#ONTHISDAY: 2005, MANCHESTER UNITED 0-1 AC MILAN

Glorious night at Old Trafford: On 23 February 2005 at the Theatre of Dreams, the Rossoneri went to play the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against the Red Devils. Less than two years had passed since the night of 28 May 2003, in that very stadium, where AC Milan added a 6th Champions League to their trophy cabinet. Let's go back over that magical evening, step by step.

Against Ferguson's juggernaut, however, AC Milan faced a tricky task, and Carlo Ancelotti lined them up in his tried and tested 'Christmas tree' formation. Dida; Cafu, Nesta, Maldini, Kaladze; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kaká, Rui Costa; Crespo. Despite the absence of Inzaghi and Shevchenko, the Rossoneri's side was still capable of producing a special performance.

Also capable of a special performance were the fans who travelled to Manchester. Indeed, there were many Rossoneri supporters in the stands at Old Trafford, excited to witness another great night of Champions League football and to make their voices heard throughout the 90 minutes.

It was all AC Milan at the start of the match, who came closest to opening the scoring. In the 7th minute, Clarence Seedorf’s right-footed free-kick: a long run and a powerful right-footer that took curled goalwards and clipped the crossbar.

After a cagey start, the hosts managed to threaten, and at the end of the first half they created a good chance: Quentin Fortune broke through and beat Dida with a left-footed effort, which went just wide of the post. A sigh of relief for us!

And so the first half ended goalless: AC Milan were the better side, especially in the opening exchanges, able to keep the Red Devils in their own half of the pitch, conceding very few chances and absorbing the hosts' pressure in the final minutes of the first half. 

There was little between the sides as the second half started and so United's boss, Ferguson, tried to shuffle the pack: he took Ruud van Nistelrooy off the bench to replace Cristiano Ronaldo. However, the fearsome Dutchman, adored by the Old Trafford crowd, was well contained by Ancelotti's two centre-backs, Sandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini. 

And just as it seemed that the game would end 0-0, came AC Milan's winning goal. In the 78th minute, Seedorf had another effort and unleashed a well-hit shot. Roy Carroll saved but failed to hold onto the ball, leaving Hernán Crespo to swoop like a hawk and give AC Milan the lead, sending the away fans into raptures.

Kaká went close to doubling the lead shortly afterwards, and in the last ten minutes Coach Ancelotti tried to protect the lead by introducing Ambrosini, Costacurta and Serginho. The hosts' chances were limited to a header by van Nistelrooy and a few scrambles in the area in the final minutes, but the scoreline did not change.

The final whistle of the Spaniard Mejuto González ended proceedings: AC Milan beat Manchester United at Old Trafford for the first time in their history and took an important step towards qualification for the quarter-finals. The teams would meet two weeks later: on 8 March at San Siro the result would be identical, with Crespo scoring again, propelling AC Milan into another Champions League derby with Inter.

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