AC Milan came to Old Trafford on the back of a 3-2 home defeat by Manchester United in the first leg and threatened to make amends, for about 1 minute. After a period of United attack, Wayne Rooney, with his head, again, scored the opener in the 13th minute and then added a second before half time to put the match that bridge too far for an attackless AC Milan. Ronaldinho was made to look quite ordinary and had the ball taken off him time and time again. J S Park added goal number 3 and then, 3 minutes before the end, Fletcher steered in a fine header, over the keeper, to stitch it all up at 4-0, 7-2 in aggregate. United again proved to be far superior to Italian sides. AC Milan were tactical babies to United tonight.

Ferguson made a stroke of genius when he decided to play Gary Neville in place of Rafael da Silva, to look after Ronaldinho and he did such a good job that Neville was more often up in attack and supplying crosses instead o f defending as he knew full well that a lazy Ronaldinho does not track back, does not defend. Seedorf came on relatively early for Milan but he could make no impression on the hounding harrassing football of United.

Beckham came on in the second half and, to be fair, made a difference, giving Milan more scope in attack, cracking a massive volley at United goals causing Van der Sar to fist it out and over for a corner which Beckham also took. Beckham’s final act was to don a green and gold scarf before he walked off, much to the delight of the sell out crowd!! One of the all time great nights of european football.

Tags: AC Milan, champions league, david beckham, manchester united, wayne rooney