04/12/2007
Milan bags top spot with win, but Celtic still advances

Filippo Inzaghi became the top all-time scorer in European play, and Celtic advanced to the second round of the Champions League despite the 1-0 loss to AC Milan on Tuesday.

Inzaghi scored in the 70th minute at the San Siro for his 63rd goal in European play, moving him past former Bayern Munich forward Gerd Mueller.

Kaka started the play by passing to Cafu, who carried the ball toward the endline and shifted it back to a waiting Inzaghi in the goalbox.

It was Inzaghi's third goal in four Champions League games this season. He also scored both goals when Milan beat Liverpool in last season's European final.

Real Madrid striker Raul Gonzalez has the most goals in the Champions League with 58.

Milan, which had already qualified, finished first in Group D with 13 points.

"We have a lot of objectives this season and this was one of them, winning the group to position ourselves well to defend the cup,'' Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

Celtic placed second in the group with nine points to reach the knockout round for the second straight season.

"We must be pleased to get out of that group,'' Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said. "I think that could have been the hardest of the group. To get through is just wonderful for the club.''

Benfica beat Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 in the other group game and finished third with seven points to qualify for the UEFA Cup. Shakhtar was last with six points.

Oscar Cardozo scored for Benfica in the sixth and 22nd minutes, and Cristiano Lucarelli converted a penalty for Shakhtar in the 30th.

Both matches were moved up a week to accommodate Milan's trip to Japan for the Club World Cup. Milan departs for Asia on Wednesday and will have nine days of rest before the semifinals of the tournament, followed by a possible final with Boca Juniors.

Chelsea, FC Barcelona, Manchester United, AS Roma, Inter Milan, Sevilla and Arsenal have also reached the second round. The other seven places will be decided next week.

Milan rested its top defensive line and goalkeeper Dida sat out with an apparent stomach problem.

Zeljko Kalac played for Dida, while Cafu, Daniele Bonera, Dario Simic and Giuseppe Favalli lined up in defense.

Milan could have won the group even with a draw, and Celtic would have ensured qualification with a draw even if Shakhtar had beaten Benfica. In the first half, it appeared both sides were content to stay scoreless.

"It's normal when you have two teams that can be content with a draw there isn't much action,'' Ancelotti said. "We played very controlled in the first half and we pushed more in the second.''

The best chances of the first half were a long shot by Kaka that sailed wide in the 26th, an effort that went right at Kalac by Jiri Jarosik in the 39th and an angled attempt from Clarence Seedorf that missed high in the 44th.

Andrea Pirlo sent a free kick wide in the 47th and Inzaghi had his first look in the 49th but couldn't get a shot on goal.

Scott Brown may have had Celtic's best chance in the 56th when he slipped behind Milan's defense but he kicked nowhere near the goal.

Brown put another attempt on target in the 85th that Kalac collected.

Inzaghi had another clear chance at the end but slipped just as Kaka was about to pass him the ball.

Inzaghi holds a slim lead over two other active players on the all-time scoring list. Andriy Shevchenko and Raul are tied for third with 60 goals each.

Several Milan players picked up bangs and bruises, including Seedorf, Gennaro Gattuso and Simic, who was replaced by Kakha Kaladze in the 30th.

Before the game, Kaka was presented with the Golden Ball trophy by the director of France Football, earning a standing ovation from the crowd -- including the Celtic supporters.
Benfica 2, Shakhtar Donetsk 1

DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) -- Oscar Cardozo scored two goals Tuesday to lead Benfica over Shakhtar 2-1 in the Champions League and send Celtic to the second round.

Shakhtar, which could have advanced with a win, is now eliminated from European play because Benfica took third place with seven points and will drop into the UEFA Cup.

Cardozo gave Benfica an early lead, capitalizing on Shakhtar's mistake to beat goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov in the sixth minute. He doubled the lead in the 22nd, heading in Maxi Pereira's cross from the right.

Cristiano Lucarelli got one back for the hosts by scoring from the penalty spot in the 30th minute.

Benfica goalkeeper Quim made two saves, stopping shots from Jadson from inside the box.

Pereira missed the target three minutes before halftime.

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05.12.2007 10:38 +0300
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