Ronaldo and Kaka revel in the limelight

Cristiano Ronaldo, whose jinking brilliance confirmed that Sunday night's domestic award really is only a stepping stone to higher honours, was momentarily denied authorship of Manchester United's opening goal by UEFA pointing the finger of blame at Milan's goalkeeper.

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It was not only that judgment against Dida which was overturned. Kaka, Milan's nomination for all the glittering prizes, reversed United's lead with two priceless away goals which were the product of such genius that not even officialdom could contemplate denying him the glory.

Even Wayne Rooney staked his claim for recognition by launching the fightback with his own touch of class and then grabbed the dramatic late winner.

The only caveats resided in the defences which Ronaldo and Kaka ruptured, in the antiquity of Milan's rearguard and the makeshift structure of United's last line.

Carlo Ancelotti hung everything on waning experience. Sir Alex Ferguson was hoist on the absence of his front line firefighters.

So the doors were open for this tie to live up to its great expectations. Ronaldo or Kaka? Here was the duel dreams are made of. The Milan legacy or Manchester's future?

Even gnarled, pragmatic Sir Alex set our minds to conjuring with fantasy football.

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Old Father Time or the full flush of youth? The Great Maldini was girding himself to read the Rooney.

Scholes or Pirlo? Let the battle of the maestros begin. All this, of course, was before we started on this semi-final of the gods. When time is suspended between yesterday and tomorrow, where does the pendulum rest today?

Come the moment when the game is poised between history and destiny, do not be surprised if reality sets in.

Behind the battle cry of attack, attack, attack, after all the brandishing of forward prodigies in the face of Italy's high priests of defence, the first priority for United was to prevent Milan scoring goal.

If they could take a lead to the San Siro next week, all the better — but not, if it could be helped, a narrow one at the expense of an away goal.

No one was more acutely aware than Ferguson that the most grievous danger lurked deep in the shadows of his own fortress.

Milan came to Manchester via Munich, where they impaled Bayern on two goals while the Germans were still congratulating themselves on a 2-2 draw in the first leg of that quarter-final.

It is away from home, against rivals who feel a compelling urge to go on the offensive, that the classic Italian counterattack is at its most deadly.

Add to that the certain knowledge that Milan would gladly take a score draw here if it came to be offered and Ferguson could not gamble outright by playing entirely to the forward strength which has largely survived the ravages of his recent wars on three fronts.

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Rather, he needed to provide at least a modicum of protection for a reserve rearguard if they were not to be picked off by Milan's snipers.

The Maldini Line may be the oldest defence in the Champions League but it is as deep in experience as Fergie's back four is heavy on injuries.

Hence Fletcher was added to Carrick in the starting midfield at the expense of Smith or Solskjaer supporting Rooney up front.

That left it up to Ronaldo and Giggs to work out the balance between rampaging onslaught and supplementary cover for the men behind them.

No one was betting on lightning striking seven more times, the way it did that recent night when United destroyed Roma.

Milan, like United, would love to weave another European glory into their tapestry of rarefied achievement.

That ambition survived the shock of Dida's Daffy Duck impersonation when Ronaldo rose to meet a Giggs corner with a muscular header. Head, shoulder, hands and oops-a-daisy.

Kaka sniffed away blood in the quaking heart of United's back four and went for the kill. Twice, quite brilliantly, he manoeuvred himself through those faltering ranks. Twice he was too lethal when mano-a-mano against Van Der Sar.

Not one away goal, but two to overcome. Cue Rooney. Sound the call to arms.