|
AC Milan and Rangers survive, Porto flop
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-07 08:44
In an enthralling match, Andrea Pirlo put Milan ahead in the 42nd minute with
a superb free kick but within two minutes the Germans had pulled level through a
Christian Poulsen header.
Kaka (L) celebrates
scoring against Schalke 04 with Andriy Shevchenko during their Champions
League Group E soccer match at the San Siro Stadium in Milan December 6,
2005. [Reuters] | Milan restored their lead in the
52nd minute when Andriy Shevchenko set up Kaka who fired home a low diagonal
shot.
Kaka added his second and Milan's third on the hour but a deflected shot from
Brazilian Lincoln in the 66th minute gave Schalke hope.
The game ended in ugly scenes with clashes involving several players on the
final whistle after Milan's Gennaro Gattuso confronted Schalke's Danish
midfielder Poulsen. With several punches thrown UEFA's disciplinary body may
well have some video evidence to look at.
Milan captain Paolo Maldini passed a late fitness test on a muscle strain and
started with coach Carlo Ancelotti opting to field Filippo Inzaghi ahead of
Alberto Gilardino in attack.
FIRST CHANCE
The first chance came in the 24th minute when Schalke's Mladen Krstajic was
picked out at the back post but he fired his shot into the side netting.
It was from a Marcelo Bordon foul on Kaka that Milan got the lead through a
familiar route -- a superb, curling free-kick from over 25 metres out by Pirlo.
The goal celebrations had barely calmed when Schalke drew level, Lincoln
whipping in a free kick from wide on Milan's right and Poulsen, whistled from
the outset by the Italian fans, heading home at the far post.
It took just six minutes of the second half for Milan to restore their lead.
Shevchenko won possession on the half way line and burst forward past two
challenges before slipping the ball outside to Kaka whose shot gave Schalke
keeper Frank Rost no chance.
Kaka had an
effort disallowed in the 58th minute after Spanish referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez
spotted an infringement by Inzaghi.
With Schalke pushing men forward in search of an equaliser they increasingly
left space for Milan to exploit and it was no surprise when the Italians were
able to take advantage.
Inzaghi fired the ball across the area to Shevchenko who
miskicked but Kaka was on hand to pick up the loose ball and despatch it into
the net to make it 3-1.
|
