Report: United 3 Milan 2

Report: United 3 Milan 2
24/04/2007 16:43, Report by Steve Bartram

Wayne Rooney struck an injury time winner as United came from behind to win a pulsating Champions League semi-final, first leg at Old Trafford.

The England striker struck in the first minute of added time, having earlier pulled United level after a fine Kaka double had negated Cristiano Ronaldo's early opener.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side now take a 3-2 advantage into next Wednesday's second leg at the San Siro, albeit minus the suspended Patrice Evra.

Old Trafford can have known few occasions like this as a thrilling display of football from both sides was soundtracked by a raucous atmosphere.

The noise started well before kick off as news of Sir Alex Ferguson's team news began to filter through to the growing crowd.

Despite his superb recent form, particularly in the demolition of Roma, Alan Smith dropped to the bench as Sir Alex opted for a 4-3-3 formation.

Evra was a shock inclusion at left-back, recovering sufficiently from a calf injury in time to boost the Reds' ailing back line.

Milan had their own welcome injury news, with Brazilian international goalkeeper Dida taking his place in goal after shaking off a shoulder injury.

The effervescent vocals of Old Trafford's home contingent were inspirational in the quarter-final mauling of Roma, and the din which greeted the teams' arrival onto the pitch set the scene for a similarly deafening occasion.

Former United manager Wilf McGuinness reprised his role of pre-match cheerleader with another rousing call to arms for the home fans, and they certainly took heed early on.

They almost had a goal to celebrate as early as the fourth minute, but Alessandro Nesta did brilliantly to prevent Wayne Rooney's fierce shot.

Euphoria was only a few seconds away, however. Stand-in skipper Ryan Giggs whipped the resultant corner towards Ronaldo, whose powerful header was flimsily parried upwards by Dida.

The deflection looped up and, as Gabriel Heinze leapt to nod in on the goal-line, the Rossoneri stopper could only fingertip the ball over the line.

Ronaldo then sent another header goalwards after 11 minutes from Rooney's floated cross, but Dida gathered his tamer effort with considerably more comfort than the Portuguese's earlier attempt.

Pirlo curled a long-range effort into van der Sar's midriff almost immediately afterwards as Milan served notice of their attacking intent for the first time.

United's response was similarly quickfire as Carrick called Dida into action again, the big Brazilian scrambling across his goal to claw away the midfielder's left-footed volley.

The half-chances continued to come thick and fast. Ambrosini sent a looping header goalwards under pressure from John O'Shea, which van der Sar clutched gratefully. The Dutchman was redundant moments later when Kaka sent a free header well wide from a Pirlo corner.

The Brazilian wasn't nearly so charitable on 22 minutes as he drew the visitors level. Seedorf's excellent through-ball found Kaka inside the area, and he finished neatly with his left foot despite a desperate lunge from Heinze.

The pre-match billing had been one of two European giants doing battle, with the sub-plot pitting two of the game's best young talents against each other in Kaka and Ronaldo.

With the former evening the scores at a goal each, the latter set about having another say with a mesmerising run which bypassed the visitors' midfield and ended with Patrice Evra being ruled offside.

Giggs then flashed a header over from Fletcher's cross as the game continued to bear an enjoyably - albeit nerve-wrackingly - open quality.

The Welsh winger was involved again shortly afterwards as he crossed for Rooney but, despite Maldini's slip, the 21-year-old could only graze the ball with his studs rather than restore United's lead.

Ronaldo came far closer on 33 minutes as he stung Dida's palms with a rasping 25-yard left footer after another winding run. The Brazilian had gone some way to attoning for his earlier error, and he took another huge step by setting up Milan's second goal.

Dida's quick free-kick upfield found Kaka wide on the left flank under the watch of Darren Fletcher, Evra and Heinze. He made short work of their attentions, cutting infield before sliding the calmest of finishes beyond van der Sar.

A minute later the Brazilian almost struck again, but van der Sar did well to push his long-range shot around the post for a corner.

Events had taken a sudden turn for the worse, a state perpetuated four minutes before half-time as Evra was booked for dissent, ruling him out of next Wednesday's second leg in Italy.

United's attacking menace waned in the latter stages of the first half, but they should have been level almost immediately after the break.

Again a Giggs corner was the cause of Milanese concern as the unmarked Carrick sidefooted wide from just outside the six yard box.

Having replaced Maldini at half-time as a precaution against a second-leg suspension, Milan were dealt another blow just after the interval as abrasive midfielder Gattuso was stretchered off with a foot injury.

The visitors' attacking intent was far from curbed, however, and Kaka should have netted a his hat-trick after Seedorf's fine pull-back.

That miss was punished as United drew level on 59 minutes with a supremely well crafted goal from Rooney.

The Reds held possession in midfield, probing for an opening. Just when it seemed there would be no chink of light, Fletcher and Carrick found Scholes, whose impudent lob gave Rooney the chance to fire home, despite Dida's best efforts.

Buoyed but still disadvantaged by the Rossoneri's two away goals, United were soon testing the Brazilian again. Dida was equal, however, two minutes later to a low drive from Fletcher after a defensive mix-up between Nesta and Bonera.

Giggs came close to putting United ahead on two quickfire occasions as first Dida clutched his whipped cross-shot before watching as the Welshman's free kick curled just wide.

The inspiration behind United's second half dominance was a rousing display across Sir Alex Ferguson's midfield.

Scholes was at his bewitching best, Darren Fletcher reprised the magnificence of his performance against Roma, Carrick oozed calmness while Giggs was a constant thorn in the visitors' side.

It was the latter who picked the lock for United to take a precious advantage to the San Siro for next Wednesday's second leg.

Giggs and Rooney broke at speed as the game entered the first of two added minutes; the skipper slipped the ball to Rooney, who lashed a first-time shot inside Dida's near post from the edge of the box.

Old Trafford, which had been bubbling all evening, erupted as the ball hit the net, with the jubilation continuing long after the final whistle, which came a minute later.

United now take a slim advantage to the San Siro next Wednesday. On this showing they can travel to Italy on their guard, but without a sniff of fear.

Team line-ups

United: Van der Sar; O'Shea, Brown, Heinze, Evra; Fletcher, Carrick, Scholes; Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs.
Substitutes: Kuszczak, Smith, Solskjaer, Dong, Richardson, Eagles, Lee.

AC Milan: Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Maldini (Bonera, 46), Jankulovski; Gattuso (Brocchi, 53), Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf; Kaka, Gilardino (Gourcuff, 84).
Substitutes: Kalac, Cafu, Inzaghi, Favalli.