Soccer-Rooney points United's way to Athens

By Trevor Huggins

MANCHESTER, England, April 25 (Reuters) - Striker Wayne Rooney has charted a course for Manchester United to reach the Champions League final after steering them to a dramatic 3-2 win over AC Milan.

Left with a patched-up defence due to injuries, United started the second half of Tuesday's semi-final, first leg with a 2-1 deficit following Kaka's double-strike.

Cue two excellent goals by Rooney, the second arriving in stoppage time.

The goals appear to have tipped the tie narrowly in United's favour and lined up the prospect of an all-English final on May 23 in Athens against Liverpool or Chelsea.

Next Wednesday's game at San Siro promises to be as close as the Old Trafford thriller which laid bare the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.

United can point to their attack led by Rooney, who has suddenly hit form in Europe and taken his tally for the season to 22 in all competitions.

Criticised earlier this month for failing to score in the Champions League proper since a hat-trick on his debut back in 2004, Rooney has now netted in each of his last three outings against AS Roma and Milan.

With wingers Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs running at defenders and Paul Scholes pulling the strings, United are a fearsome side going forward; as Roma found out in a 7-1 drubbing here two weeks ago.