Post by maxell on May 23, 2007 21:53:07 GMT -5
Redemption in Athens
AC Milan tops Liverpool 2-1 in Champions League final
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- AC Milan made sure there was no Liverpool comeback this time.
Filippo Inzaghi scored two goals and Milan did it by the book to win European soccer's biggest prize for the seventh time Wednesday, beating Liverpool 2-1 in the Champions League final.
It was a repeat meeting of their 2005 final when Milan tossed away a 3-0 halftime lead to lose on penalties after a 3-3 draw that become one of the greatest finals in the competition's 52-year history.
This one didn't really get out of second gear.
Inzaghi deflected in a free kick by Andrea Pirlo in the final minute of the first half and ran clear to shoot past Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina in the 82nd. Although Dirk Kuyt replied for Liverpool with a minute to go, this time there was to be no extra time and no penalty shootout.
"It's the complete opposite," said Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, whose goal began the comeback in Istanbul two years ago. "You've got to take it on the chin, move on and try to pick yourself up but at the moment it's heartbreaking. We gave everything but it wasn't to be tonight."
Milan moved within two of Real Madrid's all-time record of nine European Cup triumphs while Liverpool stays with five.
Milan captain Paolo Maldini, becoming the oldest non-goalkeeper to take part in a final at a month short of his 39th birthday, went up to collect his fifth winners' medal, one short of the competition record by Real Madrid's Francisco Gento.
Clarence Seedorf won his fourth Champions League medal and Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has now won the European title twice as a player, in 1989 and '90, and twice as a coach, in 2003 and 2007.
As in the 2005 final, the sea of red of Liverpool fans at one end of the stadium outnumbered the red and black of Milan at the other.
"The defeat two years ago will stay me for a lifetime. But this is a different story. It's our turn to celebrate now," Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso said.
Maldini, who scored a rare goal in the opening minute in Istanbul, made a mark as soon as the game in Athens kicked off. He made his eighth appearance in the competition's final, tying Gento's long-established mark dating back to 1966.
This time, Milan scored in the final minute of the half rather than the first.
Kaka went down under a challenge from Xabi Alonso outside the Liverpool area and Pirlo's free kick brushed Inzaghi and deflected past Reina.
"I thought we started well," Gerrard said. "We were in control just how we like to be but when you do that you've got to score. They got the first goal, with a bit of luck, but it was a big lift for them."
It was an amazing end to a half that had few chances, Milan goalkeeper Dida blocking a shot from Jermaine Pennant in the 10th minute and Kaka forcing Reina to make a low diving stop in the 17th.
Milan made the most of its few first-half chances, with Pippo Inazghi (left) putting Andrea Pirlo's free kick past Pepe Reina.
Playing in a more attacking role than usual, Gerrard should have equalized in the 61st when Gattuso gave the ball away 25 meters from his own goal and the Liverpool captain ran clear. He didn't get any power on his shot, however, and Dida raced off his line to make a blocking save.
Gerrard's failure to score reflected his lack of influence on the game. Usually adept at surging through from deep positions, he had been told to support Kuyt and the plan clearly didn't work.
When he found himself in a more familiar position in the 73rd minute, he moved into a shooting position 25 meters out and sent a low shot just past the far post.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez sent on Harry Kewell for Boudewijn Zenden and Peter Crouch for Javier Mascherano to line up two strikers and two wingers to try and unlock the Milan defense. But his defense was cut apart by the slick move that brought Inzaghi's second goal in the 82nd minute.
The Milan midfielders were strolling around unchallenged inside the Liverpool area before Kaka's pass put Inzaghi clear. Reina raced off his line but the striker pushed the ball to one side and then rolled it past him into an empty net to the dismay of the Liverpool fans behind the goal.
That meant that Liverpool had to come back from two goals down with eight minutes to go. The English team managed three in six minutes in Istanbul, but only Kuyt's header this time as Milan captured title No. 7.
AC Milan tops Liverpool 2-1 in Champions League final
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- AC Milan made sure there was no Liverpool comeback this time.
Filippo Inzaghi scored two goals and Milan did it by the book to win European soccer's biggest prize for the seventh time Wednesday, beating Liverpool 2-1 in the Champions League final.
It was a repeat meeting of their 2005 final when Milan tossed away a 3-0 halftime lead to lose on penalties after a 3-3 draw that become one of the greatest finals in the competition's 52-year history.
This one didn't really get out of second gear.
Inzaghi deflected in a free kick by Andrea Pirlo in the final minute of the first half and ran clear to shoot past Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina in the 82nd. Although Dirk Kuyt replied for Liverpool with a minute to go, this time there was to be no extra time and no penalty shootout.
"It's the complete opposite," said Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, whose goal began the comeback in Istanbul two years ago. "You've got to take it on the chin, move on and try to pick yourself up but at the moment it's heartbreaking. We gave everything but it wasn't to be tonight."
Milan moved within two of Real Madrid's all-time record of nine European Cup triumphs while Liverpool stays with five.
Milan captain Paolo Maldini, becoming the oldest non-goalkeeper to take part in a final at a month short of his 39th birthday, went up to collect his fifth winners' medal, one short of the competition record by Real Madrid's Francisco Gento.
Clarence Seedorf won his fourth Champions League medal and Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has now won the European title twice as a player, in 1989 and '90, and twice as a coach, in 2003 and 2007.
As in the 2005 final, the sea of red of Liverpool fans at one end of the stadium outnumbered the red and black of Milan at the other.
"The defeat two years ago will stay me for a lifetime. But this is a different story. It's our turn to celebrate now," Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso said.
Maldini, who scored a rare goal in the opening minute in Istanbul, made a mark as soon as the game in Athens kicked off. He made his eighth appearance in the competition's final, tying Gento's long-established mark dating back to 1966.
This time, Milan scored in the final minute of the half rather than the first.
Kaka went down under a challenge from Xabi Alonso outside the Liverpool area and Pirlo's free kick brushed Inzaghi and deflected past Reina.
"I thought we started well," Gerrard said. "We were in control just how we like to be but when you do that you've got to score. They got the first goal, with a bit of luck, but it was a big lift for them."
It was an amazing end to a half that had few chances, Milan goalkeeper Dida blocking a shot from Jermaine Pennant in the 10th minute and Kaka forcing Reina to make a low diving stop in the 17th.
Milan made the most of its few first-half chances, with Pippo Inazghi (left) putting Andrea Pirlo's free kick past Pepe Reina.
Playing in a more attacking role than usual, Gerrard should have equalized in the 61st when Gattuso gave the ball away 25 meters from his own goal and the Liverpool captain ran clear. He didn't get any power on his shot, however, and Dida raced off his line to make a blocking save.
Gerrard's failure to score reflected his lack of influence on the game. Usually adept at surging through from deep positions, he had been told to support Kuyt and the plan clearly didn't work.
When he found himself in a more familiar position in the 73rd minute, he moved into a shooting position 25 meters out and sent a low shot just past the far post.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez sent on Harry Kewell for Boudewijn Zenden and Peter Crouch for Javier Mascherano to line up two strikers and two wingers to try and unlock the Milan defense. But his defense was cut apart by the slick move that brought Inzaghi's second goal in the 82nd minute.
The Milan midfielders were strolling around unchallenged inside the Liverpool area before Kaka's pass put Inzaghi clear. Reina raced off his line but the striker pushed the ball to one side and then rolled it past him into an empty net to the dismay of the Liverpool fans behind the goal.
That meant that Liverpool had to come back from two goals down with eight minutes to go. The English team managed three in six minutes in Istanbul, but only Kuyt's header this time as Milan captured title No. 7.
