Last 4: Leg 1, Day 1

Manchester United 3-2 AC Milan

Wayne Rooney had the final say in a game that showcased three of the brightest young stars of the game. Fresh off Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards from the Premiership’s Professional Football Association, Portugese International forward Christiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with a header from a Ryan Giggs’ corner. There is dispute as to whether or not it was an own goal by Milan’s Brazilian keeper Dida. You can see for yourself. And though United pressed early and looked to be continuing their form from their 7-1 thrashing of Roma, it was the Rossoneri’s young star Brazilian midfielder Kaka who was to take over the game in the 22nd minute when he scored his first goal off a perfect pass from Dutch international midfielder Clarence Seedorf. It looked as if the Red Devils injury ravaged defense had finally caught up with them when Kaka drove home his second after a defensive collision between Gabriel Heinze and Patrice Evra. With the momentum decidedly swinging to the visiting side, Kaka seemed destined to complete his hat-trick as the Italians pushed forward time and time again. But with all the accolades of Ronaldo and Kaka in recent weeks, it was young English international Wayne Rooney who would emerge as the man of the match. In the 60th minute he deftly controlled a lofted pass from Paul Scholes and buried it in the back of the net for the equalizer. Through the rest of the match United pushed forward relentlessly and were finally rewarded in the 91st minute when Rooney blasted the match winner off another pass by Scholes. Old Trafford was treated to a real cracker as Man. U. stole the advantage from Milan as the tie heads to the San Siro next week.