I’m still not a Manchester United supporter - but I’m starting to believe I could be converted. Tuesday night’s breathtaking Champions League win over AC Milan was quite something - and it was even more fun watching most of it alongside a bunch of Italian waiters in a restaurant not far from Old Trafford!

It helped considerably that none of those waiters was from Milan - in fact, they were Napoli supporters, so I assume their support for Carlo Ancelotti’s boys was roughly on a level with the uncontrolled enthusiasm Chelsea and Arsenal fans reserve for Sir Alex Ferguson’s boys.

Ultimately, it was the golden boot of Wayne Rooney that decided the result, though the exquisite flicked Paul Scholes pass that set up the England wonder boy’s equaliser on the hour must rate among the best ever. Rooney himself admitted it afterwards, perhaps with a slight exaggeration. ‘’I see him do it every day in training,'' he said of Scholes. ''He’s a genius.’’ And Ferguson attached the seal of authority by adding: ''It was a fantastic pass - absolute quality.''

Either way, a 3-2 lead does at least give United a chance of reaching the final. At 1-2 and even 2-2, they were effectively dead and buried - condemned to the Kaka’s yard by two flashes of Brazilian mesmerism. Cristiano Ronaldo’s fifth-minute opener gave United fans visions of a repeat of the 7-1 drubbing of Roma in the previous round. But they reckoned without Kaka, the samba wizard rated by many as the world’s best player. Two days after his 25th birthday, he showed true genius in tucking away the two away goals which put the Italian giants in the driving seat for the second leg.

But Milan reckoned without Rooney's injury-time winner - a first-time shot from Ryan Giggs's through ball that sizzled inside keeper Dida's left-hand post.

Even with a narrow first-leg lead, United know that a 1-0 defeat at the San Siro will spell curtains for their dream of a Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League treble. They must get at least a draw in the second leg (although a highly-unlikely 4-3 defeat would also see them through) to set up an all-Premiership final with Chelsea or Liverpool. And with their current defensive problems, the odds have to be against them getting through.

But with the never-say-die spirit they showed at Old Trafford on Tuesday, I’m certainly not betting against Fergie's men completing Mission Improbable in Italy next week. Ferguson said: ''It's given us a magnificent chance. Milan know they've got a really difficult game now.'' 

As for those Italian waiters, you can bet they'll be putting on a United front again at my favourite Manchester restaurant.

Can United still pull it off - or will Milan prevent an all-English final? Let Sportingo have your views.