ROME - Substitute Mirko Vucinic scored a 66th-minute winner to give AS Roma a 2-1 home win over 10-man Manchester United in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match today.
Striker Rodrigo Taddei gave Roma a 44th-minute lead and Wayne Rooney netted a fine equaliser on thehour. Vucinic scored the winner four minutes after coming on.
United, playing with 10 men from the 34th minute when Paul Scholes was sent off, were beaten for the first time in 15 matches in all competitions since mid-January.
Roma went ahead when Brazilian Mancini pulled the ball back into the middle from the left and compatriot Taddei scored with a shot that took a deflection off Wes Brown.
Rooney scored his first goal in the Champions League since his United debut in September, 2004, when he hit a hat-trick against Fenerbahce, chesting down and volleying home Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's right cross on the hour.
Midfielder Scholes was sent off for tripping Roma captain Francesco Totti to earn his second yellow card. He had earlier fouled defender Philippe Mexes.
Roma midfielder Simone Perrotta will also miss the second leg at Old Trafford next week after being booked for diving.
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Meanwhile, Valencia held hosts Chelsea to a 1-1 draw today.
Didier Drogba scored the equaliser for Chelsea, the two-time defending English champions who have never won the European Cup.
Drogba netted with a header in the 53rd minute after a long, looping pass from Ashley Cole.
Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Canizares sent a goal kick directly at Cole, who controlled the ball and sent it right back toward the Valencia box. The ball bounced once and Drogba got to it before Valencia defender Roberto Ayala.
David Silva gave Valencia the lead in the 30th, taking a throw in on the left and dribbling toward the middle before unleashing a hard, 25m shot that left Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech no chance.
