Sports Thread #1 For 2/16/10: Roo'ing Milan At The San Siro; Makoun Boom Gives Lyon The Slight Advantage

Even his biggest haters can't deny that he is truly a serious contender for World Player Of The Year (Photo from Getty Images)

In the first day of the Champions League Round of 16, Wayne Rooney cemented himself as the in from player in world football right now while Lyon owned Real Madrid at the Stade de Gerland once again.

Rooney's two second half goals secured a massive advantage for Manchester United, as they exit the first leg against AC Milan at the San Siro with a satisfying 3-2 victory. It was an exciting encounter as both defenses were ripped for the taking in the contest, as hyped around it centered on David Beckham taking on his beloved first and former club.

And the game's deadliest crosser still showed why he can still play at the highest level, serving in the ball that led to Ronaldinho's defected shot pass an unlucky Edwin van Der Saar. The lively Brazilian's redirected effort gave Milan the 1-0 advantage barely under three minutes.

And the Rossineri probably deserved to be up 2-0 as a awful mistake by a shaky Johnny Evans led Massimo Ambrosini to find Klans-Jans Hunterlaar for a golden chance, only for the Dutch striker to push it wide.

But it was the other star Englishman who's star shown brightest tonight, as Rooney's non stop industrial spirit was too much for a shaky Milan backline to keep off the score sheet. After Paul Scholes equalized the game in the latter stages of the first half, it was the United #10 heading home a great ball from just substituted Antonio Valencia to make it 2-1 for Alex Ferguson's side in the 66th minute.

Then Rooney capitalize again eight minutes later, as poor Milan marketing and a perfect bass from Darren Fletcher sprung the former Everton wunderkid for a second free header making the score 3-1 United. The ageless Clarence Seedorf came off the bench to replace Beckham and scored a goal to give his manager Leonardo some hope in this tie to make it 3-2.

Also making a very difficult comeback a little less onerous for Milan is Michael Carrick being unavailable for the second match thanks to his late second yellow card, though most still don't know why he got that additional card.

But with all those away goals conceded coupled with United surely to improve their defense in the return leg at Old Trafford, this looks like it will be the second straight year Milan will be bounced out by an English club.

In the night's other contest, French champions Lyon clearly deserved their 1-0 win tonight against a Real Madrid team that didn't show really anything at all against them. It was a wonderful effort to secure Lyon the advantage after the first leg, and that strike came from Jean II Makoun. The Cameroon midfielder released a terrific strike in the 47 minute to put even more pressure on Manuel Pellegrini and his expensive squad three weeks from now in the return leg.