MILAN DESTROYED

 

Well we'd already seen off AC Milan 3-2 at the San Siro in the 1st leg. Still, though that in theory wrapped up the tie, there was still a second game to be played and it wasn't completely implausible that the Serie A side could turn it round. So this Champions League 1st round 2nd leg match at Old Trafford did have some interest riding on it and not just because it was Becks' return to his old stomping ground. The United XI facing his current team included Neville as right back and captain, Scholesy Fletcher and Park in midfield with Nani, Rooney and Valencia up front. The hyped United legend recieved a heroes welcome but only started on the bench.

United however were in no mood to hang around. They started aggressively in the 13th minute Neville fired over a cross that found the head of Rooney and the assasin was never going to miss from point blank range. At which point the game settled into a cruise mode with United having seemingly secured the tie and AC presumably having given up. The night was eventually given to the green-and-gold brigade and a weak Ronaldinho free kick summed up the Serie A giant's efforts. For United, this was surely job done. Maybe the big names on AC bench could have got them out of trouble but they really would have needed a full 45 minutes to do so.

Well, half time came and no Milan subs. Fine by Wayne who collected a Nani pass in the 46th minute to smoothly slot in his second goal. Fine also by Park who was set up by Scholsey in the 59th minute to grab United's third of the night. And then on comes the former United legend - I don't think that even Leonardo was expecting him to do much more than put on a show. It was enough of a show to prove once again that he still hass his uses but the night belonged to the current MUFC side who finished it off when sub Rafael crossed to Fletcher in the 88th minute. United anhiliated AC Milan. There's only one word to describe that event. Wow.

Elsewhere, Arsenal faced Porto at the Emirates Stadium. Niklas Bendtner opened the scoring early on for the Gunners and made it two before half time in what looked to be a great display from the Premiership side. Samir Nasri then made it three after half time and Emmanual Eboue made it four to kill off both the game and the tie. The Gunners then went into cruise mode late on and it appeared to be a case of "nothing else to see" but then Bendtner completed his hat-trick with a penalty. Awesome work from Arsene Wenger's crew and it means that there are two Premiership sides with secured spots in the quarter finals. Even though overshadowed by United's display, the Gunner's result would have a raised a few eyebrows in it's own right.

Going down a level, the Europa League 2nd knockout round 2nd leg matches were taking place. Liverpool were beaten 1-0 by Lille at the Lille Metropole with the Scousers looking to have gotten away reasonably clean from a tough examination before the Ligue 1 side hit a late winner. Not ideal for Pool but not a complete writeoff either. Then Fulham were beaten 3-1 by Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico d'Torino with the Serie A side pretty much securing the tie there and then. That certainly wasn't a good night for Premiership sides but it's not impossible that there could at least be some Premiership presence in the quarter finals of this competition.

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