Manchester United win thriller in Italy beating AC Milan 3-2

AC Milan looked focused and ready for the challenge Manchester United presented in their quarterfinal Champions League matchup and they came out flying.  It only took 3 minutes for the home crowd to celebrate as AC Milan jumped into the lead.  Ironically enough it was to be a David Beckham freekick that would lead to the opener.  Beckham floated in a freekick that was deflected away from goal.  Luckily though it fell right to Ronaldinho who hit a first time volley that took a slight deflection and zipped right past Edwin van der Sar and into the United net.

AC Milan was clearly energized and should have extended their lead on a couple of occasions as the half progressed.  Both Ambrosini and Huntelaar both narrowly missed scoring and putting Manchester United in a terrible spot.  Instead it was United that shocked the Italian crowd. 

A rare Manchester attack got down the right side and a Darren Fletcher cross found Paul Scholes in front of goal.  Scholes swung for goal but the ball instead struck his plant leg and dribbled into the corner of the AC Milan net tying the game.  The goal came completely against the run of play and was definitely a bit lucky, but nobody from Man U looked too concerned about how the goal came about. 

The wind came out of Milan's sails at that point and the game drifted to halftime 1-1.  The second half opened with another wasted Milan chance.  Pato had a header to put AC Milan back in front right off the bat, but was unable to finish the good opportunity.  Minutes later Pirlo rifled a long range freekick on goal that forced Edwin van der Sar into a nice save.

The hour mark saw van der Sar forced into another quality save as Ronaldinho curled one to the back post only to see it turned aside for a corner kick.  AC Milan was clearly pushing for the winning goal, but once again it was Manchester United that stole the goal against the run of play.

Once again it was a cross from the right side.  This time Valencia supplied the service and Wayne Rooney rose on the back post to head it home.  Manchester United was in front and the Italians were stunned into silence.  Rooney piled on the hurt with 15 minutes to play as Fletcher floated in a wonderful ball behind the Milan defense.  Wayne Rooney drifted in and pushed the header home for the 3-1 lead. 

Credit to AC Milan though as they would not give up.  With just 5 minutes to play the home side had life again as a Ronaldinho pass was deftly flicked home by substitute Clarence Seedorf.   AC Milan swarmed forward in search of the tying goal and almost had it through Ambrosini who narrowly missed.  In the end Man U would hang on and now head home to Old Trafford with a 3-2 advantage for the second leg.