Average Performance Gets Win Against Average Team

So United finally did it. They finally beat AC Milan at the San Siro, scoring their first goals against Milan in Italy in the process. It was a great result, tempered somewhat by the concession of the second Milan goal so late in the game, but to go away from home in Europe especially against an opponent of this stature and to come away with three goals is an achievement.

However, it has to be remembered that it's not the achievement it would have been some years ago. United were handed a lesson in this very stadium in the three nil reverse recently - beating Milan then would have been a real statement. And even at that stage they were an aging side, not the force they had been in years past. One thing they did have of course was Kaka in his pomp - form that he is struggling to recapture since his multi million Euro move to Madrid.

In fairness, United could only beat the team they were faced with on the night. And while the the remaining players in this Milan team are now older, and of course they are without Kaka, two other Brazilians have stepped up in the hope of emulating him - a somewhat rejuvenated Ronaldinho and Pato.

It was predicted far and wide that Milan would attempt to come out and blow United away early in the match, before tiring and aging limbs caught up with them. This is exactly what happened and United were fortunate to only be a goal down in the first thirty minutes - they gave away so many chances that they were lucky to still be in the tie, let alone the match. Ronaldinho was orchestrating play and it was deja vu all over again as United struggled to cope with Milan's early pressure.

Scholes' moment of fortune changed the game and the second half was a different story with United dominating the play. The energy of the United midfield simply overwhelmed Milan's and once Rooney got his double, it looked as if United could get a fourth and put the tie out of Milan's reach. Not to be, as a wonderful finish from Seedorf breathed fresh life into the tie. Carrick's relatively soft sending off was surprising given the manner in which the game was played in, but also entirely in keeping with the ebb and flow of the match.

Make no mistake, this was a big win for United. It laid to rest the ghosts of previous visits, gave Rooney his first European goals this season and proved he could do it away from home against one of Europe's biggest names. But that's all Milan are. A name. They are no longer the formidable force they once were. Sterner tests await United if they get through - though if they play like they did in the first thirty minutes here and give away a goal or two then it will be a toss up to see who progresses.

A quick note on Beckham - there has been a great divide in opinion as to how he performed in the match. Some say his display showed he can still compete at the highest level, while others are using it as evidence to suggest that he should not make the journey to South Africa. I respect Beckham for what he did at United but personally I think he contributed very little of note in open play and maybe it proved that Capello is right to view him as a cameo man at best.

Finally - I find it odd that a player like Flamini, who Arsenal fans were praying would remain at their club not so long ago, cannot get into this team on a consistent basis. How can it be that a player who seems to possess the energy Milan so desperately need in their midfield doesn't get selected? Or used off the bench even in this match when it was glaringly obvious that they were being overrun in the second period? It certainly seems strange.