Man Utd 4 - 0 AC Milan: Red-hot Rooney leaves Beckham in shade

Published on Wednesday 10 March 2010 22:23

DAVID Beckham described Wayne Rooney as among the world's best as Manchester United put his AC Milan side out of the Champions League.

• Wayne Rooney scores at Old Trafford last night. Picture: Getty

Rooney scored twice as United romped to a 4-0 last-16 second- leg win last night to secure a 7-2 aggregate victory and a place in the quarter-finals as Beckham's return to Old Trafford ended in defeat. "He's such an exceptional talent," said Beckham of Rooney. "I think without a doubt he's one of the best, if not the best, player at the moment along with (Cristiano) Ronaldo and (Lionel) Messi."

Beckham entered the fray midway through the second-half, coming off the substitutes' bench to a standing ovation. But by then the contest was already over.

"It was a disappointing night because we lost the game but returning here is always special," added the former England captain. "It was unbelievable. I have to say thank you. It was really incredible. It was nice to be back, a disappointing night but nice to be back."

Rooney's two goals in the San Siro three weeks ago turned a tie on its head that appeared to be floating out of United's reach. His latest effort merely rammed another nail in Milan's coffin.

Gary Neville was the provider for the first, curling over a right-wing cross his old friend Beckham would have been proud of. Rooney soared between defenders and neatly glided the ball into the far corner. It was his seventh header on the trot in a growing tally of goals that threatens the 42 which helped get Cristiano Ronaldo crowned as the world's best player two years ago.

The same accolades could easily be being bestowed on Rooney next winter. Much will depend on the respective success enjoyed by United and England of course. The United talisman could not be doing any more and his second arrived 54 seconds after the restart.

An outstanding pass, delivered from the left-wing with the outside of his right-foot by Nani, provided the opportunity. Christian Abbiati gave the game away by dashing out. Rooney merely prodded it past him.

Having already become only the second player – after Walter Pandiani – to score home and away against Milan in a European tie, Rooney was presumably creating some kind of history by doing it twice. It was the end of Rooney's contribution, although not United's scoring. After hinting at retirement a few weeks ago, Paul Scholes appears to be enjoying something of a renaissance and it was his brilliantly disguised pass that was clinically finished by Park Ji-Sung as the gap between these two European heavyweights widened to a gulf.

As there was little else to do, Leonardo introduced Beckham.

His arrival for Ignazio Abate triggered a standing ovation. Had the midfielder's volley flashed past Edwin van der Sar instead of being beaten away by the veteran Dutchman, it would probably have brought the biggest cheer of the night. For all the adulation though, Beckham represents Manchester United's past.

Rooney is the future, which on the pitch – where Scotland captain Darren Fletcher nodded home a fourth near the end – looks rosy, despite the continued vocal and visual protests against the Glazer family, whose willingness to plunge United into such massive debt has vexed so many.

With Beckham opting to put a green and gold scarf round his neck as he made his way down the tunnel, the abuse is not going to be silenced any time soon.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville (Rafael Da Silva 66), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Scholes (Gibson 73), Park, Valencia, Nani, Rooney (Berbatov 66). Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Jonathan Evans, Obertan, Diouf.

AC Milan: Abbiati, Abate (Beckham 64), Bonera (Seedorf 46), Thiago Silva, Jankulovski, Flamini, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Huntelaar, Borriello (Inzaghi 68), Ronaldinho. Subs Not Used: Dida, Gattuso, Zambrotta, Favalli.