Times
'As the fourth official held up his board to signify that there would be just two minutes of stoppage time, Old Trafford let out a collective groan. For the first time all evening, both teams appeared to settle for a draw, but then Wayne Rooney strode forward and unleashed a fierce shot to score his second goal of an unforgettable night, prompting the lustiest roar this stadium has heard in years.
'Rooney disappeared under a heap of delirious team-mates, just as he had on the day he exploded on to the Premiership scene as a 16-year-old playing for Everton against Arsenal 4½ years ago. Here, a few months past his 21st birthday, he came of age, but so did a Manchester United team who fought their way back from the brink and will now go into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final at the San Siro stadium next Wednesday with confidence rather than the trepidation that briefly consumed them as Kaká overturned their early lead to put AC Milan 2-1 up.
'It will not be easy, not with most of their defence still missing, but then it seldom is with United. In two decades in charge, Sir Alex Ferguson has often chuckled at his teams' insistence on doing things the hard way, even flirting with disaster while chasing success on three fronts during the past few weeks. They did so again last night, their patched-up defence conceding two away goals that Ferguson described as "terrible", but, as the dust settled on a pulsating evening, despite those two goals, their dream of emulating their phenomenal success of eight years ago had moved closer.
'The parallels with 1999 are almost eerie. Now, as then, they must travel to Italy for a second leg that hangs in the balance. The Milan coach is Carlo Ancelotti, who was in charge of the Juventus team that led at Old Trafford for much of the first leg but was ultimately overwhelmed by United's sheer will in the second. And, as in 1999, United will need to be selfless, even if in the case of Gabriel Heinze, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, it means picking up a yellow card that would rule them out of the final, as Roy Keane and Scholes did in 1999.
'Such concerns, though, are for another day. United had to show great character to remain in the tie, never mind in the ascendancy, having been stretched almost to breaking point by this vastly experienced Milan team during the middle chunk of the game.'
Guardian:
'Manchester United guaranteed an exalted occasion at San Siro during which their players should still tingle with the memory of this wonderful win. The last image will be the one that resonates when the return leg of the semi-final kicks off next Wednesday. The Premiership side had been 2-1 down and in a state of dismay before a comeback completed 15 seconds into stoppage time.
'Wayne Rooney plucked his second goal of the match by lashing home a first-time drive at the near post. He had an opportunity to exploit not only because of Ryan Giggs's through ball but also because the winger had won a tackle to start the attack. Milan dwindled as the evening went on and the goalkeeper Dida will rightly be blamed for conceding the winner.
'He had also presented United with a 1-0 lead by recording what some would regard as an own goal, and Milan will rue their judgment that the Brazilian was fully fit following a shoulder problem. Carlo Ancelotti can curse the ill-luck that saw Gennaro Gattuso depart with a foot injury after 53 minutes because he is Milan's power supply and the team dimmed without him.
'Ancelotti may calculate that his side will prevail in the end, but he would be wise to factor in a goal for the visitors.'
Independent:
'For an hour it was shaping up to be Cristiano Ronaldo against Kaka for a place in the Champions League final - one straight duel between the Portuguese dribble king and the brilliant Brazilian playmaker. But that was before one rampaging Englishman scored the winning goal, turned this tie on its head and reminded the football world that Wayne Rooney will not languish in the shadows for long.
'What a way to steal the show. There were two Rooney goals in the second half - including an injury-time winner - as the lead changed hands as often as a new hero emerged. From Ronaldo's explosive start to Kaka's two sumptuous goals and then finally on to Rooney, this was a tie that was illuminated by individual talents. A tie which could yet go either way in the San Siro next Wednesday. United's slender lead is perilous, the form of Rooney invaluable.
'From triumph to despair and back again, this was a match that takes its place among the canon of Old Trafford European classics. From 2-1 down to 3-2 winners at the death, United might have been naive in defence but they were unrelenting in attack. And short of prising Ronaldo's fingers one-by-one from his two PFA player of the year trophies, Rooney could not have done a better job at ambushing his team-mate in the limelight.
'This was Rooney at his very best, marauding through the Milan defence and scoring goals when it mattered most on a night when he could so easily have slipped into anonymity. Ronaldo dazzled but for all those whose football world does not extend much beyond the Premiership there was a reminder of the astonishing talent of Kaka - a player who seems to have as much claim on that nebulous title of the very best in the world as the United winger.
'As for Rooney, he left it late to make his case. He was consigned to be the lone striker for long periods of this match, a role that does not seem to suit his game or his temperament, as England discovered at the World Cup. And just as he seemed destined to be a footnote to this extraordinary night he emerged as the decisive factor. The lead he gives United will be fragile in the San Siro, but Sir Alex Ferguson says that he now feels that his side have the edge over Milan.'
Telegraph:
'Manchester United just never give up. Just when AC Milan were beginning to savour Kaka's brace of away goals, letting their minds drift to a straightforward-looking return at San Siro next week and perhaps even the final in Athens itself, Wayne Rooney wiped the smiles off their famous faces.
'One would have thought the Italians would know a little bit about English resilience by now. Just as Liverpool's refusal to surrender stunned Kaka and company in Istanbul two years ago, so a forward raised on the streets of Croxteth embarrassed the lords of Lombardy here.
'Thirty seconds into stoppage time, with Milan hugely satisfied with their night's work, Rooney ripped up the script. Just when United did not have a second leg to stand on properly, Rooney gave them balance and hope. It is these moments that make Rooney so special, so popular with team-mates, with fans and all others who admire those maestros prepared to sweat ceaselessly for the cause. With the tie tipped in Milan's favour, Rooney kept running, kept gambling that the right ball would come.
'Milan paid for listening for the referee's final whistle, not the on-rushing foot-steps of Rooney. What a difference one second makes. Just one touch. Just one moment of magic from the England striker as he raced on to Ryan Giggs' clever pass. Alessandro Nesta threw himself across, the centre-half belatedly realising Rooney's murderous intent. Too late. The connection was made. Struck hard and fast first time, Rooney's shot sped past Dida at the near post.
'The second half of a mesmerising game belonged to United and particularly Rooney. The last time Rooney and United encountered Milan, they had bowed out of the European Cup meekly in 2005, with the rancorous cries of Roy Keane stinging their ears. United's then captain delivered such a caustic critique on MUTV of the hunger levels of some of his team-mates that the programme was pulled. United's desire could not be questioned last night. Even when Kaka was ripping them apart, even when the Italians were giving them a lesson in the art of possession, United kept the faith. Leading by example, Giggs was terrific, constantly driving his team forward, and going close with a couple of swerving free kicks.
'As Old Trafford screamed itself hoarse, United poured forward again, marching to fans' incessant command of "attack, attack, attack''. Rooney, sensationally, took them at their word. San Siro on May 2 should be some night.'