AC Milan vs Celtic, 2007/08 UEFA Champions League, 2007 First Phase

· UEFA Champions League

AC Milan

70': Filippo Inzaghi

FT
1 - 0

Celtic

About

AC Milan are hosting Celtic at Giuseppe Meazza, , , starting on . The match is a part of the UEFA Champions League.

Match Timeline

0': The team news is in for tonight's crucial tie at the San Siro. Celtic coach Gordon Strachan surprisingly dropps Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink from his starting XI. Scott McDonald is named as the lone striker while as expected, Artur Boruc plays in goal despite fears of a problematic knee.
0': Goalkeeper Dida is given the night off by AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, with Celjko Kalac taking the Brazilian's place. Ancelotti opts to play with Clarence Seedorf and newly-crowned European Footballer of the Year Kaka in support of forward Filippo Inzaghi.
0': Here we go then. Celtic need a point to take them through. Milan are already there but a point for them would see them win the group. Eyes will also be cast on Benfica's tie with Shakhtar Donetsk. If the Ukrainians don't win there, Celtic will go through.
0': The wonderful Kaka is presented the Ballon d'or and shows off the trophy to the San Siro crowd. Kick off is imminent.
1': AC Milan get us under way.
2': The pitch is quite honestly, shocking. There's been little to no watering before hand and it's like a gravel path out there.
3': Plenty of changes in the Milan line-up but still an awesome front line. A few eyebrows were raised when Anchelotti left out Dida and switched his back four around, though.
4': Seedorf sets off on a bruising run through the centre and is well blocked off by Paul Hartley who stood firm in the tackle.
6': Great news for Celtic as Benfica go ahead in Ukraine. It was totally against the run of play but Celtic won't mind. It's displayed on the scoreboard hear and the Bhoys fans go wild.
6': A win for the Portuguese there would make Celtic's life a whole lot easier. Still, they'll want to make sure themselves in Italy.
7': Clarence Seedorf is running things in the middle of the park. You wouldn't think he's playing against three central midfielders but he's outplaying all of them at the moment.
9': Curse of the commentator strikes again. The Dutchman gets clattered from behind by Aidan McGeady and looks to be struggling. Let's hope he can shake it off.
10': He hobbles gingerly back on to the field but Seedorf's obviously not happy.
11': Slow start to the game which you would think would suit both sides. Not too much endeavour and it's all rather pedestrian out there.
12': A few heavy touches, most notably from Pirlo only lead to a scrappy spell of play. Neither side able to get their foot on the ball and keep it for too long.
14': Inzaghi is the latest to send his pass astray. But Celtic aren't punishing Milan and the Italians are slowly beginning to gain ground.
15': Inzaghi falls rather easily to the deck and gives Milan a free-kick just outside the area. Danger.
16': Kaka lays it off for Seedorf who tries to clip it over the wall but the barracade does its job and blocks the Dutchman's effort.
17': Important tackle from McManus prevents Kaka from bearing down on goal. He read it perfectly and crisply took the ball from the mercurial Brazilian.
18': Nothing doing for Celtic up front. Kalac has not had a shot, cross, header, you name it, to deal with. Surely Celtic can't keep this up?
19': Ambrosini drags a bobbling effort five yards wide as Milan look to step up the pace. Celtic can't get out of their own half.
20': At last a moment of restpite for Celtic. McGeady bursts out of midfield before being stopped in his tracks.
22': Another huge roar breaks out around the San Siro. No Celtic haven't found the net, but Benfica have and that means that Shakhtar need three goals to have any chance of going through.
23': It's all looking good for the Scottish side. Over 5000 Hoops fans are singing away and saluting Oscar Cardozo's second strike of the match.
24': Celtic win their first corner but Bonera defends it well as he outjumps Caldwell to head clear.
25': McManus gives the ball away to Kaka. Not the brightest thing he's ever done. But the Brazilian can't quite wrap his boot around his shot and it drifts just wide of the post.
27': Inzaghi sets off on a trademark run inside the box and tries to nip in on Ambrosini's cross. He sticks out a boot but can't deflect it beyond Boruc who makes an easy take.
29': A enforced change for Milan sees Dario Simic come off for Kakha Kaladze. He picked up a knock in a clash and that's him back in the bath.
30': This makes things interesting. Shakhtar pull one back against Benfica. 2-1 to the Portuguese now but getting nervy.
31': Celtic have got almost everyone back as Milan inch closer and closer to Boruc's goal. More menace from the hosts now but Celtic holding firm.
32': Celtic will kick themselves if they don't hold on at least until the break. They've given the ball away countless times and Milan won't need too many invitations to take a chance.
34': The visitors aren't too pleased with Inzaghi. That's three times he's gone down too easily and Strachan is fuming on the sidelines.
36': Every time Celtic do manage to get upfield there's precious few options for the forwards/forward. It aint pretty!
37': At least McDonald is holding up play when he receives it. It may only be crumbs but it's helping Celtic relieve some of the pressure.
38': Milan are by no means on fire and a little bit more belief from Jarosik and McDonald will be important if Celtic want to survive.
39': All hands to the pump in the Celtic box as Gattuso's cross causes panic. Inzaghi's in there but Caldwell steps up and catches him off from Ambrosini's shot.
41': Inzaghi sees a half chance float over the box after failing to direct Gattuso's cross goalwards.
43': Corner for Milan and Seedorf creates and almost finishes it. He toe pokes it and it fizzes off over the bar.
44': Two minutes will be added for Celtic to survive the first half.
45': The half time whistle has gone in Donetsk and it's good news for Celtic. Not much going on in this one, mind.
45': HALF-TIME: AC MILAN 0-0 CELTIC
45': Not a game for the purists but certainly one for Celtic fans. They're holding their own against the champs while offering precious little going forward. As it stands they're heading through.
45': We're back under way.
46': So far so good for Celtic. No shots, no chances but crucially no goals conceded.
47': Scott Brown picks up a silly yellow card. He went in rashly on Seedorf and earns a yellow, ruling him out of Celtic's next European match. Careless.
47': Pirlo cracks the free-kick and it swirls like a sidewinding heatseeker. Fortunately for Brouc it does too much and fires behind.
48': Inzaghi tries to poach Kaka's deflected effort but he slashes at it with his left and the angle had him beaten. Goal kick.
50': Celtic gain some ground after Favalli's mistake. Brown fires in a cross that begged for a touch but no-one was in sight of it.
52': Tempo is at walking pace again. It's never really got out of of first gear and Celtic aren't rushing things at all.
54': Glorious chance for Celtic and they should be ahead. McManus plays through the pass of all passes for Brown. With all the time and space in the world he snatches at it and fluffs his chance.
55': Brown saw his moment for glory there and just lost his composure at the critical moment. Will he be made to regret it?
56': A goal for Milan and two for Shakhtar would send the Celts packing, don't forget. Plenty of ifs but it's not over yet.
57': And back come Milan putting Celtic under pressure once more. Seedorf crashes a half volley into Caldwell who throws himself in the line of fire.
59': Incredible moment sees Inzaghi waste an unbelieavable chance. He thought he was offside and simply nodded into Boruc's hands who also thought he was off. He was five yards out with an open net and the relief on Boruc's face says it all.
60': Milan dominating possession now, spraying it around the park with ease. Celtic look to be settling for seeing this one out.
61': Although they're controlling matters, Milan aren't in a hurry to finish Celtic off. A point will do for them to top the group, remember.
63': Kaka lifts a left-footer over the bar from 20 yards. Half chance but another warning.
65': Celtic change things up top with McDonald making way for Venegoor of Hesselink.
66': The chances of a Celtic away goal aren't too good. They haven't scored away from Celtic park in the Champions League this campaign and it doesn't look like theat will change tonight.
69': GOAL: AC MILAN 1-0 CELTIC
69': PIPPO INZAGHI forces home Cafu's cross from the the dead ball line from five yards and Celtic are behind again. Cafu's run made it and Inzaghi couldn't miss.
69': That's number 63 for the goal machine Inzaghi. Celtic will need to respond now, or hope that things stay the same in Ukraine.
71': McGeady gives Kalac a save to make. It come from a set piece as he whips the free-kick up and over the wall only for Kalac to smother.
72': The Celtic fans are still singing away, they can sense the knockout stages despite being behind.
73': Yoann Gourcuff comes on for Pirlo to give the Italian a rest.
75': Celtic are maintaining their workrate and pressing the play as much as possible. But Milan's class is beginning to tell.
75': Cafu has a go from a long way out. It was a 30-yarder but had no pace on it and bobbles into Boruc's arms.
76': Jarosik makes way for Zurawski. He worked hard but had little impact and trudges off.
78': Kaka again pulling the strings and after a scramble in the box, the ball falls to the World Player of the Year and he fires over from the edge.
79': Plenty of pressure on the Celtic goal now. It's not quite a siege but enough to get Celtic worried.
80': Wonderful double save from Boruc. The first from an Ambrosini low drive, the second from an Inzaghi follow up. Great agility.
81': Terrific effort from Brown. He made room for himself inside the box and forced Kalac into a decent save at shoulder height.
82': The corner is high and deep and Milan clear with ease. Still no change in Donetsk.
84': Brocci has a dig from 25 yards but Boruc watches it well and gets across to make a diving save.
85': Gattuso takes one in the ribcage and is winded temporarily. He should be ok to see this one out though.
86': Celtic are heading for yet another away defeat, but at the moment it won't matter one bit. They look to be heading through unless a miracle occurs in Donetsk.
88': Hesselink wastes a header after fine work from Brown down the left. He glanced at the header and got it all wrong, nodding wide.
89': Three minutes will be added here but it's all but over in Ukraine.
90': Courcuff almost grabs a second for Milan but fires his close-range effort straight at Boruc.
91': Kaka brings the evening to life by rushing past the Celtic defence and keeper only to be denied at the last by a diving Sno challenge. Wonderful!
92': McGeady up the other end fires off a drive that whistles wide.
93': FULL-TIME: AC MILAN 1-0 CELTIC
93': Celtic qualify for the knockout stages thanks to Benfica's win over Shakhtar Donetsk. They didn't play well in the San Siro but will be delighted to progress. Milan top the group, while Benfica claim the Uefa Cup spot.

Statistics

CEL		MIL
14	Fouls	18
1	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
2	Offsides	2
2	Corner Kicks	3
4	Saves	3
37	Possession	63
7	SHOTS	26
3	ON GOAL	5
0.4	On Target %	0.2
0	Penalty Goals	0
0	Penalty Kicks Taken	0
269	Accurate Passes	505
346	Passes	588
0.8	Pass Completion %	0.9
2	Accurate Crosses	6
9	Crosses	29
0.2	Cross %	0.2
52	Long Balls	39
26	Accurate Long Balls	20
0.5	Long Balls %	0.5
0	Blocked Shots	9
19	Effective Tackles	28
29	Tackles	33
0.7	Tackle %	0.8
0	Interceptions	0
30	Effective Clearances	11
53	Clearances	19

Game Information

Competition: UEFA Champions League

Venue: Giuseppe Meazza
Location: ,

Line-Ups

AC Milan

No.	Name
1	Dida (GK)
16	Zeljko Kalac (GK)
25	Daniele Bonera
19	Giuseppe Favalli
2	Cafu
17	Dario Simic
22	Kaká
21	Andrea Pirlo
8	Gennaro Gattuso
23	Massimo Ambrosini
10	Clarence Seedorf
9	Filippo Inzaghi

AC Milan Substitutes:

Yoann Gourcuff, Willy Aubameyang, Alberto Gilardino, Massimo Oddo, Kakha Kaladze, Christian Brocchi, Valerio Fiori.

Celtic

No.	Name
1	Artur Boruc (GK)
17	Steven Pressley
48	Darren O'Dea
44	Stephen McManus
5	Gary Caldwell
20	Jirí Jarosík
11	Paul Hartley
18	Massimo Donati
8	Scott Brown
46	Aiden McGeady
27	Scott McDonald

Celtic Substitutes:

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Paul Caddis, Maciej Zurawski, Chris Killen, Dianbobo Balde, Mark Brown, Evander.

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