AC Milan 2 - 1 Liverpool

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Wednesday May 23 2007 07:45

AC Milan gained revenge for their amazing defeat in the 2005 Champions League final against Liverpool by beating the Reds 2-1 in Athens thanks to a Filippo Inzaghi brace.

The Rossoneri were far from their best and Rafa Benitez's side dominated the match for long spells but the Italian side did enough to clinch their seventh European Cup and fifth since 1989.

After a quiet opening, Liverpool created the first opening in the tenth minute when a Marek Jankulovski error let in Jermaine Pennant whose angled drive was parried by Dida with his right hand.

Two minutes later Pennant, who saw a lot of the ball throughout the evening, got to the byline and pulled the ball back to Steven Gerrard - but it was a bad pass and the Reds captain was unable to get a shot on goal.

When play moved to the other end, Inzaghi beat the offside trap but was just unable to gather Andrea Pirlo's lofted throughball.

Kaka's long-range shot then took a wicked bounce, but Pepe Reina was equal to the effort before Pennant's cross found Gerrard only for the England man to fire a shot way over the bar.

As Liverpool began to get on top, Milan struggled to clear their lines and the ball broke to Xabi Alonso just outside the area but the Spaniard dragged his shot narrowly wide with Dida struggling.John Arne Riise then tried his luck from 30 yards out but the Norwegian's rasping effort sailed over the bar before another Jankulovski error allowed Dirk Kuyt a sniff of goal, but a brilliant Alessandro Nesta block denied the Dutchman

Just when it looked as though the first half would end goalless, Alonso conceded a free-kick on the edge of the area for a foul on Kaka.

Andrea Pirlo's free-kick looked poor but it hit Inzaghi and deceived Reina who was diving the other way as the ball nestled in the back of the net.

It was tough luck on the Premiership side and they continued to hold the upper-hand after the interval.

Another Pirlo free-kick on the hour beat the Liverpool wall but curled over the bar before Gerrard wasted a great opportunity to equalise.

The England man cruised past Nesta and moved into the penalty area only to see his shot saved by Dida.

Substitute Harry Kewell, on for the dreadful Bolo Zenden, set up Riise to fire another ambitious effort well wide before Gerrard's raking 30-yard drive also failed to find the target.

With eight minutes left, Milan doubled their lead. Kaka played in Inzaghi, who beat the offside trap, and the veteran striker rounded Reina before tapping the ball under the keeper's body and into the back of the net.

Kuyt headed a late consolation goal for the Reds but there was to be no repeat of their amazing comeback of two years ago, as the Italian side held on to clinch yet more success in Europe.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    FULL TIME: AC MILAN 2-1 LIVERPOOL.
  • 90
    It's all over and it's a seventh European Cup victory for the Rossoneri.
  • 90
    A final change by Milan - Giuseppe Favalli replaces Seedorf.
  • 90
    The ball's back with Reina as the seconds tick away.
  • 90
    There's three minutes of stoppage time - but it's Milan who are on the attack.
  • 89
    AC MILAN 2-1 LIVERPOOL. The corner comes to KUYT who heads home from close range.
  • 88
    Milan also make a change - Inzaghi goes off - Alberto Gilardino comes on.
  • 88
    A late change by Liverpool - Alvaro Arbeloa for Finnan.
  • 86
    Milan have been poor, but have done just enough to win the game.
  • 84
    Dida tips a long-range Crouch drive over the bar, they'll be no spectacular comeback by Liverpool tonight.
  • 82
    AC MILAN 2-0 LIVERPOOL. Kaka plays INZAGHI in and the veteran striker rounds Reina and then plays the ball under the keeper's body and into the back of the net.
  • 80
    Inzaghi finds space for himself inside the area but then contrives to completely miss the ball.
  • 79
    Milan also make a change - Jankulovski makes way for Kakha Kaladze.
  • 78
    Benitez brings on Peter Crouch for Mascherano.
  • 76
    Seedorf's shot looks goalbound but is blocked by the Liverpool defence.
  • 75
    Kaka wins a corner to give Milan some breathing space.
  • 74
    Gattuso has the chance to launch a rare Milan raid, but over-hits his pass to Seedorf.
  • 73
    Gerrard's raking 30-yard drive drifts narrowly wide.
  • 72
    It's all Liverpool as Milan can't get out of their own half.
  • 70
    Kuyt almost gets past Nesta, but the Italian gets just enough of the ball to deny the Liverpool striker.
  • 68
    Kewell sets up Riise to fire another ambitious effort well wide.
  • 66
    Defensively the Italians are all over the place, maybe the Rossoneri are having the luck they didn't enjoy two years ago in Istanbul.
  • 64
    Milan have been poor tonight, but they still lead.
  • 63
    Great chance for Gerrard who strides past Nesta and into the penalty area only to see his shot saved by Dida.
  • 62
    Steve Finnan does well to beat Maldini but his cross is easy for Dida.
  • 61
    Pirlo's free-kick beats the wall but curls over the bar.
  • 60
    Carragher and Agger get in a tangle and the Englishman is booked for hauling down Kaka.
  • 59
    The appalling Zenden makes way for Harry Kewell.
  • 58
    The referee eventually decides to book Mascherano for a crude tackle on Pirlo.
  • 57
    A mistake by Agger lets in Inzaghi, but the Danish defender gets back to make up for his error.
  • 56
    Kaka is ruled offside, although TV replays suggest he definitely wasn't.
  • 55
    Oddo's long ball just fails to find the predatory Inzaghi.
  • 54
    Jankulovski's foul on Pennant warrants a yellow card from the referee.
  • 52
    Liverpool have been the better side but Zenden is having a nightmare and Pennant just isn't up to standard.
  • 50
    Milan may be ahead but their passing is strangely still very poor.
  • 48
    Agger gets his head to Zenden's corner but the ball drifts harmlessly out of play.
  • 47
    Nesta just gets his toe to the ball before Gerrard to concede another corner.
  • 46
    AC Milan get the second 45 minutes underway.
  • 45
    HALF TIME: AC MILAN 1-0 LIVERPOOL.
  • 45
    What a time to score a goal, as seconds later the half-time whistle goes.
  • 45
    AC MILAN 1-0 LIVERPOOL. Pirlo's free-kick hits INZAGHI, deceives Reina who is diving the other way and nestles in the back of the net.
  • 44
    Alonso concedes a free-kick on the edge of the area for a foul on Kaka.
  • 42
    Liverpool have edged the first half - Milan's passing has been poor.
  • 41
    Unsurprisingly the fiery Gennaro Gattuso picks up the first booking of the evening - for a crude challenge on Alonso.
  • 38
    Gerrard looks to be clear down the left until the outstanding Nesta gets a timely tackle in.
  • 36
    Another Jankulovski error allows Kuyt a sniff of goal, but a brilliant Nesta block denies the Dutchman.
  • 34
    The match is drifting towards half-time - it's been a better 45 minutes than the first half of the FA Cup final on Saturday though.
  • 32
    Riise tries his luck from 30 yards out but the Norwegian's rasping effort sails over the bar.
  • 30
    Pirlo's curling free-kick is easily gathered by Reina.
  • 29
    Oddo comfortably beats John Arne Riise but no-one can get on the end of his cross.
  • 27
    Milan struggle to clear their lines and the ball breaks to Alonso just outside the area, but the Spaniard drags his shot narrowly wide with Dida struggling.
  • 25
    Great skill by Kaka, but Javier Mascherano sticks to his task well and eventually takes the ball off the Brazilian.
  • 23
    Pennant's cross finds Gerrard this time - but the England man fires his shot way over the bar.
  • 22
    Daniel Agger is lucky not to be booked for a cynical foul on Kaka.
  • 21
    A good run by Massimo Oddo but the move eventually comes to nothing.
  • 20
    Gerrard wins a free-kick to the left of the penalty area after a foul by Alessandro Nesta - it comes to nothing though.
  • 18
    The referee has a word with Xabi Alonso for a late lunge on Massimo Ambrosini.
  • 17
    Kaka's long-range shot takes a wicked bounce, but Pepe Reina saves well.
  • 15
    Honours even so far, Liverpool have created the better openings but Milan are playing the more cultured football.
  • 14
    Inzaghi beats the offside trap but is just unable to gather Andrea Pirlo's lofted throughball.
  • 12
    Pennant gets to the byline and pulls the ball back to Gerrard - but it's a bad pass and the Reds captain is unable to get a shot on goal.
  • 10
    A Jankulovski error lets in Pennant whose angled drive is parried by Dida with his right hand - the first real opening of the match.
  • 9
    Milan have settled well as they spray the ball around elegantly.
  • 8
    Marek Jankulovski gallops down the left and fires in a cross that Clarence Seedorf is unable to control and the ball drifts out of play for a goal kick.
  • 6
    Good attacking play by Milan for the first time as Jamie Carragher is forced to concede the first corner, that the Reds clear.
  • 5
    Jermaine Pennant is seeing a lot of the ball in the opening stages.
  • 4
    Steve Finnan gets a cross in that Gerrard heads on, but Kuyt concedes a foul as he challenges for the ball inside the penalty area.
  • 3
    No early goal this time, in fact it's a very cagey opening.
  • 2
    Surely they'll be no repetition of 2005 when Milan famously scored early on, led 3-0 at the break, but eventually lost on penalties.
  • 1
    Liverpool, in all red, get the match underway.
  • 0
    There's no surprises in the Rossoneri's line-up - Paolo Maldini starts his eighth final - as Carlo Ancelotti opts to start with Filippo Inzaghi up front rather than Alberto Gilardino.
  • 0
    Rafa Benitez has gone for a 4-4-1-1 formation with Steven Gerrard playing behind lone striker Dirk Kuyt. Bolo Zenden has come through a late fitness test and starts.
  • 0
    There's two ways of looking at the game - is it between two giants of European football, they've won 11 European Cups between them, or a match between the third best team in England and fourth best in Italy?
  • 0
    AC Milan face Liverpool in Athens' Olympic Stadium in the Champions League final - a repeat of the amazing game in Istanbul two years ago.

Statistics

AC Milan
Shots on target 3
Shots off target 2
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 14
Offsides 3
Corners 4

Liverpool
Shots on target 4
Shots off target 8
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 26
Offsides 3
Corners 6

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