AC Milan 1 - 0 Celtic

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Tuesday Dec 04 2007 07:45

Celtic failed to make a dent on an under-par AC Milan side but, despite slipping to a 1-0 defeat in a lack-lustre encounter at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, they still qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League thanks to Benfica's win at Shakhtar Donetsk.

Both sides started cautiously which left an impatient AC Milan support baying for more action. Gradually their side began to look comfortable on the ball and created more chances in the first half without ever really troubling Artur Boruc in the Celtic goal.

At the other end Aiden McGeady showed flashes of brilliance on the break but, on a bare and patchy pitch, the visitors were easily dispossessed.Filippo Inzaghi, who started the match just one goal off the record for leading scorer in European competition, looked dangerous as he tried to get on the end of every ball to add to his tally.

He, along with Massimo Ambrosini and Kaka sent in early shots which were all off-target. Eventually Inzaghi found the target but Boruc was more than capable of gathering his effort which lacked power.

Milan were forced to make an early defensive reshuffle when Dario Simic was forced off the pitch with injury bringing on Georgia international Kakha Kaladze in his place.

The change didn't do their back line any harm though as they continued to dominate the Celtic attack. The Bhoys' only real chance of the first half came from defender Jiri Jarosik whose effort was easily saved by Zeljko Kalac.Scott Brown started the half badly as he picked up a yellow card which will keep him out of the first game of the next round.

But he nearly made up for it minutes later beating Kaladze and making a brilliant run on goal but mis-hitting his shot completely.

AC Milan looked more determined in front of goal than they had in the first half. Clarence Seedorf had his attempt blocked by a diving Gary Caldwell and shortly after Inzaghi sent a header straight at Boruc.

But they eventually made the breakthrough on 70 minutes as Kaka linked up with veteran Cafu whose cross was met by Inzaghi just inside the six-yard box and turned into the net.

Unwilling to rely on the result in the Ukraine, Celtic battled to try and get the point they needed.

McGeady came close with a well-taken free-kick which was saved by Kalac. But Milan still looked the more likely to score with Kaka beating everyone including Boruc before narrowly missing an empty net.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    Full-Time: AC MILAN 1-0 CELTIC.
  • 90
    It's all over. AC Milan are group winners, Celtic join them in the last 16 as runners-up and Benfica will try their luck in the UEFA Cup. Shakhtar Donetsk finish bottom.
  • 90
    Play flows to the other end and McGeady fires a last-gasp effort narrowly wide.
  • 90
    A superb run by Kaka, who cuts inside from the wing, rounds Boruc and seems certain to score only for Sno to make a great block.
  • 90
    Three minutes of stoppage time to be played.
  • 89
    Vennegoor of Hesselink wastes a great opportunity to grab a late equaliser.
  • 87
    It's certainly not been a classic, and it's going to be another away defeat in Europe, but Celtic are three minutes away from a last 16 spot.
  • 85
    Benfica are still doing the business in Ukraine as Boruc is forced to make a good save to again deny the lively Brocchi.
  • 83
    Celtic break and Brown forces Kalac to make a smart stop.
  • 82
    Boruc makes a great save to deny Brocchi from the edge of the area.
  • 80
    Celtic don't appear to be searching for an equaliser and are relying on Benfica holding on against Shakhtar.
  • 79
    A scramble ends with Gourcuff firing high and wide from the edge of the penalty area.
  • 78
    The final substitution of the game as Jarosik makes way for Maciej Zurawski.
  • 76
    Kaka is eventually crowded out after barging his way into the Bhoys area.
  • 74
    A third and final change by Milan - Christian Brocchi replaces Pirlo.
  • 73
    McGeady's clever free-kick is gathered by Kalac as Celtic look for an immediate equaliser.
  • 72
    Still no need for Celtic to worry just yet - Shakhtar need to score two more goals in the last 18 minutes to dump Strachan's side out.
  • 71
    Another change by Celtic - Evander Sno comes on for Donati.
  • 70
    AC MILAN 1-0 CELTIC. Out of the blue Kaka and Cafu combine well, and when the full-back pulls the ball into the six-yard area, INZAGHI is on hand to turn it into an empty net.
  • 69
    Milan may their second change as Seedorf makes way for Yoann Gourcuff.
  • 69
    Celtic have done well to slow the game down again - they're almost there now.
  • 67
    Pressley hoofs the ball into the stands as Inzaghi tries to latch on to a hopeful long pass.
  • 65
    Strachan brings on Vennegoor of Hesselink for McDonald.
  • 64
    Another Kaka effort flies over the bar, but Milan have moved up at least one gear in the last few minutes.
  • 62
    Both Inzaghi and Boruc thought play had been stopped, but there definitely was no offside flag.
  • 60
    A strange incident as Giuseppe Favalli finds Inzaghi who seems certain to score. However, he heads the ball into Boruc's arms when the Pole appeared to have stopped playing, presuambly expecting an offside flag that never came.
  • 59
    Kaka tries to find some space for himself on the edge of the area but Pressley blocks the shot.
  • 57
    For all Milan's possession, that was the best chance of the game so far.
  • 56
    Brown suddenly finds himself in the clear after latching on to McManus' long throughball, but he drags his shot embarrassingly wide.
  • 54
    There's no panic from Celtic and last season's Champions League winners are still showing no signs of urgency.
  • 52
    Brown does well to steal the ball, but his cross is too far in front of the lurking McDonald. Better by the visitors though.
  • 50
    It's all Milan as Celtic sit deeper and deeper.
  • 49
    The ball sits up nicely for Inzaghi but the Italy international is forced wide and fails to get his shot on target.
  • 47
    Pirlo's free-kick is wayward, although Artur Boruc did not seem to have followed the flight of the ball.
  • 46
    Scott Brown is the first player to go into the referee's notebook for a rash challenge on Seedorf.
  • 46
    Milan, in their traditional red and black striped shirts, get the second half underway.
  • 45
    Half-Time: AC MILAN 0-0 CELTIC.
  • 45
    As it stands, everyone's happy, apart from Shakthar. AC Milan will win the group, Celtic are in the last 16 as runners-up and Benfica will try their luck in the UEFA Cup.
  • 43
    Gattuso tries to find Inzaghi, and for a moment there's a hint of danger, but Celtic survive.
  • 41
    Jiri Jarosik has Celtic's first effort on goal, but Zeljko Kalac is barely troubled by the shot and saves it comfortably.
  • 39
    Kaka is trying to add a spark to Milan's play, but Celtic are comfortable at this stage.
  • 37
    McDonald does well to hold the ball up as Celtic launch a rare counter-attack.
  • 36
    Inzaghi falls over again - possibly the pitch was to blame for the Italian's slip this time.
  • 34
    The referee has a word with Inzaghi who dives theatrically under no challenge whatsoever.
  • 32
    Inzaghi clips a shot on the turn over the bar - a half-chance for Milan.
  • 31
    Not so good news from Ukraine - Shakthar score from the penalty spot - now it's 2-1 to Benfica.
  • 30
    Simic is unable to continue so Kakha Kaladze comes on to replace him.
  • 29
    The Milan physios come on to the pitch to treat Dario Simic.
  • 28
    McManus gives the ball to Kaka, but the Brazilian is unable to accept the gift, curling the ball narrowly wide.
  • 27
    The corner comes to nothing though as both sides struggle to find a cutting edge. Caution is the name of the game tonight.
  • 26
    Aiden McGeady wins Celtic's first corner.
  • 25
    No alarms for Celtic in the first quarter, so far so good for Strachan's men.
  • 23
    Benfica score a second in Ukraine - Celtic's progress already looks assured.
  • 22
    Gennaro Gattuso wins the first corner of the match, but Pirlo and Cafu mess up the set-piece.
  • 20
    The match is livening up though as Milan move up through the gears.
  • 19
    Kaka bursts through from midfield, but McManus's superb tackle stops the Brazilian in his tracks.
  • 18
    Seemed strange that Milan's free-kick expert, Pirlo, did not try his luck from such a good position.
  • 17
    The wall does its job as Seedorf's effort is blocked.
  • 16
    Stephen McManus fouls Filippo Inzaghi on the edge of the area - free-kick to Milan.
  • 15
    Milan have had most of the ball, but don't seem too bothered about making their way into the Celtic penalty area.
  • 13
    It's been, as anticipated, a very low-key start to the match with not a sniff of a chance.
  • 11
    The Dutch star limps off the pitch after receiving treatment but is fit enough to eventually return to the fray.
  • 10
    Seedorf appears to be in some difficulty after tangling with Gary Caldwell.
  • 9
    Seedorf has been the best man on the pitch in the early stages, but Celtic look solid so far.
  • 7
    Benfica take the lead at Shakhtar Donetsk so, as it stands, Celtic could afford to lose tonight and still win a place in the last 16.
  • 5
    Seedorf injects some pace into the game, but Paul Hartley does well to put an end to the Dutchman's run.
  • 4
    A couple of over-hit passes and a pedestrian pace give the impression a goalless draw could be on the cards.
  • 3
    It's a very lukewarm atmosphere in a half-empty San Siro.
  • 2
    The Bhoys have opted to use an all-green strip that is blending in nicely with a poor pitch.
  • 1
    Celtic get the match underway.
  • 0
    The Rossoneri, beaten 2-1 in Glasgow in the 'Dida' game, have named a strong side with Kaka, Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf all starting.
  • 0
    Gordon Strachan has opted to use Scott McDonald on his own in attack with Massimo Donati incuded in a five-man midfield. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink drops to the bench.
  • 0
    However, AC Milan have already booked their place in the knockout stages of the competition and have been woeful at home so far this term.
  • 0
    In normal circumstances Celtic's need to take a point from the San Siro to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League would seem a tough task.

Statistics

AC Milan
Shots on target 7
Shots off target 9
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 19
Offsides 2
Corners 3

Celtic
Shots on target 3
Shots off target 2
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 16
Offsides 2
Corners 1

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