Manchester United Vs. AC Milan Match Report Review

It was oh-so-easy for United on Wednesday night, as goals either side of the break from Wayne Rooney and second-half strikes from Ji-sung Park and Darren Fletcher helped United cruise into the Champions League quarter-finals.It was oh-so-easy for United on Wednesday night, as goals either side of the break from Wayne Rooney and second-half strikes from Ji-sung Park and Darren Fletcher helped United cruise into the Champions League quarter-finals.

AC Milan, so often United’s bogey side in Europe, rarely tested Sir Alex’s men, despite coming to Old Trafford intent on scoring goals. Instead, it was Wayne Rooney who found the net twice to put the tie beyond Milan’s reach and spoil David Beckham’s homecoming. Park and Fletcher merely iced the cake.

Few had predicted the ease with which the Reds dumped the Italians out of Europe’s premier club competition. The Rossoneri arrived in Manchester determined to overturn a 3-2 first-leg deficit and employed an attacking 4-3-3 formation, with Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Marco Borriello and Ronaldinho up top.

But United, buoyed by a vocal home support, flew out of the traps. Within the first 10 minutes Rooney let fly twice from distance (once narrowly missing the left-hand post), Gary Neville fired a left-footed long-ranger over the bar and Nani forced Christian Abbiati into a smart save down by his near post.

There were scares for the Reds early on, too: Ronaldinho headed inches wide after Andrea Pirlo’s free-kick was flicked on by Nani, while Huntelaar’s control let him down badly when he drifted beyond Patrice Evra to latch onto a long ball from Thiago Silva.

After such a lively opening it was hardly surprising to see the ball in the back of the net on 13 minutes. Even less of a surprise was that the game’s opening goal arrived courtesy of Wayne Rooney’s head. The Reds striker (Milan’s chief tormentor in the first leg, remember) netted his third header of the tie and his 29th goal of the season when he nipped in front of Daniele Bonero to power home Gary Neville’s pinpoint cross.

With United 1-0 up on the night and 4-2 ahead on aggregate, Milan now needed three goals to win the tie. And yet the Rossoneri didn’t ask any further questions of the Reds’ defence for the remainder of the first half.

Sir Alex’s men were cruising. Just as he did in Milan, Ji-sung Park man-marked playmaker Pirlo, while Neville successfully curbed Ronaldinho’s creativity down the Italians’ left side. With those two largely contained and Darren Fletcher and Paul Scholes winning the battle in the centre of the park, Milan were devoid of attacking potency.

Leonardo, recognising the need for change, sacrificed defender Bonero for midfielder Clarence Seedorf at half-time. But within a minute of the restart Rooney exploited the extra space at the back and tucked the ball under Abbiati to send the Reds 2-0 up and put the tie beyond Milan’s reach.
Nani, too, must be given credit for his role in United’s second. Only fleetingly in the game during the first period, the Portuguese winger showcased his quality by curling a brilliant ball into Rooney’s path.

Huntelaar then wasted a glorious chance to pull one back when he headed over from four yards after good work down the right by Ignazio Abate. The miss was rendered even costlier on 59 minutes when Ji-sung Park, found superbly by Scholes inside the area, rifled the ball into the far corner to further extend the Reds’ lead.

Then came the moment David Beckham was introduced against his former employers. He was so often the Reds’ rescuer during his 11 seasons at the club, the man with the magic touch. But the task that faced him here – to orchestrate the most remarkable comeback in Champions League history – was even beyond his abilities.

He did receive a standing ovation from the Old Trafford faithful, however, and again on 75 minutes when he stung Edwin van der Sar’s palms with a Scholes-esque volley from 25 yards.

That was as close as Milan came to grabbing a consolation, although in truth it would have done little to ease the embarrassment Leonardo’s men will feel after being out-classed for 180 minutes by a rampant Manchester United.