Rooney rises to the occasion

AC Milan 2 Man Utd 3

The Red Devils may yet have to negotiate a second leg at Old Trafford on March 10 but two second-half goals from Rooney means last season’s beaten finalists are firm favourites to book a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Not even the concession of a third-minute opener for AC Milan, created by Beckham for Ronaldinho, could derail Alex Ferguson’s troops, although they were forced to endure some nervy moments at the end after Clarence Seedorf hauled Milan back into the tie five minutes from time.