United Face Italian Job

By David Hobbs
February 23 2005

Another goalkeeping howler from Roy Carroll has proven costly as AC Milan take a massive advantage into the return Champions League Leg in the San Siro following their 1-0 win over Manchester United. Former Chelsea man Hernan Crespo pounced onto Carroll's blunder to poke home in the 2nd half.

United Face Italian Job

Manchester United 0

AC Milan 1
Crespo  78

Yet another goalkeeping howler from Roy Carroll has proven costly as AC Milan take a massive advantage into the return Champions League Leg in the San Siro following their 1-0 win over a half-baked Manchester United.

Former Chelsea man Hernan Crespo pounced onto Carroll's blunder from a bullet-point shot late in the second half to gift Carlo Ancelotti's side the lead and the vital win.

The Red Devils generated the best chances but failed to convert opportunities presented on a silver-platter, although the Serie A leaders enjoyed the majority of the possession.

AC Milan's players ditched a typical ultra-defensive Italian mentality of play to push men forward. United cleared most of the chances and grew frustrated as the game progressed.  

Sir Alex Ferguson stuck by his 4-5-1 formation, that has worked so well in the Premiership and FA Cup recently, despite the availability of Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Dutchman was introduced an hour into the game with Rooney leading the strike force with Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs supporting from attacking-midfield berths.

Clarence Seedorf skimmed the crossbar with a fine free-kick minutes into the game before Paul Scholes went on to scuff a chance from point-blank range.

Quinton Fortune found himself one-on-one with Milan 'keeper Dida following a teasing through-ball from midfield. The South African came millimeters from handing his side the lead as the ball trickled wide.

United introduced Ruud van Nistelrooy with half-hour to go, a move welcomed by a hyped-up Old Trafford crowd. The striker didn't look sharp following three months on the sidelines.

AC Milan took the lead due to Roy Carroll's fumbled save. A poaching Crespo was on hand to tap-home from close range.

Substitute Louis Saha could have equalised with his first touch of the game, but his header was re-directed.  United now have it all to do in Italy.

However, fans shouldn't feel all that bad as Chelsea lost 2-1 to Barcelona and Arsenal slumped to a 3-1 defeat by Bayern Munich.

Final Score: Manchester United 0 - 1 AC Milan
Att: 67,162

United: Carroll, Gary Neville (Silvestre 80), Ferdinand, Brown, Heinze, Ronaldo (van Nistelrooy 62), Scholes, Keane, Fortune (Saha 80), Giggs, Rooney. Subs Not Used: Howard, Phil Neville, Smith, O'Shea.

AC Milan: Dida, Cafu (Costacurta 86), Nesta, Maldini, Kaladze, Gattuso, Pirlo (Ambrosini 84), Seedorf, Rui Costa, Kaka (Serginho 90), Crespo. Subs Not Used: Abbiati, Tomasson, Dhorasoo. Booked: Nesta. 

Refereed By: Gonzales