Quick Note on the Match: "Inzaghi
headed in Milan captain Paolo Maldini's cross from the left flank
for his 55th European goal in the 17th minute. Midfielder Gourcuff,
signed from Rennes in the offseason, met a cross from Kaka on
the right with a powerful header to score his first goal for the
"rossoneri.". Kaka, the game's standout player , added
the third from the penalty spot in the 77th and almost scored
from a bicycle-kick just inside the penalty area, but AEK goalkeeper
Stefano Sorrentino parried the shot."
GROUP STAGE
Quick Note on the Match:
"A second-half strike from Kaka meant 10-man AC Milan squeezed
past Anderlecht 1-0 in Champions League Group H. The Brazilian
midfielder popped up in the 58th minute to rifle home superbly
from 25 metres to save Milan's blushes following the dismissal
of Daniele Bonera just two minutes after the break for a second
bookable offence."
GROUP STAGE
Quick Note on the Match:
"Kaka scored an early penalty before linking up superbly
with Cafu to double his tally before half time. Kaka saved his
best till last, driving a powerful, angled shot into the top corner
from 20 yards 11 minutes after the restart. AC Milan coach Carlo
Ancelotti hailed the performance of Kaka after the elegant Brazilian's
hat-trick "At this moment in time he is the best player in
the world. He does some extraordinary things with such simplicity.
When he's running with the ball, he can do anything. Right now
I don't think there's anybody better than him," Ancelotti
said of Kaka."
16 -TEAM STAGE 1 st Leg
Quick Note on the Match:
"Celtic's hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals of the
Champions League hang in the balance after an intriguing chess-match
draw with AC Milan. Goalkeeper Artur Boruc's outstretched foot
prevented Alberto Gilardino giving Milan an early lead. Kenny
Miller passed up a couple of half-chances for Celtic. But Milan
were the more dangerous and Rino Gattuso and Gilardino fired wide
as Celtic avoided an away goal."
16 -TEAM STAGE 2 nd Leg
Quick Note on the Match:
"Having matched AC Milan for 180 minutes, Celtic suffered
a cruel extra time loss to exit the Champions League. The visitors
had a strong penalty claim early on when Paolo Maldini used an
arm to block a shot from Jiri Jarosik. Artur Boruc made two excellent
saves to deny Maldini and Clarence Seedorf, while Kaka hit the
bar with a shot. But Kaka drilled in a great solo goal to settle
the tie and end Celtic's European dream for the season."
QUARTER-FINALS 1 st Leg
Quick Note on the Match:
"Andrea Pirlo's 40th-minute header gave Milan a deserved
lead at half-time. But Van Buyten turned in from close range to
draw Bayern level and score a crucial away goal with 12 minutes
left. Kaka put Milan back in front from the spot, but Van Buyten
again striked deep into injury time to levelled from the angle."
QUARTER-FINALS 2 nd Leg
Quick Note on the Match:
"AC Milan scored twice in four minutes to defeat Bayern Munich
in Germany and book a Champions League semi-final with Manchester
United. Clarence Seedorf shot past Oliver Kahn after 17 minutes
before his sublime touch released Filippo Inzaghi to double Milan's
lead from 18 yards. Milan keeper Dida made good saves from Lukas
Podolski and Mark van Bommel. But Milan, who won 4-2 on aggregate,
might have scored more, with Kahn saving low down from Kaka."
SEMI-FINALS 1 st Leg
Quick Note on the Match:
"Wayne Rooney's stunning last-minute winner kept Manchester
United's hopes of reaching the Champions League final alive after
an Old Trafford classic. Cristiano Ronaldo's fifth-minute header
put United in front, only for AC Milan to draw level through Kaka's
angled drive after 21 minutes. Kaka put Milan ahead from close
range before the interval, but Rooney turned in Paul Scholes'
cool pass on the hour. Rooney then lashed a glorious 20-yard finish
past Dida in injury time."
SEMI-FINALS 2nd Leg
Quick Note on the Match:
"Milan started the semi-final 3-2 down but were ahead on
away goals after just 11 minutes when Clarence Seedorf headed
down for Kaka to drill into the corner. Seedorf capitalised on
confusion in the United defence to fire in a second after half
an hour. And substitute Alberto Gilardino broke away to wrap up
an easy win as United limped out in disappointing fashion."
THE FINAL
Quick Note on the Match:
"Pippo Inzaghi struck twice as AC Milan gained revenge for
their 2005 Champions League final defeat against Liverpool with
victory in Athens. Inzaghi scored a freak opener in first-half
injury time, unwittingly deflecting Andrea Pirlo's free-kick past
a wrong-footed Pepe Reina. Steven Gerrard missed a glorious chance
to equalise before Inzaghi slid home a second eight minutes from
time."
