There were protests and there were prizes. A gold star for Wayne
Rooney; a green and gold scarf for David Beckham.
And there was yet another appearance in the Champions League
quarter-finals to celebrate for supporters who began this enchanted
Old Trafford evening applauding their remarkable young striker and
ended it by turning, once again, on their club’s American
owners.
For the aforementioned Manchester United old boy, it amounted to
quite a night. Far more enjoyable, it has to be said, than it would
have been for the other old boys of AC Milan. This was as
depressing an evening as this once great side have had in Europe
for many a year. Further evidence that they have become sporting
geriatrics.
Not that their suffering was of any concern to Rooney and
United. Inspired, once again, by their brilliant England forward,
United were sensational in the way they secured their club’s first
victory against the San Siro giants.
Head start: Wayne Rooney nods Manchester United
ahead
Two more goals for Rooney. One each for the excellent Ji-Sung
Park and the irrepressible Darren Fletcher. It was a battering
almost as impressive as the one dished out by Arsenal the previous
night.
Rooney, presumably, is now off the naughty step and back in his
manager’s good books.
Sir Alex Ferguson appeared to be furious with him last week for
battling on against Egypt when it seemed he had aggravated a knee
injury. By Friday he was spitting mad, not least because it meant
he would miss the Premier League trip to Wolves the following day
and possibly even this European game.
But Rooney returned to action here at Old Trafford and returned
to what has now become a familiar routine. Another goal with his
head. A second that enabled him to further demonstrate his ability
as a finisher. He was terrific, from the power and accuracy of the
header to the burst of acceleration he produced to get to Nani’s
ball and guide his finish beyond the reach of Christian Abbiati
before taking evasive action.
Double act: Rooney fires his second just after
half-time
33... Gerrard
(Liverpool)
30... Shearer (B’burn – 2, Newc – 28)
27... Owen (Liv – 22, Real – 1,
Man U – 4)
26... Scholes (Manchester Utd)
23... Andy Cole (Newc – 4, Man
Utd – 19)
22... Charlton (Man Utd)
22... Chivers
(Tottenham)
22... Lampard (West Ham – 1, Chel – 21)
20... Kennedy (Ars – 8, Liv –
12)
20...Rooney (Man Utd)
That goal, scored shortly after the interval, took him to 30
this season and now even Ferguson will have to admit there is a
good chance he will sail past Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2007-08 mark of
42 before the campaign is over.
United have waited a long time to beat Milan but they did so
with ease in this last-16 tie, building on the 3-2 victory at the
San Siro with a win that was surprisingly comfortable — so easy
that Ferguson took off Rooney after 66 minutes and still found
himself celebrating an extension to his team’s lead.
It was over a good deal before that. After 13 minutes, to be
precise,because that was how long it took for Rooney to score the
first goal and leave Milan needing three to progress beyond this
round.
United performed much like Arsenal had done against Porto. With
great urgency and desire, a real sense of purpose. Rooney was first
to threaten and then Gary Neville, yes Gary Neville, followed that
up with a left-foot effort that flew only just over the bar.
Game over: Park Ji-sung fires United into a
preponderant 3-0 lead
Milan did respond, threatening with a header from Ronaldinho.
But when Neville sent in a cross Beckham would have been proud to
deliver, Rooney took advantage of truly awful defending. In doing
so, he extended a remarkable run to seven successive goals with his
head. And nine headers in 11.
Milan were nothing like as energetic as they had been in the
first half at the San Siro. There were flashes of skill, most
notably from Andrea Pirlo and Ronaldinho. And a powerfully struck
shot from Pirlo tested Edwin van der Sar.
But in the absence of the injured Pato, their brilliant young
Brazilian striker, they lacked spark. Leonardo should have sent on
Beckham long before he did, because when he came on the midfielder
was probably Milan’s best player.
Sitting targets: Manchester United owners Avi and
Joel Glazer in the directors' box
Leonardo made a different change at the break, replacing the
hapless Daniele Bonera with Clarence Seedorf. But to no avail. No
sooner had the contest resumed than Nani was sending Rooney into
the box with a super ball from the left.
And when Park then sprinted on to a delightful pass from Paul
Scholes and beat Abbiati with an excellent right-foot shot shortly
before the hour, it was simply left to Beckham to lap up the
applause and say the final farewell that was denied him when he
joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2003.
Rapturous return: David Beckham received a warm
reception Old Trafford
Manchester United
(4-3-2-1): Van der Sar 7; Neville 7 (Rafael 66min, 6),
Ferdinand 7, Vidic 7, Evra 7; Fletcher 7, Scholes 7 (Gibson 73, 6),
Park 8; Valencia 7, Nani 7; Rooney 9 (Berbatov 66, 6).
Booked: Scholes.
AC MILAN (4-3-3):
Abbiati 5; Abate 5 (Beckham 64, 6), Bonera 4 (Seedorf 46, 6),
Thiago Silva 5, Jankulovski 6; Flamini 6, Pirlo 6, Ambrosini 6;
Huntelaar 5, Borriello 5 (Inzaghi 68, 6), Ronaldinho 5.
Booked: Ronaldinho,
Flamini.
Man of the match: Wayne
Rooney.
Referee: Massimo Busacca
(Switzerland).
Beckham received the biggest cheer of the night, and went close
to scoring when he unleashed a super volley that forced Van der Sar
into an excellent save.
But the goals were only going to come from United, their fourth
materialising in the form of a cross from Rafael da Silva and a
neatly executed header from Fletcher two minutes before the
end.
By then, the fans had turned their attention to the Glazers,
which must have made it particularly unpleasant for Avi and Joel,
seated here last night among the directors.
The darling of those same disgruntled fans, Beckham only added
to the Glazers’ pain by picking up a green and golf scarf that had
been thrown in his direction and wrapping it around his neck.
Is he one of these Red Knight characters? Probably not, but the
recruitment drive starts here.
