By Jon Osterland

A Wayne Rooney double saw Manchester United secure their first ever win at the San Siro, however saw Michael Carrick dismissed late on for dissent.

Despite going behind to a Ronaldinho goal, United responded in the face of Milan dominance with a fortunate Paul Scholes equaliser before Rooney stole the show with his 24th and 25th goals of the season.

The game started at frantic pace with David Beckham wasting no time in proving a point to old boss Sir Alex Ferguson, delivering a trademark pass into the box which found its way to the Brazilian Ronaldinho after a hashed clearance by Evra, the striker wasting little time in dispatching past Van Der Sar via a Carrick deflection.

United were finding it hard to get anywhere as Milan were offered too much time and space to dictate proceedings, before just after the half-hour mark United found a fortunate lifeline. Several Milan chances had gone begging as the hosts failed to make sloppy United play pay when Darren Fletcher crossed for Scholes who’s missed kick went in off his standing leg into the far corner.

The second half began in much the same vein with Milan failing to make their chances count, when Rooney’s unsettling presence finally paid dividends just after the hour to see United take the lead, heading home an Antonio Valencia cross. And not ten minutes later he had extended the Reds’ advantage when he nodded home a Darren Fletcher cross when he found himself unmarked yards out.

Beckham was substituted after an indifferent performance and Milan looked dead and buried having exerted themselves too much previously for no gain, however Clarence Seedorf gave them hope when he deftly finished a Ronaldinho cross to set up a nervy ending, and Fillipo Inzaghi might have stolen a deserved equaliser for the Rossoneri, however United held on despite late chances and the sending off of Carrick to take pole position in the tie ahead of the return leg at Old Trafford in three weeks’ time.

AC Milan: Dida, Nesta, Bonera, Thiago Silva, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Beckham (Seedorf 72), Antonini (Favalli 38), Ronaldinho, Pato, Huntelaar (Inzaghi 77)
Man Utd: Van Der Sar, Evra, Ferdinand, Rafael (Brown 90+2), Evans, Park, Carrick, Nani (Valencia 64), Scholes, Fletcher, Rooney

Attendance: 80,000
Referee: Benquerenca