistelrooy.
The Australian-born keeper appeared to win a race for the ball before momentum carried him into the Dutchman.
The assistant referee flagged for a penalty and despite furious protests from the Hungarians, referee Lucilia Cardoso Cortez Batista dismissed Ilic with a straight red card.
Van Nistelrooy fired home the spot kick past substitute goalkeeper Geza Turi and second half sub Solskjaer completed the rout with a simple side-footed fifth on 84 minutes.
Drew 2-2 vs Chelsea (A)
Won 1-0 vs West Brom (H)
Lost 1-0 vs Zalaegerszegi (A)
Won 5-0 vs Aarhus (A)
Won 3-0 vs Parma (A)
Lost 1-2 vs Ajax (A)