#2 Manchester United vs. AC Milan, 2007
When Manchester United drew AC Milan in the semi-finals of 2007, AC Milan were a world-class team who were looking to avenge the 2005 final loss to Liverpool in the greatest Champions League final of all time. On the other hand, for United, this was the beginning of consistency in the Champions League.
First Leg – Manchester United 3-2 AC Milan
(Video Courtesy – GugaTV YouTube Channel)
Manchester United made a brisk start with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring in the 5th minute from a Ryan Giggs cross and was the livelier side in the opening exchanges. However, Milan had Kaka in the form of his life as he was a thorn in Sir Alex Ferguson’s side which was missing three of its first-team defence in Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
The Brazilian equalised in the 22nd minute as beat Edwin van der Sar after Clarence Seedorf set him up. Kaka then put Milan ahead before half-time as he made the most of a defensive mess to score.
United were not done however and kept pressing on with Kaka missing an opportunity to complete his hat-trick. At the other end, Rooney did not miss as he completed a superb move to bring the Red Devils back into the game in the 59th minute.
The goal lifted the home side and they pushed on for a third but were thwarted by Dida until the dying minutes when Wayne Rooney scored one of his best ever goals with a terrific finish from the edge of the box to beat Dida at the near post and send the crowd into raptures.
Second Leg – Milan 3-0 Manchester United
(Video Courtesy – GugaTV YouTube Channel)
Unlike the first leg, Carlo Ancelotti’s Milan were at it from the start and accompanied by rain, they left their visitors awestruck. It was once again Kaka who scored early to reach double digit figures in the competition for the season.
Later, a catastrophic back-pass from Gabriel Heinze to Vidic led to Andrea Pirlo winning the ball and it eventually led to Seedorf scoring a wonderful goal to put the Italian side two goals in front. If United were hoping for a repeat of the 1999 semi-final against Juventus, it was not meant to be.
Manchester United barely tested Milan for the entire game as Ronaldo, Giggs and Rooney failed to get into the game and their midfield was outclassed by Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso, who celebrated a crunching tackle on Ronaldo with a fist pump in the second-half showing his side’s control and domination.
The tie was finished once Alberto Gilardino raced away from Massimo Ambrosini’s pass to score the third and secure their passage to a repeat of the 2005 final against Liverpool. Milan won the final and Kaka, who was outstanding in the semi-final as well as in the entire year won the Ballon d’Or for his performances and is the last player to win the coveted award before the Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi domination began.
