Becks Makes No Impact As United Hammer Milan 4-0 At Theatre Of Dreams

Manchester United  4 – 0  AC Milan

• Rooney(13,46),
• Ji-Sung Park (59)
• Fletcher (87)

Wayne Rooney reached 30 for the season as Manchester United booked their place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a thumping 4-0 victory over AC Milan. Before the game David Beckham who was returning to Old Trafford for the first time since leaving the red devils in 2003 for Real Madrid, received a hero’s welcome when his name was called out over the PA system, and also when he came on late in the second half.

Rooney headed home Gary Neville’s excellent cross from the right in the 13th minute to hand his side an early advantage and left Milan needing to score three times. Milan had missed two good chances in the opening 10 minutes with Ronaldinho flashing a header narrowly wide before Klaas Jan Huntelaar failed to control Thiago Silva’s great ball over the defence.

Red-hot Roo put the result beyond doubt in the very first minute of the second half, applying a deft finish to Nani’s superb pass from the left after Milan had gifted the ball to the flying winger. Park Ji-Sung added a third in the 59th minute from Paul Scholes’ deft ball, firing across Christian Abbiati, with Darren Fletcher’s late header from Rafael’s cross completing a resounding 7-2 aggregate success. David Beckham’s much-vaunted return to Old Trafford was rendered little more than a sideshow as he remained on the bench until the 64th minute, although one blistering volley from outside the area stung Edwin van der Sar’s palms.

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.