Rooney Scores To End San Siro Jinx

Manchester United secured a historic win at the San Siro as they drew first blood in an enthralling Champions League last-16 tie with AC Milan.

Wayne Rooney was the match-winner with a brace of second-half headers to earn United a precious first-leg advantage.

They came after Paul Scholes' fortunate equaliser but Milan played their part after Ronaldinho's deflected opener.

Clarence Seedorf's skilful 85th-minute finish gave Milan hope, while Michael Carrick was sent off in injury time.

Carrick's second yellow card - for kicking the ball away - capped a frantic finale as Milan, who had bossed the opening hour, threatened to deny United a first win in the stadium.

And that, combined with Seedorf's late goal, served to take the edge off the win, even though United showed just about enough to suggest they can keep Milan at bay in the second leg on 10 March.

It was a strange affair for Sir Alex Ferguson's men, who in many ways can consider themselves fortunate to have come away with the win after a first hour in which they looked a shadow of a side that has gone nine games unbeaten.

Before the match, Ferguson had talked pointedly of avoiding the "circus" that surrounded David Beckham's first match against his former employers.

But whether they had been caught up in the pre-match hype or merely overwhelmed by the occasion, United barely got out of first gear in a nervy half-hour.

Poor in possession, toothless in attack and ill-organised in defence, the visitors allowed Milan the freedom of the San Siro as the hosts quickly got into their stride.

Just three minutes were on the clock when a Beckham free-kick found its way to Ronaldinho via a dire attempted clearance from Patrice Evra, and the Brazilian wasted little time in lashing home, via a Carrick deflection, for the opening goal.

In truth, though, it could have been a lot worse for Ferguson's men before half-time as they gave the ball away cheaply time and again.

Ronaldinho was at the heart of all Milan's good play, twice bringing smart saves out of Edwin van der Sar with quick feet and a neat shot at either end of the half.

Luca Antonini also went close when he dragged his shot wide of the post from 12 yards out, while first Rio Ferdinand and then Jonny Evans gifted possession away, only for Klaas Jan Huntelaar to drill both opportunities off target.

In response, United enjoyed good possession but only had a Rooney 20-yarder that zipped past the far post to even hint at the threat they might pose in attack.

And Ferguson's evident frustration on the sidelines was only briefly interrupted by Scholes's bizarre leveller, the ball ricocheting into the far corner off his standing leg after he had missed his volley from Fletcher's cross.

There was little improvement at the start of the second half, with Alexandre Pato failing to get a header on target from Giuseppe Favalli's cross 12 yards out and Pirlo stinging Van der Sar's palms with a 35-yard free-kick.

However, with Rooney an increasingly unsettling presence for the Milan defence, there was always a chance United would spark and when they finally clicked into gear just past the hour mark, the visitors finally showed their class.

First Rooney rose above Daniele Bonera to expertly head home substitute Antonio Valencia's cross.

Then, unmarked, he executed the far simpler task of heading in Fletcher's clever pass just eight minutes later to hand his side a two-goal cushion.

With Milan looking out on their feet, and Beckham having been withdrawn in the 72nd minute after a largely ineffective display, the tie looked to be there for United to put beyond doubt.

And yet there was still a twist left in the tie as Ronaldinho found room on the left and crossed for Seedorf to flick in Milan's second.

The hosts might even have snatched a thrilling draw had Filippo Inzaghi not blazed over from Ronaldinho's pass or Thiago Silva not headed over from a corner in injury time.

But United held on to secure a vital first-leg lead, extending their unbeaten away run in Europe to a record 16 matches in the process and ensuring Beckham's first match against his boyhood club was not one he will remember with any great fondness.

Rooney bullets home his second of the game to put United 3-1 up