Ronaldo's goal put Manchester United back in the lead.
Rooney and Ronaldo, as United's sharpest attacking forces, directly influenced the team's performance.
In this match, both played brilliantly and each scored a goal.
"Rooney and little Ronaldo both maintain a hot streak in the league. Even against Italy's chain defense style, their performances are outstanding,"
the British commentator said excitedly.
"But what surprises us most is the midfield orchestration. The young Modrić held his own well against Pirlo, playing steadily and excellently overall."
From the start, Manchester United launched wave after wave of attacks, dazzling to watch.
Rooney's solo runs!
Ronaldo's free kick goal!
Both executed their tasks perfectly.
At this moment, Ronaldo's face was full of excitement.
Not just because they were ahead, but because his goal helped secure that lead.
On the other side, AC Milan was slightly pressed.
"Tough to deal with!"
Suker held the ball, walking toward the center circle.
Kaká was beside him.
"We knew it would be tough before the match," Kaká paused, "But compared to the worst case, we're doing okay."
"Behind, huh!" Suker complained, turning to Kaká.
Kaká smiled, "I feel like scoring."
Suker looked at Kaká, speechless.
"So sure?"
Kaká rarely said such things, meaning he was very confident.
He nodded.
"They haven't put much pressure on me, and after you scored, Manchester United's defense started leaning toward you," Kaká said, looking at Suker.
"Help me attract attention, then pass me the ball!"
"Leave it to me!"
Suker lightly tapped Kaká's chest to encourage him.
Back near the center circle, Manchester United players finished their celebration.
They surrounded Ronaldo, escorting him toward their side.
As Ronaldo passed the center, he lifted his chin slightly, showing a trace of pride.
Suker immediately turned to Kaká, "That guy's provoking you!"
Kaká was speechless.
Ronaldo's eyes were obviously on you, so how is it provoking me?
Anyway, it was clearly a provocation to Milan, which unsettled Kaká inside.
"Manchester United scored again with a spectacular direct free kick!"
The Italian commentator Aldo Cerella said seriously,
"We cannot give Manchester United such chances. We must reduce their attacking opportunities, even reduce their shots!"
At that moment, play resumed.
Milan immediately took control of midfield.
Suker was up front.
United's defenders and defensive midfielders stood close, squeezing Suker's space to limit his influence.
Even if Suker dropped back, Carrick would immediately follow to restrict him.
But Suker is not so easy to contain.
He kept moving back and forth, left and right.
Though reducing ball time, he always tested the defense with one-touch plays.
Every time Suker got the ball, Manchester United's backline was on high alert.
Previously, Suker and Seedorf's combination had pierced United's defense.
This time, they wouldn't be careless.
Suker attracted most of the defensive attention.
Kaká positioned himself slightly deeper to better observe and react.
Every time Suker dropped back, Vidić followed him.
Vidić dared not leave Suker alone, but following him left space behind.
For Kaká, he needed to find the right moment to make a diagonal run behind Vidić.
Regarding passing:
Suker, Pirlo, Seedorf—so many options, all good.
Kaká watched Suker's movements closely, while observing how United's defense shifted.
Suddenly, Suker dropped back and received a pass from Pirlo, then flicked it sideways.
The ball rolled toward Kaká.
"Spin one!"
Suker shouted.
Others didn't understand, but Kaká did.
Moreover, Suker's pass suited this dribbling move perfectly.
Kaká took a sideways stance.
As he was about to receive, Ferdinand and O'Shea closed in from both sides.
Kaká pulled the ball back with his left foot, spun around, then pulled sideways again with his right.
A Marseille spin closely brushed past Ferdinand.
"Kaká! Marseille spin!"
Aldo Cerella's eyes lit up.
After passing Ferdinand, O'Shea immediately followed.
Kaká stayed alert, flicking and pushing with his feet.
After the Marseille spin, he added a quick cut, again dribbling past O'Shea, and sprinted down the wing toward the byline.
Seeing Kaká break the defense, Suker immediately turned and sprinted.
At the last moment, Kaká chose a cross.
But the cross didn't penetrate; Ferdinand slid in to intercept and clear it out.
"Ferdinand! Key defense!"
"Behind Ferdinand is Suker—if this ball got through, United's goal would be in danger!"
Ferdinand got up, still shaken.
Suker alone attracted too much attention, and now Kaká was ramping up the pressure.
Both flanks were under heavy pressure.
"Good! Keep it coming!"
Suker shouted, then quietly pointed behind himself.
Kaká raised his eyebrows.
Suker was signaling Kaká to make a diagonal run behind him.
So far in the match, Suker and Kaká had not done any overlapping runs.
This might be a chance.
Manchester United had possession again, a tough moment for AC Milan.
But toward the end of the first half, Milan played more actively, pressing aggressively.
In this pressing, Suker stopped caring about "brotherhood" and fouled Modrić several times in a row.
"You're trying to kill me?"
Modrić lay on the ground, cursing at Suker.
Suker turned, "I'll give you three assists back!"
"Get lost!"
Modrić complained.
"My assists are your goals anyway!"
"The game has become intense.
Even though they're both Croatian internationals, Suker and Modrić have had several confrontations."
Modrić rubbed his butt and grinned bitterly.
He felt frustrated.
Years ago, he would have easily beaten Suker in such battles.
Back then, the little guy wasn't even 160 cm tall; now the damn guy was over 180 cm, while he seemed to have stopped growing.
Where could he argue?
Modrić was truly annoyed.
After United's set-piece restart, Scholes passed, but the ball was intercepted by the actively running Gattuso.
Gattuso immediately passed to Pirlo.
Pirlo looked up.
Suker decisively dropped back.
His dropping back forced Vidić to step forward a few paces.
Just these few steps broke the defensive chain behind Vidić.
"Now!"
Kaká started a diagonal sprint behind Vidić's space.
Meanwhile, Pirlo bent his bow and shot, lofting the ball over the retreating Suker into the backfield.
"Kaká is making a run!"
The sudden change in rhythm caught Manchester United off guard.
Kaká caught up with the ball and entered the penalty area.
Ferdinand tightly marked shooting angles; O'Shea immediately closed in.
Suddenly, Kaká dropped his shoulder to dribble.
Ferdinand didn't dare slack, closely following.
But in just one step, he collided with O'Shea who was running laterally.
Both fell to the ground.
"Oh~~~ Ferdinand knocked down O'Shea, Kaká broke through!"
Aldo Cerella exclaimed.
Kaká broke free of both, facing Van der Sar's charge.
He flicked the ball sideways to create distance.
Van der Sar dived but couldn't reach.
He scrambled to chase, but Kaká was already shooting at an empty net.
Swish!
The ball hit the net.
Suker had inspected United's defense.
Now it was Kaká's turn.
Two players, two goals, two different styles.
At the last moment of the first half, Manchester United 2 : 2 AC Milan.