New Delhi: AC Milan inflicted the most comprehensive drubbing on Manchester United at San Siro in Milan (Italy) to set up a title clash with Liverpool in the Champions League.
Hopes of an all-English final in Athens on May 23 were dashed as Milan booked their place in the final for the 11th time and for their third appearance in the last five seasons.
Manchester United's defence was ripped apart by the exceptional Kaka in the 11th minute to put the first nail in the English club's coffin and the Brazilian striker is now the Champions League top scorer with 10 goals.
Milan netted two more to make it 3-0 and 5-3 on aggregate to enter the final. On their present form, Milan will be confident of avenging their Champions League defeat by Liverpool in Istanbul in 2005.
The match began under thunderous skies and when Milan began at a blistering pace, United were simply awestruck.
Kaka, who scored both goals in the 3-2 loss, last week at Old Trafford, gave Milan the lead in the 11th minute. The Brazil playmaker beat United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar after Clarence Seedorf headed the ball into his path.
Seedorf made it 2-0 in the 30th minute, controlling a cross from the right with his chest and shooting past Van der Sar. And substitute Alberto Gilardino scored the third in the 78th after running into the area alone and looping the ball over the United goalkeeper.
Manchester United's Manager Alex Ferguesen said that his team were never in the match.
"We never came out the blocks. If we had seen through the first 25 minutes without cutting our throats, we would have stood a chance," Ferguesen said.
"I did not think it would have been so easy, we knew it would have been a great night and a wonderful first half allowed us to win this difficult game," a proud AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti added.
The result ended United's hopes of repeating their 1999 treble of the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup titles, but they can have no complaints after being totally outclassed by their Italian opponents.
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