Manchester United 4 AC Milan 0: Two More Goals for Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney again tormented AC Milan as he scored twice in a victory that ensured Manchester United made Champions League progress by beating the Italians 7-2 on aggregate.

United's passage into the last eight was effectively sealed after 13 minutes by yet another header from Rooney, who had scored twice in the first leg.

Rooney outjumped Daniele Bonera and guided in Gary Neville's cross for the eighth headed goal out of the last nine scored by the striker.

It ended an impressive start by Milan, who suffered as Ronaldinho and Klass-Jan Huntelaar failed to take chances before Rooney's goal left them needing to score three times.

Even the Italians now seemed to accept the tie was over and created little until they cracked again a minute after the restart when Rooney steered in Nani's through ball.

Now it was only a question of how many United would score and they made it 3-0 in the 59th minute when Paul Scholes's threaded a pass through the defence and Ji-sung Park angled a shot inside the far post.

It was the cue for David Beckham's appearance as a substitute seven years after he left Old Trafford. And, while he was never likely to influence a game that was already settled, Milan did at least force Edwin van der Sar to make two fine saves - one from Beckham - in the closing stages.

But United had the last word when Darren Fletcher slid in to add the fourth goal in the 87th minute and round off a memorable night for Sir Alex Ferguson's team.

REACTION:
Beckham assured himself of a long-lasting place in United folklore - if ever that was in doubt - as he left the field at Old Trafford.

The Milan winger grabbed a gold and green scarf from a United fan, an act that was greeted by an even louder ovation than the one that he greeted him when he left the field after a mini lap of honour.

The gold and green colours represent the supporters' protest against United's owners the Glazer Family and Beckham's backing for that cause will have come as a severe embarrassment to co-chairman Avram Glazer who made a rare appearance at Old Trafford.

Beckham had appeared to be in tears as he came on as a second half substitute to an adoring response from the United crowd.

"Returning here is always special," said Beckham. "And that was unbelievable. I'd like to say thank you, it was really incredible. I don't know if I was close to tears but it was just nice to be back even if it was a disappointing night."

Beckham was denied an emotional goal when his volley struck keeper van der Sar - "I probably caught it too well but by that stage the game was over," said Beckham - and his efforts suggested he might have been better employed in a starting role.

"It's always like that when you don't start in games," he added. "It's one of those things, you want to play but we're a team. You have to win together and lose together."

Losing way always on the agenda for Milan with Rooney currently in the sort of form he is displaying.

"I keep saying he is such an exceptional talent," added Beckham. "Without a doubt he is one of the best of the world at the moment, with Messi and Ronaldo. They don't come much better than them."

Ferguson added his voice to the Rooney clamour and admitted that the striker could reach the 42 goals that Cristiano Ronaldo scored in his remarkable 2007-08 campaign.

"I would have been happy for him to get 30," said Ferguson after seeing his striker hit that plateau. "Forty-two would be a challenge but he keeps improving. Tonight, again, he was exceptional."

Rooney again scored with his head - as he had done twice in the first leg - and his admiring manager explained: "I think the thing that is improving is his movement in the penalty box. Maturity brings that but also he is practising a lot more this season than he's ever done. After training, we put on extra sessions and I think we are seeing the rewards for that now."

The was Milan's largest ever defeat in the Champions League which led Ferguson to comment: "That was a landmark when we beat them over there. We had never beaten them there or even scored in the San Siro. So it was a big step forward for the club because I regard Milan as a great European example for us or anyone else who wants to succeed in the correct manner. That makes me particularly proud tonight that we have beaten a great team."

United certainly gave a passable impression of a great team, led by the job carried out by Park on Andrea Pirlo, and on such form, Ferguson does not fear any opponent in the last eight.

"What Park did was he showed sacrifice, intelligence and discipline and we needed that against Pirlo because he is a very good player for them," said the manager.

"But this was a very solid Manchester United performance and when we play at that type of tempo we are very difficult to play against. With the kind of team I've got, it doesn't matter who we play against."

AC manager Leonardo certainly pulled no punches in analysing the form currently being shown by his team's chief tormentor Rooney. "I think Rooney this year can grow up because he is still very young," he said.

"But he is already a very complete player - very strong, very fast, works a lot, scores a lot of goals. He knows where the goal is and does a lot of incredible movement; he is very fast, whether over a small distance or long distance and he plays in a system that is perfect for him. How they play on the counter attack with him is incredible."

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Far more easily than even Ferguson could have anticipated. It's no secret that AC Milan are not the force they once were in global football, but this was still a remarkable destruction of a team packed with players who will feature in the World Cup Finals.

The Italians had two early chances to sow seeds of doubt in the United team, but Huntelaar and Ronaldinho failed to take them and the stage was set for Rooney to show why he is now ranked alongside Lionel Messi and Ronaldho as the world's top players. Park and Fletcher added two more goals and there could have been more as Milan simply collapsed, although there was nice cameo performance from Beckham in the final stages.

WHAT IT MEANS:
It will clearly take something special to halt United's progress in the Champions League - provided Rooney stays fit. The striker's importance to the team was underlined again with two more goals as Milan were swept aside in a game that sends a warning to all the other teams in the tournament.

With Real Madrid going out as United were powering through, it was a night that will encourage Ferguson's belief that they can be the kings of Europe yet again. However, there was also evidence that success on the pitch won't silence protests off it. The game was played against a backcloth of protests about the Glazer family ownership of the club, with co-chairman Avram Glazer making a rare appearance at Old Trafford for a game which is not likely to increase the chances of the Americans selling United.

QUOTABLE:
It was a disappointing night in the end, but it was nice to be back."
Mixed emotions from Beckham as his return ends in a devastating defeat.

MANCHESTER UNITED 4 (Rooney 13, 46, Park 59, Fletcher 88) AC MILAN 0
(United win 7-2 on aggregate)

PLAYER MARKING:
Manchester United (4-5-1): Van der Sar 6; Neville 5 (Rafael 66,5), Ferdinand 7, Vidic 7, Evra 6; Valencia 7, Fletcher 8, Scholes 7 (Gibson 73,5), Park 8, Nani 6; Rooney 8 (Berbatov 66.6).
Subs (not used): Kuszczak, Evans, Obertan, Diouf.

AC Milan (4-3-3): Abbiati 6; Abate 5 (Beckham 64), Bonera 4 (Seedorf 46,5), Thiago Silva 5, Jankulovski 6; Flamini 6, Pinto 6, Ambrosini 6; Huntelaar 5, Borriello 5 (Inzaghi 69,5), Ronaldinho 6.
Subs (not used): Dida, Gattuso, Zambrotta, Favalli.

ATTENDANCE: 74,595

NEXT UP:
- Manchester United v Fulham (Home) Premier League 14/03, 1330 BST

MAN OF THE MATCH:
Wayne Rooney ((Manchester United): It is so tempting to pick out Park or Fletcher, two players whose midfield authority was a crucial factor in this win, but how can you ignore Rooney? The striker was rested long before the end, but he had already destroyed Milan with two well-taken goals that proved decisive. That's 30 goals for the season and there are surely more to come.