Liverpool Unbowed

After generating enough chances to put the tie beyond doubt, particularly in a first-half they comfortably dominated, Jose Mourinho's side were put under sufficient pressure after the break for Liverpool to head home believing they can turn things around in front of their own supporters.

Cole's 29th-minute winner, a close-range effort created by Didier Drogba's power-packed run and astute pass, was a fine goal. Drogba's well-established capacity for ruffling the composure of the Liverpool defense was underlined as early as the eighth minute, the Ivory Coast striker's knockdown from Ashley Cole's cross teeing up Frank Lampard on the penalty spot. The England midfielder managed to get his foot over the bouncing ball but his shot was too straight and Jose Reina was able to make a good block.

A minute later, Andriy Shevchenko curled a shot narrowly over the angle of post and bar and Liverpool were reprieved again when Drogba failed to pick out an unmarked Joe Cole in the middle after John Arne Riise's slack back pass had sent him sprinting clear through the inside right channel.

Liverpool unbowed

Twenty minutes had elapsed before Liverpool managed to muster a shot on the Chelsea goal, Bolo Zenden's wayward effort only adding to the frustration of the increasingly agitated Rafael Benitez on the touchline.

Dirk Kuyt finally gave Petr Cech something to do shortly afterwards, although a kindly deflection off Ricardo Carvalho ensured his header flew straight to the midriff of the Czech goalkeeper.

Chelsea were soon threatening again and, after Drogba had failed to connect with Joe Cole's inviting cross, Lampard sent a 25-yard free-kick fizzing inches outside the base of Reina's right-hand post.

The pressure finally told in the 29th minute as Chelsea took the lead with a move launched by Carvalho on the edge of his own area.

The Portuguese carried the ball out to the edge of the center circle before spreading the ball wide to Drogba, who muscled past Daniel Agger and advanced into the area before pulling the ball back behind Jamie Carragher. Cutting in from the opposite flank at pace, Joe Cole was able to get in front of Alvaro Arbeloa and finish the move with the most straightforward of finishes from eight yards out.

But two fine saves from Reina kept out efforts from Drogba and Lampard and ensured Chelsea's win was restricted to the narrowest of margins.

Rooney trumps Kaka

Fans at Old Trafford were cheering early on Tuesday, as the hosts scored after a corner kick in the fifth minute. Striker Cristiano Ronaldo fired a short-range header at Milan keeper, who could only deflect the ball into his own net.

But any hopes that United would replicate their 7-1 thrashing of Rome in the quarterfinals were soon dashed. Kaka caught Manchester's defense napping and left-footed the ball past Edwin van der Sar from a nearly impossible angle.

Manchester was playing with a makeshift back four due to injury, and it showed. Shortly before half-time, Kaka power his way through three defenders to send the visitors into the locker room with a 2-1 lead.

The hosts were clearly shocked and looked tentative when play resumed. But Paul Scholes got them back on track in the sixtieth minute with a nifty lob pass in the box to Rooney, who slipped the ball under Dida.

From there on in it was all United. Darren Fletcher had two excellent scoring opportunities late in the match, only to be narrowly denied. And Rooney sealed the win for Manchester in injury time with a curling blast into the lower left hand corner of the goal.

It was a decent outcome for both sides. Manchester only need a draw in San Siro next Wednesday to progress, while Milan can get through with a 1-nil win -- a favorite Milan result.