United swamp AC Milan 4-0
Wayne Rooney reached 30 goals for the season as Manchester United marched into the last eight of the Champions League with a clinical 4-0 demolition of AC Milan.
On a night that saw David Beckham return to where it all started for him, it was the current darling of the Old Trafford faithful who steered United into the quarter-finals by following up his double in the 3-2 first leg victory in Milan with another brace.
A first-half header put Sir Alex Ferguson's side firmly in control and the the England striker killed the tie in the opening seconds of the second period.
Park Ji-Sung and Darren Fletcher round off a memorable night as United eliminated their opponents for the first time in five attempts since two of European football's iconic institutions first met, 52 years ago.
The predictions of a fluid encounter were vindicated by an opening ten minutes in which Milan might have established the two-goal lead they required to overturn the deficit from the first leg.
United had the first opportunities, Rooney's shot on the turn from the edge of the penalty area slipping just the wrong sight of the post, Gary Neville's 25-yarder dipping into the roof of the net just too late and a Nani shot being turned round the post by Christian Abbiati.
But those were definitely in the half-chance category, unlike the openings enjoyed by Ronaldinho, who directed a free header from Andrea Pirlo's free-kick wide, and Klaas Jan Huntelaar.
Having been put beyond the United back four by Ronaldinho's floated pass, the Dutch striker fluffed his attempt to bring the ball under his control.
Milan's profligacy was swiftly sanctioned with Rooney giving United a 13th-minute lead with his third headed goal of the tie.
Allowed to advance though the inside right channel in leisurely fashion, Neville had time to tee up a cross which Rooney directed beyond Abbiati's right-hand having been granted an equally generous amount of space by his marker, Daniele Bonera.
That left Milan needing to score three times and, for the remainder of the first-half that appeared a very remote prospect, the visitors' only moment of menace coming when Edwin van der Sar needed a second attempt to smother Pirlo's swerving shot.
Darren Fletcher came closest to extending United's lead before the break, his drive curling just wide in first-half stoppage time.
The break saw Bonera replaced by Clarence Seedorf as Milan played their final cards, but within a minute of the restart, Rooney had killed the tie.
Having escaped the attentions of Ignazio Abate, Nani curled a delightful pass behind the remodelled Milan back four and Rooney was able to tuck the ball past Abbiati.
Huntelaar spurned another opportunity when he headed Abate's cross over from four yards out but that was a rare moment of menace from a team that was beginning to show its age.
With the hour mark approaching, Park latched on to a Paul Scholes pass and, at full stretch, directed a low finish across Abbiati and inside the far post.
Beckham's entry for the last 25 minutes was greeted with the predicted ovation and, while there was little he could do about the outcome, he did offer a reminder of why he was such a favourite with the Old Trafford crowd with a sweetly struck volley that van der Sar had to touch over the bar.
United's fourth goal came three minutes from the end, Fletcher ghosting in at the back post to head home Rafael's cross from the right.
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Lino Vella
Mar 11th 2010, 20:41
@ Charles Micallef - treble ? Treble only means Premiership League, FA Cup and Champions' League - and nothing else. Not some other trophy sometimes being called Milk Cup, sometimes Sugar Cup and sometimes Olives etc etc etc. Hallina siehbi !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats for winning this year's League Cup, but that does not mean that if you win the Premiership and the Champions' League you would have won the treble.
Kevin Cassar
Mar 12th 2010, 16:32
To be fair Charles Micallef said "a treble" and not "the treble". To many this may look like a minor detail but to english football fans they mean completely different things. The treble is the league, the FA cup and the Champions cup/league. A treble could mean any three cups won in a season - eg. league cup, FA cup and Europa league would be a treble.
Charles Micallef
Mar 11th 2010, 16:54
This is yet another confirmation for all those who thought that MU finished this season with the departure of Ronaldo and Tevez.. these some anti united fans fail to realise that no player is bigger than this Club..........and the Club is loved worldwide for their constant courage and winning performances...they are still in with a chance for a treble this season and then we celebrate again and again.......and again!
J Bajada
Mar 11th 2010, 16:37
@ v baldacchino
can you please state exactly that period of 22 years in which Man Utd did not win a single trophy? i can't recall that...
@ K Galea
K Cassar just said that Rooney has been the best player this season. i agree with him. Messi had little ups this season and was very rarely decisive. besides that, i think Ronaldinho is getting more assists than Messi at present.
@ jamie pace
how can you say that Chelsea are waiting to be crowned champions of england? they are not even first - they could be if they win their game in hand but with just a point advantage over Man Utd and 3 over Arsenal. There are 27 points left available. So that's far from a foregone conclusion. The English league this season is the tightest in Europe. we just have to wait and see.
Its incredible that Galliani excused the Milan team because of injuries. they only had 3 injuries. Man Utd had more players injured and suspended. the quality of a team is when a player is absent but another player can fill up his boots positively. this shows that Milan only have 11 good players.
John Mizzi
Mar 11th 2010, 15:49
@ Jamie Pace
You're totally right about the huge gulf in English teams and those Italian at present. I don't think anyone can dispute that based on results these past years. But surely Chelsea have not contributed all that much to widen this gulf. And come next week I wouldn't be surprised if your "darlyn bridge boys" get trashed by Inter. It was the guile of Mourinho (and Russian rubles) that brought you the first honours since the Hitler days, and I expect the same Mourinho to bring you back down to earth with a heavy thud next week. As for "waiting to be crowned champions of England" forget it mate. It will be a close had-to-head tussle between the two best teams in English football: Man United and Arsenal.
Joseph Gatt
Mar 11th 2010, 14:19
@ Jamie Pace - you just talk ( tpatpat ) with passion. It is true, Man Utd yesterday were a fantastic side. Chelsea, also, had a very good match against Inter. But, only a few months ago ( if you remember ) a better than to day Man Utd side was non existent against Barcellona ! That is why football is the most exciting game.
Robert Attard
Mar 11th 2010, 14:12
You have every right to dream Mr. Pace......Just like you did in 2008...
Mark Said.
Mar 11th 2010, 14:07
If Maradona had the hand of God, Rooney has divine feet!
jamie pace
Mar 11th 2010, 12:55
There is a huge gulf betweeen English teams and their italian counter part's at the moment....I am not a United admirer or call it fan....but the way and manner they tore milan into shreds last nite only goes to prove the level of the game in the uk.....I hope come next week my darlyn bridge boys the "waiting to be crowned champions of England"will knock out the last italian team nursing any ambition to remain in the competition.......Come on blues.....chelsea4life.....!!!!!
adrian agius
Mar 11th 2010, 12:50
@ Victor vella
What exactly do you mean by ' stays home'?????????
Alex Coppola
Mar 11th 2010, 12:00
Football is really a nice yet unpredictible sport. Every big club has its great moments - we had Real Madrid in the sixties, Ajax & Bayern Munich in the seventies, Liverpool in the late seventies and early eighties, Milan in the late eighties & early nineties and now we have Man. Utd. and as well as Barcelona. There are other not so big clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, Juventus, Roma etc. who may have not won much in the European scene but could make an impact in the years to come.
As far as the national teams is concerned the story is quite different as only a handful nations can be considered as really great, like Brazil, Italy, Germany, Argentina, France and possibly England who have made an impact on the world scene. But one must not forget Spain, Holland, Portugal and perhaps some African nation like Ghana, Cameroon & Nigeria who could spring a surprise any moment. That is why football is a really beautiful game.
Robert Attard
Mar 11th 2010, 11:58
If Milan have injured players, United have their own too. Carrick was suspended while Giggs, Owen, Hargreaves, Anderson, O'Shea and Brown are all out injured. In 2007 United had most of the defenders injured when they went out to Milan while in 1958 united lost a semi final to ac milan just after a month when almost the entire team was killed in a plane crush. So dont bring excuses cos in 1969 Milan were aided by the referree as well to beat man utd.
Keith Muscat
Mar 11th 2010, 20:24
amen to that!
C. Lia
Mar 11th 2010, 11:38
Had Ronaldinho's header gone in instead of Rooney's in the early stages of the match we would have assisted to another story, but at the moment luck sits frequently at United's side.
K. Galea
Mar 11th 2010, 11:33
@Kevin Cassar
Rooney no contest....... boq .... still far away from Leo Messi..... Messi is not just a goal getter he is the number one assist man in the world... Rooney is phenemonel but still something lacking compared to Messi.....
Kevin Cassar
Mar 12th 2010, 16:25
Messi is a football genius and a very technically gifted skilful player. Probably the best in the world if you only take skills into consideration. Rooney on the other hand is the complete player - strong, fast, great control, excellent passing and vision, scores with the head, left foot, right foot, can defend etc etc. Again if we were only judging on dribbling skills and fancy stuff then both Messi and Ronaldo would be above Rooney. Time will tell. My wager is on Rooney to get the award this year.
adrian agius
Mar 11th 2010, 11:14
Congrats to United. I'm an Italian supporter but yesterday Man Utd showed a class of their own.
Just one thing that bothered me this morning when i saw the front page of the times. Would there have been a photo of Milan players if Milan won on aggregate???
Keith Muscat
Mar 11th 2010, 20:23
who cares about milan and the others?
IT'S UNITED; THE PRIDE OF ALL EUROPE!
A. Farrugia
Mar 11th 2010, 10:50
I'm a Milan supporter but you have to be honest about facts, and these are the facts.
- There is a huge gap in quality between the reds and Milan at the moment. United clearly have the advantage
- Agreed with contributor below, Rooney deserves title of best player at the moment, he's simply deadly !!
- Injuries to Pato & Nesta alone couldn't have been the reason behind Milan's defeat, maybe the scoreline would be more respectable but even United had their injuries to key players and still trounced Milan.
So enjoy it United fans, we had our time a few years back :)
victor vella
Mar 11th 2010, 10:42
With 3 English teams in the running I really hope the cup stays home.
v baldacchino
Mar 11th 2010, 10:30
Do not forget those 22 years without winning a single trophy.
F.Williams
Mar 11th 2010, 19:31
Get your stats right buddy. During those 22yrs Man United won numerous FA Cups, Cup of Cups and a Super Cup.
t farrugia
Mar 11th 2010, 10:28
was such a great performance. rooney was unstoppable and was backed by such a hard working midfield. it was also such a heart warming welcome back to Beckham. such great supporters who appreciate so much. i remember a few years ago when Karol Poborski played against Man Utd at old trafford he too was given a standing ovation (not half as much as Becks), and he had not spent a lot of years at old trafford!!
J Hendy
Mar 11th 2010, 09:05
GLORY GLORY MANUTD......All the tension is gone as MILAN went home:)))))C'mon REDS!!!!!!
Louis Schembri
Mar 10th 2010, 23:19
And yet another super show.......4 - 0 wow.... 7 - 2 on aggregate !!!!
Kevin Cassar
Mar 10th 2010, 23:07
Ah the beautiful game as played at the theatre of dreams!!!! I guess even neutrals and anti-United fans must agree that Rooney is player of the year - no contest.
Kevin Camilleri
Mar 10th 2010, 23:00
Hats off!
It was a difficult game for us with the lack of all those players, but Manchester played a great game. Hats off, again.
K CURMI
Mar 10th 2010, 22:49
Well done reds you were invincible