Manchester United 4-0 AC Milan (aggregate 7-2)
Wayne Rooney (two), Darren Fletcher and Park Ji-sung score as Manchester United beat AC Milan 4-0 in Champions league
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Wednesday, 10, Mar 2010 10:27
By James Christie.
David Beckham could only watch from the bench as two fine goals from new Old Trafford hero Wayne Rooney helped Manchester United beat AC Milan 4-0 and 7-2 on aggregate to go through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Park Ji-sung and Darren Fletcher also got on the score-sheet with Beckham coming on to the pitch for a 26-minute cameo at the ground where he enjoyed the best football of his career.
United dominated early possession with the closely-marked Wayne Rooney and the completely-unmarked Gary Neville both in the mood to shoot on sight.
Milan did not get a look-in until the seventh minute when Ronaldinho's silky headband made contact with a cross with such force that Edwin van der Sar had no time to react as the ball flashed past his post.
Moments later Klaas Jan Huntelaar's lack of control denied him a shooting chance on the corner of the six-yard box, allowing a relieved Van der Saar to pick up possession.
But United's rhythm could only be broken temporarily and when the impressive Neville crossed from the right it was Rooney who headed the ball down and into the net from near the penalty spot - the England talisman's 29th goal of this World Cup season.
Milan were still getting into the opposition's penalty area but were finding Rio Ferdinand was in no mood to let them claw back the three-goal aggregate deficit. Considering Van der Saar's shaky form - spilling the ball near Pirlo's feet on one occasion - this was just as well.
Ronaldinho was Milan's star player in the first half but with the buck-toothed players' colleagues showing little bite or bark, United remained largely untroubled.
Too much time and space was being given to red-shirted players like Fletcher, who nearly took advantage when his shot from distance thudded into the advertising hoardings just before half-time.
One minute into the second half the "killer goal" which United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was looking for arrived. Nani was the provider, bursting down the left wing and hitting a sweet pass with the outside of his boot which Rooney clipped into the net as Milan keeper Christian Abbiati dived at his feet in an 'I'm not worthy pose'.
After 59 minutes it was 3-0 (and 6-2 on aggregate) when Paul Scholes - lucky to be on the field after a wild first-half tackle missed the leg of Mathieu Flamini - rolled the ball to Park who stumbled and then scored inside the six-yard box.
Beckham finally came on the pitch in the 64th minute to applause which was as loud as that greeting the performance of Rooney who was substituted two minutes later.
The former England captain nearly scored in the 74th minute with a brilliant volley from outside the penalty area which Van der Saar parried more through luck than judgment.
Beckham's superb crosses were one of the highlights of the closing stages but in the 87th minute Darren Fletcher stooped to head the fourth goal from a right-wing cross.
The final word of the evening? Not quite - Beckham wrapped himself in a green and gold scarf of the Manchester United Supporters Trust/Red Knights to make a PR statement which almost overshadowed United's brilliant performance.