Swashbuckling Man United battles back in grand fashion to snatch a last gasp 3-2 victory in a thrilling champions league semifinal first leg at the Theater of Dreams early this morning. A scintillating Rooney double, his matchwinning second coming in the last minute of regulation time ensures man united are in pole position to qualify for the final in athens come May 23rd. They take a slender goal advantage going into the return leg at the daunting San Siro next wednesday. However, the 2 'away' goals conceded could yet prove costly. A 1-0 or 2-1 reversal would suffice to knock United out in what seems to be only their second semifinal appearance since the legendary treble winning '99 season. Yet United gaffer Sir Alex Ferguson will be more than pleased with this monumental feat.
Happy times : SAF congratulated by assistant Carlos Queiros
For United, there is only going to be one approach coming into this crucial game, that is to attack relentlessly to take as many goals to the return leg. The cautious tactics so often employed previously in Europe has to be abandoned. Not entirely due to the recent form of the team's attacking prowess, albeit a tempting reason since they did put 7 past Roma, but more apparent the defense is deprived off the injured first choice trio of skipper Neville, hardman Nemanja Vidic and classy Ferdinand. United's second stringers simply do not match up against the potent Milan's strike force. For O'Shea, Brown Heinze and Evra read Gilardino, Kaka, Seedorf, Pirlo. Playing a defensive, counterattacking game would be suicidal. To have any chance of getting a result against a full strength mighty Milan, going gung-ho was the order of the day.
Milan had enjoyed the better part in the early exchanges, as Kaka lived up to his pre-match billing as he proved too hot to handle for the makeshift united rearguard. With United unable to contain Milan's slick movement and passing abilities, the brilliant Brazilian exploited defensive blunders on two occasions to given Milan the lead coming into the interval, overcoming Ronaldo's early headed opener for united. He threatened to run riot, almost notching a third with a rasping drive well saved by van der Sar.
United started off the second half with an urgency to get back to level terms. Time and time again they were thwarted by the experienced Milan defense marshalled superbly by the rock solid Nesta. However, the game took a new complexion when the instrumental Milan destroyer cum midfield enforcer Gattuso limped off injured. The loss was a big blow as suddenly United began to find their rhythm, putting Milan on the back foot. The tide had turned United's way as they ran rings round Milan's players, at times seem to be toying with them. An equaliser was inevitable and it duly arrived in a moment of brilliance from Scholes' whose exquisite flick set up Rooney to slip the ball past Dida.
Rooney equalises
A galvanised United pressed on in search for the winner. Their buccaneering brand of football had Milan in disarray, Scholes and Carrick controlling the tempo as well as dictating play, Ronaldo and Giggs bamboozling both fullbacks, Rooney creating havoc upfront. A winner was on the cards and in true fairytale fashion, Rooney ran on to Giggs' slide rule pass after yet another blinding counter attack to nervelessly place the ball beyond Dida's grasp to send the home crowd into delirium, almost raising the roof in the process.
Rooney strikes the winner
What a game. An enthralling match played out by arguably 2 of the best teams in Europe at the moment. Breathtaking at large with the finest players from both teams mesmerizing on the biggest stage of club football. The big names impressed, but one individual stood out from the rest ; 
Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite aka Kaká
Perfect tonic for the grueling exam schedule. It was worth staying up for the game. In fact for any United game ;p
The author is an avid United fan, and reckons it will be Ronaldo's turn to upstage compatriot Rooney in the return leg.
#7 out.
joshua roared at