THE past met the present last night as David Beckham's Champions League future was left looking like history. Wayne Rooney swaggered around the San Siro before delivering a second-half two-goal show that sent Manchester United to the brink of the last eight. Milan will feel they can stun Sir Alex Ferguson's side on their own patch in three weeks' time. Of course they will.
But not even Clarence Seedorf's exquisite flick five minutes from time will have dented Fergie's belief. Not after Rooney had flattened the Italian giants to ground Siro. Fergie's pride was taken to a new level and the United boss said: "Wayne is in absolutely devastating form.
"They could not handle him. They just could not handle him in the second half. I thought he was marvellous. I always said all he has to do is improve his goal scoring. That is what he is doing now." In the build-up Beckham was the name on everyone's lips. Everyone, that is, apart from Fergie. The Scot was too busy talking up Rooney. As if he had to.
And while Becks' weary legs were starting to stiffen as quickly as Cheryl Cole at the sound of a text message from Ashley's mobile, Rooney was just coming alive. He sent United - who had been trailing to Ronaldinho's third-minute opener before they levelled through Paul Scholes' jammy sclaff -into the lead in the 66th minute before heading home again eight minutes later.
Beckham had been hooked by then. England's footballing god had already been reduced to a mere mortal. Again. On the right side of midfield he had been up against the hyperactiveDarrenFletcher,who musthave made him feel every one of his 34 years. Epicentre But Beckham's night wasn't a complete write-o as he created Milan's opener and neither, he claims, is the tie.
The mid elder said: "Our second goal has made it possible. We have made it a bit better for ourselves. United are a very good team, though, and Rooney is a very good player." Just three minutes in Beckham was at the epicentre of an eruption.
When Patrice Evra took down Pato, it was Beckham who curled the free-kick into the United box. Evra's acrobatic attempt to clear only resulted in him teeing up Ronaldinho, who let fly with a shot Edwin van der Sar looked to have covered before it flicked o Michael Carrick and flew into the far corner. And it so nearly got a whole lot worse for the visitors. Klaas Jan Huntelaar, a player Ferguson is said to be interested in signing, saw his volley fly wide off Evra.
Then, after Massimo Ambrosini had split United's defence, the Dutchman was only just o target with a first-time effort that had van der Sar in trouble. It took an amazing piece of luck to bring United level, although the passing that led to Fletcher's cross was pretty impressive.
Once Park Ji-sung invited the Scot to pull a ball back from the bye-line, Scholes charged towardsgoal.Hehadreachedthesix-yardbox when he took aim, missing the ball with his right foot, only for it to hit his standing left and y in o a post. Rooneywasbookedfordissent shortlybeforethebreakalthoughhis frustration was soon forgotten. In 66 minutes he broke his Euro duck for the season when he steered a header over Dida from Antonio Valencia's cross.
Now all that age difference between the sides began to tell. Father Time was clearing his throat. And Milan didn't like what he had to say. Static Fletcher had chipped the ball to Rooney. Striding between static defenders, he rose again, and found the net once more.
In 85 minutes, though, Seedorf brought the hosts back into the contest when he cleverly flicked home from close range. There was still time for Carrick to get himself sent o for a second yellow card. But Fergie won'tbetoobothered.Afterall,he'djustshown Beckham who's boss again.
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