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    Crespo and Kaka steer AC Milan into last 16
    (Agencies)
    Updated: 2004-11-25 09:52

    Hernan Crespo and Kaka scored two goals apiece as AC Milan clinched a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League with a 4-0 victory at home to Shakhtar Donetsk.

     

    AC Milan's Brazilian midfielder Kaka celebrates after scoring against Shakhtar Donetsk, during their Champion's League Group F football match at San Siro stadium in Milan. [AFP]

    Needing a point to qualify for the last 16, Milan failed to find a way through a stubborn Shakhtar defence in a goalless first half at the San Siro.

    But they eventually broke the Ukranian side's stiff resistance with two quickfire goals early in the second half.

    Brazilian midfielder Kaka's close-range diving header put Milan ahead against their gritty Group F opponents and seconds later Argentine striker Hernan Crespo's cool finish put the hosts firmly in control.

    Crespo, who ended a lengthy goal drought by scoring his first goal for Milan in last week's 2-1 Italian Cup victory at Palermo, doubled his tally six minutes from time with an easy tap-in, before a superb solo effort by Kaka compounded Shakhtar's misery.

    Crespo was delighted to answer his critics in style with three goals in five days.


    AC Milan's Hernan Crespo celebrate the second goal against FC Shakhtar Donetsk during their Champions League Group F soccer match at San Siro Stadium in Milan, northern Italy, November 24, 2004. [Reuters]

    "After a lot of suffering and patience, I am truly happy," said the Argentina international, who has also had the Milan crowd on his back in recent matches.

    "The work I have been doing is beginning to pay off. I am very satisfied."

    Asked if he had turned the corner and put his barren spell behind him, he replied: "Am I back? I don't think I ever went away."

    Milan coach applauded Crespo not just for his two goals, but also his all-round performance.

    "He played very well," he said. "He worked hard for his team-mates all night."

    Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu was unhappy with the way his team imploded after a positive first half.

    "It was a strange match," he said. "We had them in difficulty in the first half, but then we relaxed and made too many errors.

    "Psychologically we collapsed when Milan scored those two quick goals."

    Milan's own Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko was suffering from a left thigh strain, so Crespo, on a season-long loan from English Premiership side Chelsea, played as a lone forward for the six-time European champions, flanked by Kaka and Manuel Rui Costa.

    While Milan took to the pitch with five Italians in their side, Shakhtar did not have one Ukrainian in their starting line-up.

    Lucescu's team consisted of three Brazilians, two Czechs, two Serbians, a Nigerian, a Pole, a Croatian and a Romanian.

    Milan almost made the breakthrough in the 11th minute with an incisive move which left the Shakhtar defence standing like statues.

    Rui Costa cut inside from the left and played a quick one-two with Crespo, before unleashing a fierce right-footed shot which Jan Lastuvka palmed away for a corner.

    Milan maintained the pressure and Kaka should have done better when he rose to meet Marcos Cafu's inviting right-wing cross, but his header cleared the crossbar.

    Zvonimir Vukic and Julius Aghahowa tested Milan keeper Nelson Dida before Rui Costa spurned a gilt-edged opportunity, dragging his shot wide with just Lastuvka to beat.

    Milan persevered and finally broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute.

    Cafu's robust run down the right flank took him to the byline and his delicate chipped cross was headed home by Kaka.

    Shakhtar had no time to regroup as Milan increased their advantage less than 60 seconds later.

    Crespo sprung the offside trap as he ran onto Rui Costa's pass and accelerated past the outrushing Lastuvka before sliding the ball into an unguarded net.

    Crespo ensured Clarence Seedorf's effort crossed the line by sliding in at the back post for his second goal with six minutes left and Kaka iced the cake by outpacing the Shakhtar defence and coolly slotting the ball underneath Lastuvka.



     
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