Champions League, Manchester United 3-2 Ac Milan

Rooney trumps Kaka to give United edge

Wayne Rooney brilliantly trumped AC Milan's Brazilian star Kaka to fire Manchester United to an exhilarating 3-2 victory in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final here on Tuesday.

The victory was all the more remarkable given the hosts were outplayed at times by a mesmeric Milan outfit, who bounced back in superb style from Ronaldo's fourth-minute opener and were never likely to be the powderpuff opposition Roma provided in the last round.

Brazilian striker Kaka looked to have put Milan firmly in the box seat as he first cancelled out Ronaldo's opener and then fired the visitors into the lead before half time. Rooney restored parity just ahead of the hour mark, before sending the majority of the 73,000 fans crammed into the stadium into raptures with a wonderful solo goal with seconds remaining. It was not quite as majestic a performance as two weeks ago, when United trounced Roma 7-1, but no less satisfying; rather than the free-scoring fluid football witnessed on that magnificent evening a fortnight ago, this victory was steeped in courage, grit and determination.

As is their want when faced with Italian opposition at Old Trafford, United took an early lead and there was little surprise as to the identity of the scorer and after much UEFA deliberation, Ronaldo was credited with the opener after just six minutes. Cristiano Ronaldo used all of his height to rise and meet Ryan Giggs' corner with a header that hit Dida's shoulder, sending the ball looping goalwards. Dida tried to get back, but only succeeded in nudging it over the line under pressure from Gabriel Heinze.

Kaka confirmed that was a one-off with the first of his two strikes on 19 minutes. It was a brilliant goal and one that embodied all that is good about the silky Brazilian - not only did he show his abundant pace and skill, but he also displayed his coolness in front of goal, bursting onto Clarence Seedorf's through ball to leave both Michael Carrick and Heinze for dead, before slotting across Edwin van der Sar.

Kaka was undoubtedly the star of the show in the opening 45 minutes, and his second gave Milan the lead going in at the break, although this time he was gifted a shooting opportunity, when Heinze and Patrice Evra collided on the edge of the box. Kaka simply strode forward and confidently slotted home. At 2-1 up, Milan threatened to swamp United as their retention of possession and passing began to highlight just why they are such a force to be reckoned with in Europe.

United never gave up hope, and Rooney's 59th minute strike against the run of play kept alive their interest in this tie. The England striker finished well, but it was all about Paul Scholes' scooped pass through, which baffled the Milan defence and played his team-mate in on goal. Dida did his best to make the save, but the ball looped over the line to set up the stage for Rooney's winner. Giggs was the provider, lacing a pass through for Rooney to run onto and take on a first time shot. The surprise and accuracy of his effort caught out Dida at his near post and gave United a slight advantage ahead of next week's trip to Italy.

Manchester United's second half performance had possibly deserved the victory, and after the equaliser, the hosts poured forward in search of a winner. Fletcher came close on 63 minutes only to see Dida pull a flying save right out of the top drawer, before Giggs flashed a free kick inches wide of the post and Ronaldo hit the side netting.

For Milan, Kaka posed a constant threat, while Alberto Gilardino toiled up front on his own to no avail. Coach Carlo Ancelotti's main striker in Europe has struggled all season and on this evidence, is some way off discovering his form. More worrying news for coach Carlo Ancelotti was that Paolo Maldini and Gennaro Gattuso had to be substituted, and both players will now face a race against time to be fit for the second leg in eight day's time.

Manchester United: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Brown, Heinze, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Scholes, Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Smith, Solskjaer, Dong, Richardson, Eagles, Lee.

Booked: Evra, Giggs.

Goals: Ronaldo 6, Rooney 59, 90.

AC Milan: Dida, Oddo, Nesta, Maldini (Bonera 46), Jankulovski, Gattuso (Brocchi 52), Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf, Kaka, Gilardino (Gourcuff 84).
Subs Not Used: Kalac, Cafu, Inzaghi, Favalli.

Booked: Kaka, Bonera.

Goals: Kaka 22, 37.

Champions League, Manchester United 3-2 AC Milan extended highlights:

Champions League, Manchester United 7-1 AS Roma (agg 8-3)

Manchester United seven wonders destroty Roma!

A scintillating display by Manchester United saw them tear Roma apart to reach the Champions League semi-finals. Manchester United obliterated Roma and all but erased the reputation of Serie A. No one believed it possible to treat an Italian club quite like this. The victors, nonetheless, will give more thought to their immediate future than to this contribution to the lore of European football!!

A goal behind from the first leg, Sir Alex Ferguson's men blew their opponents away with four first-half strikes from Michael Carrick, Alan Smith, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. Further efforts after the break from Ronaldo, Carrick and Patrice Evra completed a remarkable 8-3 aggregate success for a United team who will fear neither prospective semi-final opponent, AC Milan or FC Bayern München, after this display.

England international Michael Carrick, receiving the ball from Cristiano Ronaldo 25 yards out, curled a delightful chip over the stranded Alexander Doni in the visiting goal to send the home fans into raptures and sends their hopes soaring. Minutes later a second goal followed from Alan Smith - only in the side as a replacement for injured Louis Saha and a surprise selection ahead of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at that – and then immediately the third goal went in, first-leg hero Wayne Rooney bagging it from close range.

Ronaldo added two of his own either side of half time while another from Carrick and a seventh strike from substitute Patrice Evra completed the rout, Daniele de Rossi grabbing a stylish consolation!!!

The game began at 100 miles per hour, United with the majority of the ball as an electric Old Trafford roared them on. However the first three shots were directed at the goal of Edwin van der Sar. First David Pizarro sent one a few yards wide, which did not especially trouble the Netherlands international, before Francesco Totti unleashed a snaking grass-cutter fractionally past the post that certainly had him worried. The Red Devils' defence learnt their lesson and made sure to close down the playmaker, doubtful until just before kick off, at every opportunity.

Mirko Vucinic had a wayward attempt in the eighth minute, followed three minutes later by Carrick's sublime opener. It was the crucial goal that on many recent European nights had evaded Sir Alex Ferguson's team and sent them out of the competition; on this occasion it served as the catalyst for a phenomenal passage of play that ensured their progression.

In the 17th minute Smith was rewarded for his industry up front when a Gabriel Heinze pass towards the centre of the field was completely missed by Cristian Chivu in a moment of madness and the blonde striker finished coolly from 18 yards. It evoked memories of his winner in the Stadio Olimpico for Leeds United against Lazio back in 2001; if possibly not for ardent Red Devils fans.

Only two minutes afterwards the score was 3-0 as Smith played in Ryan Giggs, who had popped up on the right wing. Attacking the by-line, he fed the ball to the edge of the six-yard box where Rooney had made a run to meet it and hit the back of the net via the inside of the far post.

Still, at that point two goals for the second-placed Serie A side would have put them through and so it was important that the Premiership leaders, beaten by Portsmouth in the league at the weekend, balance attack with defence. They achieved that as Mancini and Totti were frustrated and Montenegro international Vucinic barely got a kick in the final third.

Emotions boiled over at one stage in the first half when Smith was booked for a late tackle on Chivu and then felt wronged when Marco Cassetti was not punished for a blatant off-the-ball kick, while Rio Ferdinand was also shown a yellow card. The fourth goal arrived two minutes before the break when Ronaldo, along with Giggs a constant threat on the counter, bore down on the penalty area and smashed a low shot inside the near post.

The Giallorossi had another nightmare start to the second period when Carrick, who worked tirelessly off the ball throughout the match, passed to the veteran Welsh wing wizard on the left. He low first-time cross was left by Smith and missed by Doni before Ronaldo stuck it away for an incredible fifth goal to pep up the atmosphere once more.

The scenes of jubilation in the stands were the main show from that moment on as Roma struggled to break down a dense United defensive unit; until Carrick took possession from Heinze around the hour mark. He opened up his body and picked out the far top corner with another goal of the very highest quality. Smith attempted an outrageous chip on the bouncing ball from the corner of the box which landed on the roof of the net before Totti crossed to De Rossi, who turned in a volley from ten yards that on another occasion would have had the Italian fans shouting the house down.

Alas for them it meant absolutely nothing in the circumstances and Evra even cancelled it out with a cracking low shot inside the near post from the right with his natural left foot as Doni anticipated a drive to the far upright!!

Totti tried his utmost to score in a match that he described beforehand as more important than last summer's World Cup final victory for Italy over France, though whether he feels the same way now it has ended in such a way is debatable.

Manchester United were deserved winners, Roma swept away by their attacking ferocity early on – perhaps something lacking in recent seasons of failure in Europe.

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Heinze, O'Shea (Evra 52), Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick (Richardson 73), Giggs (Solskjaer 61), Rooney, Smith.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Dong, Cathcart, Eagles.

Booked: Smith, Ferdinand.

Goals: Carrick 12, Smith 17, Rooney 19, Ronaldo 44, 49, Carrick 60, Evra 81.

Roma: Doni, Panucci, Mexes, Chivu, Cassetti, Wilhelmsson (Rosi 88), De Rossi (Faty 86), Vucinic, Pizarro, Mancini (Okaka Chuka 90), Totti.
Subs Not Used: Curci, Defendi, Ferrari, Taddei.

Booked: Cassetti, Mexes.

Goals: De Rossi 69.

United's seven wonders match highlights:
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Champions League, AS Roma 2-1 Manchester United

Roma beat ten-man United

Roma beat Manchester United 2-1 in their Champions League quarter final first leg after a goal from sub Mirko Vucinic. A deflected Rodrigo Taddei goal put the hosts in front before United - who played for 58 minutes with ten men after Paul Scholes was sent-off - equalised through Wayne Rooney.

The Giallorossi began at a frantic pace, forcing a corner within the first minute. Francesco Totti's delivery was only half cleared and the ensuing shot from Taddei almost fell for Christian Panucci. David Pizarro's suspension had elicited a midfield reshuffle, with Christian Wilhelmsson patrolling the right flank, Mancini the left and Taddei operating centrally behind Totti, as Simone Perrotta dropped deep.

The switch seemed to disturb United as Scholes conceded two free-kicks on the edge of the box early on. The first was curled fractionally over by Cristian Chivu, the second drilled low by Totti and pounced on by an alert Edwin van der Sar. United's new-look defence, which had Wes Brown and John O'Shea filling in for the injured Gary Neville and Nemanja Vidić, settled after a nervy start, but the Premiership leaders were far from their fluent best. Indeed, aside from a Ryan Giggs free-kick headed over his own bar by Perrotta, United barely threatened in the opening period. Their growing frustration was epitomised by Scholes, who picked up his second yellow card for a foul on Totti in the 34th minute.

Roma immediately looked to capitalise on their numerical advantage but Perrotta was cautioned for simulation on 42 minutes, ruling him out of the second leg. They finished the first half strongly, however, Van der Sar pushing Taddei's shot around the post only for Roma to score from a quickly-taken corner seconds later. Totti threaded a pass through for Mancini in the left channel and the Brazilian's cutback found Taddei whose strike deflected off Brown and past Van der Sar.

Giggs moved into central midfield after the break yet the Italian team were buoyant and nearly scored again on 48 minutes. Totti led a lightning counterattack, springing forward and feeding Perrotta on the right, whose cross reached Taddei but this time Van der Sar was equal to the Brazilian's low effort. Just when it looked like Roma would take charge, however, Cristiano Ronaldo fired a warning to the home side, breaking free before hitting a tame attempt at Doni. That salvo gave United hope and they levelled through Rooney on 60 minutes, the England striker controlling Ole Gunnar Solskjær's cross on his chest and taking his time before slotting home emphatically.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti reacted by sending Vučinić on for Wilhelmsson, and the change paid instant dividends. The Montenegrin international had already seen one effort saved when he rifled a shot past Van der Sar after the Dutchman had parried Mancini's stinging drive on 66 minutes. Roma finished on top as Perrotta volleyed wide from an acute angle and Totti narrowly missed the target moments later, but United resisted to limit the damage to a 2-1 deficit.

Roma: Doni, Panucci, Mexes, Chivu, Cassetti, Wilhelmsson (Vucinic 62), Taddei (Rosi 82), De Rossi, Perrotta, Mancini, Totti.Subs Not Used: Curci, Faty, Defendi, Ferrari, Okaka Chuka.

Booked: Perrotta.

Goals: Taddei 44, Vucinic 67.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Heinze, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Brown, Ronaldo, Giggs (Saha 77), Carrick, Scholes, Rooney, Solskjaer (Fletcher 72).Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Smith, Dong, Richardson, Eagles.

Sent Off: Scholes (34).

Booked: Scholes, Solskjaer, Heinze.

Goals: Rooney 60.

Champions league, AS Roma 2-1 Manchester united extended highlights:

Rooney spat with McClaren

England coach Steve McClaren and Wayne Rooney were reportedly involved in a dressing-room row after the goalless draw against Israel.

The forward is said to have walked out of the dressing room after being singled out for criticism by McClaren, whose team have now failed to score in four of their last five matches. Rooney has failed to score a competitive goal for England since Euro 2004 and McClaren is reported to have told the 21-year-old that he has not played well for his country for three years.

Rooney reportedly responded by throwing his boots and kit at the wall in frustration and it is reported the argument was so loud it could be heard in the Israel dressing room next door. The former Everton forward endured a frustrating evening, failing to really get into the game and being shown a yellow card after a spat with Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim.
For England 0-0 Israel full report, click here.

Premiership, Manchester Utd 4-1 Bolton

Rooney and Park on song

Manchester United signalled their intention not to let anything as trivial as a mounting injury list derail their treble drive as they smashed four past Bolton for the second time this season to triumph 4-1 at Old Trafford. Park Ji-Sung and Wayne Rooney both scored twice as Sir Alex Ferguson's men surged to a victory which leaves them requiring a maximum 18 points from their last eight games to end a four-year title drought.

After half an hour of the onslaught it would have been difficult to know who was sitting most uncomfortably, Sam Allardyce or Steve McClaren - who had taken the opportunity to survey the start of a crucial weekend for him in the Old Trafford directors' box.

The game was only 10 minutes old when the England head coach's day took a serious downturn as Neville lay on the ground in agony after his left ankle crumpled under a challenge from Gary Speed. Neville could put no weight on his leg as he was helped to the touchline and the word swiftly came out that he could not continue.

Already the chances of the United skipper being fit for international duty in Israel next Saturday appear slim to non-existent, so McClaren, who had spoken of the need for experience in Tel Aviv, may end up turning to 18-year-old rookie Micah Richards.

If there is any comfort for McClaren, it is that England are not facing Portugal next week because, with Ronaldo in this mood, they would be virtually unbeatable. Having already suffered heavily at United's hands once this season, Allardyce was keen to avoid a repeat.Yet, after Bolton had received a major let-off when Park skied over from three yards, the visitors were well and truly flattened by a big red steamroller driven mercilessly by Ronaldo.

The opener came from an innocuous beginning as Wayne Rooney won a header with Tal Ben Haim close to halfway. Ronaldo was onto the loose ball in a flash, darted not just to the by-line but down it, then picked out Park with a fine cut-back which invited the South Korean's precise finish.A capacity crowd was still catching its breath when United scored one of those breakaway goals which have been such a hallmark of their success down the years.

Breaking out of their own area as they half-cleared Ivan Campo's long throw, the Red Devils streamed forward.In the end only Ronaldo and Rooney were required to make contributions as the pair exchanged passes twice in a run which took them 80 yards downfield before Rooney beat Jaaskelainen with an impudent chip to register the 50th goal of his United career.

For a while it seemed Bolton would be humiliated in a manner seldom seen since Allardyce took charge seven years ago. It was almost as if the visitors were so fearful of Ronaldo they dare not go near him, offering the winger a suicidal amount of space to run into every time he got the ball.

Jaaskelainen was spooked enough by his presence to allow a relatively weak shot to slip from his grasp just before the half hour, the rebound rolling kindly for Park to tap home his second.From that point on it was a damage limitation exercise for Bolton, with Ferguson feeling sufficiently comfortable about his side's position to remove Giggs and - to a standing ovation - Ronaldo from the fray long before the end.

Only Jaaskelainen's save prevented Ronaldo getting his own name on the scoresheet for the 18th time this season, but the winger's exit at least allowed Alan Smith to experience Premiership combat for the first time since he suffered those horrific injuries at Liverpool in February last year.

He was soon celebrating too after setting Rooney free with a lobbed pass which allowed the United forward to outpace Ben Haim before belting an unstoppable volley past Jaaskelainen.The goal involved precisely five touches from the moment the ball left the United area to it entering the Bolton net.

It took Rooney's tally for the season to 15, five of which have come against Allardyce's team, who bagged a late consolation when Gary Speed slotted home from the spot after Nemanja Vidic had harshly been ruled to have fouled Abdoulaye Faye.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson:

"The resilience of this team is not going to be put back at all. "I'm very pleased. It is a terrific result for us against a Bolton team which is a very good team and make you work all day. "Four goals at home this time of year is great."

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce:
"I can't understand how we have conceded three goals from our dead-ball situations.

"We have to get the basics right and play the percentage game as we have not the same quality as them United.

"We have gifted Manchester United three goal. I am angry with us not doing those things right."

Man Utd: Kuszczak, Neville (Brown 11), Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Ronaldo (Smith 70), Carrick, O'Shea, Park, Rooney, Giggs (Richardson 56).
Subs Not Used: Heaton, Evra.

Booked: Richardson.

Goals: Park 14, Rooney 17, Park 25, Rooney 74.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Ben Haim, Faye, Gardner, Nolan, Campo (Thompson 78), Speed, Davies (Teymourian 52), Anelka, Pedersen (Diouf 28).
Subs Not Used: Walker, Giannakopoulos.

Booked: Campo, Gardner.

Goals: Speed 87 pen.

Premiership, Manchester Utd 4-1 Bolton highlights and goals:

FA Cup, Middlesbrough 2-2 Manchester United

Ronaldo keeps United's FA Cup treble dreams alive

Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty earned Manchester United a replay after Middlesbrough threatened a shock in the FA Cup quarter-final at the Riverside.

Wayne Rooney gave United the lead, drilling low past Mark Schwarzer. Boro equalised when Lee Cattermole fired in just before half-time. Terrible defending from United saw George Boateng head Boro in front after the break. However, a handball by the Dutchman in the penalty area led to Cristiano Ronaldo's equaliser from the spot.

Manchester United suffered a blow before the kick-off when goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar sustained a calf injury and had to be replaced by Tomasz Kuszczak.

The youngster was soon in action as he saved a Stewart Downing effort after the England winger had been put through by an intelligent pass from Julio Arca.

But Manchester United took the lead on 23 minutes when Rooney shot low past Schwarzer after collecting a pass from Ryan Giggs. It was a deserved advantage for United who had looked the more threatening. Rooney had already fired just wide after some superb build-up play involving Gabriel Heinze and Henrik Larsson, playing his last game for the club before returning to Sweden.

Ryan Giggs almost doubled the lead as he shot left-footed against the far post following a Gary Neville cross. So close for United.

Boro made it 1-1 just before the break. Kuszczak couldn’t properly clear the ball, Arca headed it back into the danger zone and Cattermole controlled and volleyed expertly into the net.

Things got worse for Sir Alex Ferguson’s team just the other side of half-time when Boateng rose completely unmarked to head Downing’s corner past Kuszczak. Dreadful defending from United who left the Dutchman all alone.

Manchester United were refused a penalty when Rooney went down under a challenge from Stuart Parnaby. Manchester United levelled on 66 minutes when the ball struck Boateng’s raised arm in the area. Ronaldo drilled the resulting penalty low past Schwarzer.

Jonathan Woodgate did well to block from Giggs at the death and the tie will now go to a replay on March 19.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor, Cattermole (Morrison 80), Boateng (Euell 89), Arca, Downing, Yakubu, Viduka (Lee 89).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Xavier.

Goals: Cattermole 45, Boateng 47.

Man Utd: Kuszczak, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Ronaldo, O'Shea, Carrick, Giggs, Rooney, Larsson.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Park, Smith, Richardson, Eagles.

Booked: Larsson.

Goals: Rooney 23, Ronaldo 68 pen.

FA Cup, Middlesbrough 2-2 Manchester United highlights & goals:

Peter Crouch & Wayne Rooney World cup plan!!!

Arsenal 2-1 Manchester united

Late goals from Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry saw Arsenal come from behind to earn a dramatic win over Premiership leaders Manchester United.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side looked to be taking full advantage of Chelsea's Saturday slip-up as Wayne Rooney diving header seemed set to separate the two sides. However, Robin van Persie came off the bench to equalise and deep into stoppage time Thierry Henry headed a winner to spark scenes of celebration.

Remember the name, WAYNE ROONEY... A real fighter!