Manchester United's calm stroll through Champions League Group F continued at Old Trafford to further fuel a growing belief this could be the season they emulate the European Cup heroes of 1968 and 1999.
Sir Alex Ferguson has challenged the modern-day Red Devils not to end their careers as 'nearly men'. And while Dynamo Kiev represent nothing like the biggest obstacle on the path to glory in Moscow on May 21, the ease with which United achieved their victory suggests this could be a very special season.
Roma's last-minute equaliser in Lisbon confirmed United's place in the last 16, with top spot and a top seeding for the knockout phase to come providing Ferguson's side beat the Portuguese on this ground in three weeks' time.
Young defender Gerard Pique, linked overnight with Atletico Madrid, and Carlos Tevez did the damage before the break, with man-of-the-match Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo finishing off their seventh and eighth goals of the season respectively after it.
It took United's rampant recent run to 22 goals in six games, an amazing run which surely marks them out as one of the tournament favourites.
While Ferguson knew a win would effectively seal a place in the last 16, he also realised it would not take a full strength side to seal it.
To say the Ukrainians were poor in the first encounter a fortnight ago would be an extreme understatement.
Owen Hargreaves was so unimpressed he noted fear in their play, so it was little wonder therefore Ferguson elected to offer some of his fringe men a game.
Hargreaves, rather surprisingly, was among those to miss out, along with Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs, while Wes Brown found himself on the bench.
The changes disrupted United to such an extent that Kiev actually had the better of the opening half hour.
Cristiano Ronaldo belted one long-range free-kick into the visitors' wall and Nemanja Vidic headed wide but the most notable aspect of United's play during that time was a succession of badly-taken corners by Nani, who failed to beat the first near-post defender on three separate occasions.
Not that it counted for much once the Red Devils had assumed a position of superiority.
It was Carlos Correa's foul on Nani that offered Ronaldo the chance to float a free-kick into the Kiev box.
Michael Carrick's initial header cannoned into Tevez but the ball looped up kindly for Pique, who could easily have remained in Spain after a successful season on loan at Real Zaragoza last term to convert his first United goal.
Kiev were pretty frustrated. And TV replays showed exactly why as Vidic, clearly offside, was stood right in front of keeper Olexandr Shovkovskiy as Pique's header flashed in.
Pape Diakhate, who had earlier got away with elbowing Rooney, voiced his protests rather too vigorously for Dutch referee Jan Wegereef and was booked, as was Correa after Tevez had dispatched United's second.
The Kiev man's complaint related to the Tevez tackle which robbed him 15 yards inside the home half.
Once the Argentina star had been waved on though the rest was clinical and devastating. After a 35-yard driving run, Tevez flicked a pass to Rooney, who instantly returned the compliment.
Suddenly, Tevez was in the clear and equally quickly, his shot was whistling in, his first European goal for the club he joined, ostensibly on loan for two seasons, in the summer.
Ferguson was so sure of his position at half-time he introduced Tomasz Kuszczak for stand-in skipper Edwin van der Sar, a move which saw Vidic wearing the captain's armband in preference to Rooney.
If the England striker was a bit put-out by the decision, he did not show it, turning in another all-action display, blotting his copybook only once when he picked up a needless booking for a reckless touchline tackle on Badr El Kaddouri.
It was Rooney who provided the sliderule pass which should have seen Tevez grab his second. This time though, the former Boca Juniors man delayed too long and allowed El Kaddouri to slide in and rob him.
However, when Nani arced over a cross from the right near the end, Rooney tapped home, meaning only a touch from Arsenal's William Gallas is denying the 21-year-old a place on the scoresheet in nine successive games for club and country.
Ronaldo nudged his way ahead in their scoring duel, finishing off a fine solo effort in some style to complete the rout.
