Two Wayne Rooney headers midway through the second half gave Manchester United a slightly fortunate 3-2 win at AC Milan in their pulsating Champions League last 16 first leg Tuesday.

Seven-times champions Milan, who had never lost to United at home or over two legs, were quickly ahead when Ronaldinho’s volley deflected in off Michael Carrick following a free kick from former United midfielder David Beckham.

The hosts had a series of other chances before Paul Scholes swung at a Darren Fletcher cross with his right foot, the ball hit his left shin and then bobbled in off the post.

United then became favourites ahead of the second leg on March 10 when Rooney netted with headers after superb crosses from Antonio Valencia and Fletcher.

Substitute Clarence Seedorf pulled one back five minutes from time with a superb backheel but Milan failed to equalise after huge late pressure where United’s Carrick was dismissed for two bookings.

“We started slowly but overall I thought we were the better team, but I was frustrated in the first half because some people were not doing their jobs right,” Rooney told Sky Sports.
“At 3-1 I thought we were the only team likely to score again. But to win 3-2 at the San Siro is still a great result.”

AC Milan:
Dida, Thiaguinho, Alessandro Nesta, Luca Antonini (Favalli), Daniele Bonera, Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini, David Beckham (Seedorf), Ronaldinho , Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Inzaghi), Pato

Subs:
Giuseppe Favalli, Christian Abbiati, Ivan Gennaro Gattuso, Filippo Inzaghi, Clarence Seedorf, Ignazio Abate, Mathieu Flamini

MUFC:
Edwin van der Sar, Jonathan Evans, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra, Rafael (Brown), Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick , Paul Scholes, Ji-Sung Park, Wayne Rooney , Nani (Valencia)

Subs:
Michael Owen, Gary Neville, Wes Brown, Dimitar Berbatov, Tomasz Kuszczak, Antonio Valencia, Darron Gibson

Goals:
Ronaldinho ‘3
Paul Scholes ‘36
Wayne Rooney ‘66
Wayne Rooney ‘74
Clarence Seedorf ‘85