Champions League Round-Up:Substitute Mirko Vucinic scored a 66th-minute winner to give AS Roma a 2-1 home win over 10-man Manchester United in their Champions League quarter-final first leg tonight.
Striker Rodrigo Taddei gave Roma a 44th-minute lead and Wayne
Rooney netted a fine equaliser on the hour. Vucinic scored the
winner four minutes after coming on.
United, playing with 10 men from the 34th minute when Paul
Scholes was sent off, were beaten for the first time in 15 matches
in all competitions since mid-January.
Roma went ahead when Brazilian Mancini pulled the ball back
into the middle from the left and compatriot Taddei scored with a
shot that took a deflection off Wes Brown.
Rooney scored his first goal in the Champions League since
his United debut in September 2004 when he hit a hat-trick against
Fenerbahce, chesting down and volleying home Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's
right cross on the hour.
Midfielder Scholes was sent off for tripping Roma captain
Francesco Totti to earn his second yellow card. He had earlier
fouled defender Philippe Mexes.
Roma midfielder Simone Perrotta will also miss the second leg
at Old Trafford next week after being booked for diving.
Meanwhile in London Valencia earned a valuable 1-1 draw with
Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Valencia took the lead with a stunning 30th minute strike by
David Silva which flew past Chelsea keeper Peter Cech, but
Chelsea's Didier Drogba nodded his 30th goal of the season in the
53rd minute to equalise.
Chelsea will be frustrated at the outcome after having had
the lion's share of the possession, but Valencia deserve credit for
keeping it tight at the back and playing some sharp incisive
football going forward.
The away goals rule tips the tie in the Spaniards' favour as
a goalless draw in next Tuesday's second leg will see them through
to the semi-finals, most likely against Liverpool after their 3-0
first leg win over PSV Eindhoven.