AC Milan 3-1 Celtic (bbc)

Two goals by AC Milan in the final two minutes left Celtic without a point
in Champions League Group F.
Andriy Shevchenko pounced on a Kaka through-ball to drive home from just
inside the box after eight minutes.

Celtic improved after the break and got their reward when Stan Varga headed
in Stilian Petrov's corner.

But substitute Filippo Inzaghi forced home a Shevchenko cross and an Andrea
Pirlo free-kick deflected into the net to win it for the Italians.

Giuseppe Pancaro, Jon Dahl Tomasson and Andrea Pirlo had come into the Milan
line-up instead of Kaka Kaladze, Massimo Ambrosini and Hernan Crespo.

Chris Sutton and Didier Agathe won their fitness battle to start for Celtic,
with Juninho and Momo Sylla dropping to the bench.

Joos Valgaeren, filling in at left back for the injured Jackie McNamara,
lost control on the edge of his own box in the opening seconds and Marshall
had to tip round the post at full stretch.

The breakthrough was not delayed for long, Kaka sending Shevchenko clear in
the box and the Ukraine striker hammered the ball through the arms of the
advancing Marshall.

Celtic crept into the game and Shevchenko cleared a Petrov free-kick clear
with Varga ready to pounce and the Slovak defender headed the resulting
corner a couple of feet over the bar.

Henri Camara lashed the ball well over from just inside the box after a
clever knock-down by John Hartson.

A low drive from Shevchenko was destined for the Celtic net until Bobo Balde
scrambled the ball clear.

Marshall also blocked a powerful effort from Kaka after Balde had lost
possession to Shevchenko.

But Celtic looked more attack-minded after the break and Dida did well to
hold a low drive from Camara.

The Scottish champions lost Alan Thompson to a hamstring injury after 58
minutes and he was replaced in midfield byJuninho.

Another low Camara drive was smothered by the goalkeeper before Celtic
eventually got the equaliser.

Varga rose above Shevchenko to head home a Petrov corner from 12 yards.

It looked like Celtic would collect their first-ever away point in the
Champions League after seven matches.

But Shevchenko broke clear and his low cross into the six-yard box was
forced home by Inzaghi and Pirlo's free-kick deceived Marshall after
striking the head of Neil Lennon.


AC Milan: Dida, Cafu, Nesta, Maldini, Pancaro, Gattuso (Rui Costa 86),
Pirlo, Seedorf (Ambrosini 77), Kaka, Shevchenko, Tomasson (Inzaghi 77).
Subs Not Used: Fiori, Kaladze, Costacurta, Crespo.

Goals: Shevchenko 8, Inzaghi 89, Pirlo 90.

Celtic: Marshall, Agathe, Varga, Balde, Valgaeren, Petrov, Lennon, Sutton,
Thompson (Juninho Paulista 59), Hartson (Sylla 86), Camara. Subs Not Used:
Douglas, Lambert, Laursen, Wallace, McGeady.

Booked: Sutton.

Goals: Varga 74.

Att: 50,000.

Ref: Gilles Veissiere (France).

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/europe/3696378.stm

Published: 2004/09/29 20:37:26 GMT

Celtic (bbc)

Celtic target away points
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP F
AC Milan v Celtic
Date: Weds, 29 September
Venue: San Siro Stadium, Milan
Kick off: 1945 BST

Martin O'Neill says Celtic must end their Champions League drought away from
home in the San Siro to keep their qualification hopes alive.
The Scottish champions face AC Milan without having recorded a single point
in their previous six away matches.

But the Celtic manager said: "We knew how difficult the group was going to
be with two very fine sides in our group.

"So it's a simple equation - we have to try and get something out of the
game to stay in the competition."

History also goes against Celtic, who lost their opening game at home to
Barcelona, with no club from Scotland able to score against the Milanese
giants at the stadium.

"If we are going to qualify then we have to knock out one or the other,
which is a hell of task," said O'Neill.


We definitely need to take something from the game
Celtic midfielder Stilian Petrov

"You have to respect them (Milan) as an excellent team but, if you're saying
that the respect turns into fear, that would present a problem. I don't
think that will be the case.

"I think we have enough belief in ourselves to think we can come here and
perform and that means taking the game to them when it demands."

Midfielder Stilian Petrov believes Celtic must leave Italy on Wednesday with
at least a point.

"If we want to stay in the competition, we definitely need to take something
from the game," said the midfielder.

"Milan didn't start very well in their championship, but I watched their
last game against Lazio, when they won even though they had only 10 men.

"It will be a very hard game for us, but we have to be confident."

Goalkeeper David Marshall added: "It's a poor record we have away from home
in the Champions League and I can't put my finger on why, because we had
good results in the Uefa Cup.

"We went to Anfield and won and we can't say that is any easier than going
to Rosenborg and winning.

"We haven't won a game in the Champions League away and in the Uefa Cup we
were flying, so we need to change that.

"If we concede early doors, we're going to have to go for it and attack. We
won't go there and set our stall out to defend."


Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/3693872.s
tm

Published: 2004/09/29 06:47:58 GMT

© BBC MMIV

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