Champions League LiveBlog: AC Milan v Manchester United

By: Bob | May 2nd, 2007

AC Milan and Manchester United are back at it again in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals with a spot in the final against Liverpool in Athens on the line. I’m liveblogging the full 90 minutes so come on in and join in the fun by leaving your thoughts, comments and rants before, during and after the game.

Final: AC Milan 3-0 (Agg 5-3) Manchester United

Full time The whistle has blown and it is AC Milan that will be joining Liverpool in the Champions League final. It was goals from Kaka, Clarence Seedorf and Alberto Gilardino that punched their ticket to the final. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for your comments. This has been a lot of fun. More thoughts on the match on the Manchester United Offside, AC Milan Offside, Italy Offside and Champions League Offside.

Third Goal

89:00 Credit to Milan for playing a solid game all the way around. They never allowed Manchester United to get their attack going and they were more than able to take advantage of Manchester United’s dodgy backline.

87:03 No treble for Manchester United this year but they still can win the league and the FA Cup. Or they could lose both. The game has slowed down and just waiting for it to end.

85:41 Kaka taken out and Fafalli on. Kaka was superb once again. What a joy to watch.

85:00 So then, it will be a Liverpool and Milan rematch. Who do you like in that one?

83:46 Ronaldo gets some payback by taking down Seedorf to earn a yellow. Gattuso being taken out and Cafu on. Smart sub. Get him out before he murders someone.

82:20 Gattuso and Scholes going at one another and Gattuso gets a yellow card for a lifetime thuggery achievement award. He has been brilliant tonight but what a temper.

80:49 Kaka on the ground with a leg cramp which affords an opportunity for Gattuso to fire up the crowd by looking psychotic.

79:23 Milan fans are going nuts as they know that their team is heading for Athens. The Manchester defense has been poor and Milan has taken advantage of it all night.

77:47 GOALLLLLL!!!! Alberto Gilardino is wide open in the middle of the pitch and he calmly puts it into the corner. Milan are going through.

76:57 Right away Saha gets a head on the ball in the box but it is well wide.

76:24 Saha coming on for John O’Shea as United look for more attack.

75:23 Gattuso down with an injury and Heinze is imploring him to live. The magic spray is out and he should be better than new.

74:13 Ambrosini shown a yellow for tackling Scholes. No harm. Ambrosini has been a stud tonight.

74:07 The early goals from Milan have limited the drama. Not quite as exciting as yesterday althought the football has been better. United win a corner and send their big guns up front. It is cleared away without harm.

72:34 Still no subs for United as their initial wave in the second half has slowed down. Milan took the punch and survived. Rooney and Ronaldo both having trouble tonight. Ronaldo with a shot from a play on and he blasts it wide of the goal.

70:00 20 minutes to go and Milan earn a corner. Kaka still working his magic on the pitch but it is the Milan defense which deserves the game ball. Corner is taken and Milan just interested in wasting clock.

68:24 Milan push it forward but seem disinterested in attacking at all. Gilardino is taken down by Vidic. Kind of. Looked like he was shot but turned out to be a soft tackle.

66:31 Gilardino on and Pippo off for AC Milan. A forward switch. Interesting substitution. Maybe Gilardino will play more defensively.

65:28 Oddo was the Milan player who pushed Rooney from behind. Didn’t look like a foul to me at this point in the game. United controlling the ball but struggling to find the goal.

64:10 Manchester United starting to throw their weight forward. Milan more willing to play behind the ball and bunker down. Not sure if that is the way to play this United team. They are capable of goals. Rooney in the box with a bike effort but he got hit and no call.

62:13 United pressing forward but there are a lot of red shirts behind the ball. Cleared away to an attacking Pippo but van der Saar is there. Rooney on the other end to Fletcher who pushes it wide. Good chance.

60:00 Milan are 30 minutes away from advancing to their 11th Champions League final. Given all the scandals in the summer it would have been hard to imagine they would have made it to this point.

58:44 Ronaldo again hits it into the wall. Just isn’t CR7’s night.

58:36 United just not able to get their attack on track as Milan’s defense remains physical and well organized. Ronaldo taken down once again by Gattuso who just ran into him and flattened him. Another set piece from just outside the area.

56:03 Dida collects the corner and once again there is a loud cheer. Maybe he will sell for a higher price now on Ebay.

55:32 Scholes wins a free kick from Gattuso. It is straight on about 40m out. Ronaldo to take it and he strikes it right into the wall for a corner kick.

54:39 Ronaldo with a crossover and a shot that is blocked at the top of the area. Game is really opening up.

52:32 Kaka turns the corner on Vidic and he gets a shot on goal. Big save from van der Saar as Kaka is having his way other there.

52:12 Smith, Saha and Solsjaer on the bench for United who might need an offensive sub soon. Rooney has been absent to this point. We said the same thing in the first leg and he came on strong in the end.

50:00 Pirlo with a poor pass leads to an O’Shea cross that is taken in by Dida who gets a mocking cheer from the fans. Hard to imagine he could be a Champions League winning keeper.

48:19 Kaka trying to pump up the crowd and it works. They are back singing in full force. Shot of Cafu warming up on the sidelines. Can’t imagine he’ll play.

47:45 United rolling it around and Darren Fletcher keeps it alive in the corner. The Milan defense has been solid tonight led by Gattuso who has been on Ronaldo like white on rice. Milan the other way.

46:12 No changes from either manager. Milan starts on the attack and a foul is called on Vidic. Free kick for Milan from 37m. Pirlo skies it once again. Poor strike.

45:01 We’re back underway from the San Siro with the home team sitting in good position. Manchester United need to score at least two goals to stay alive. The winner will face Liverpool in the Champions Leagye final in Athens. Will we see a replay the final from two years ago or will it be an all-English affair? The next 45 minutes should answer that question. Thanks for stopping by and for your comments. Let’s enjoy this one together.

First Half Goals

45:00 After 45 minutes it has been Milan’s day to shine in the Champions League. A strike by Kaka in the 11th minute and a goal by Clarence Seedorf in the 30th minute have put AC Milan ahead in the game and on aggregate. I’ll be back before the start of the next 45. Will Manchester United be able to come back in the second half? What do you think? Your thoughts on what you have seen so far?

43:37 If there is one thing Man U fans can hang their hats on it is the way Milan have had late game collapses in the Champions League this year. They won’t be beaten however if they play this way in the second half.

42:31 Gattuso rides Ronaldo off the ball and the crowd digs it. C-Ron is just getting physically used by the Milan defense. On the other end Wes Brown and van der Saar collide but it comes to nothing. Wes Brown is a disaster sometimes.

41:13 Pippo with a strong shot that just goes wide. Heinze is being burned all night. Milan continue the attack. They have played a beautiful first half.

40:00 Fletcher called for a hand ball that looked accidental. It sets up a set piece from Milan about 30m straight on goal. Pirlo blasts it over the bar. Poor effort from a great free kick taker.

38:13 A goal by the visitors before the half would set up a great second half but Milan’s defense looks none too interested in allowing that to happen. Dida claims a cross in the box without worry.

37:01 Ronaldo taken down and no call. He gives the referee his typical look of disbelief. United continue on and get a corner. Giggs over the ball, he has played 713 times for Manchester United, the referee warns Nesta and Vidic in the box and blows a foul on Manchester.

35:00 Watching Milan play in the Champions League is like night and day from what they have shown in Serie A. Oddo taken down by Heinze and once again Milan pouncing around the box.

32:38 It has been all Milan this half and now Manchester United will need to dig deep to score a couple of road goals if they want to stay alive. Any time you have a keeper like Dida around anything can happen. He hasn’t had much work tonight.

30:49 Terrible play from Wes Brown and Gabriele Heinze before that goal. They looked way too nonchalant and they got burned. Huge hole for Manchester United now.

29:43 GOALLLLLLLLLLL! Clarence Seedorf turns a mistake from Manchester United’s backline into a blast from the top of the area.

28:37 Milan fans doing their White Stripes chant. I loved hearing that one in the World Cup. Ronaldo up the middle and he is beaten up. They are being physical with C-Ron tonight.

26:45 Now Gattuso has his shin pad fall out. He should just play naked. I take that back. He is scary enough. Milan pressure earns a corner which is controlled by van der Saar.

26:21 Gattuso having his shoes tied on the bench. I have that problem too. Can’t tie my shoes. Man U fans are way up in the stadium and look to be in a cage of sorts.

25:38 Kaka goes down like a feather outside the box and the referee correctly laughs at him. He has been a good offficial to this point. No factor at all.

24:32 Milan with 17 clean sheets in 42 games. There is a lot of room out there for both teams. I expect we will see a goal or two more before this is over. Milan with an attack and good work from Seedorf and Giggs.

22:31 United rolling it around and the Milan crowd showing their ability to whistle in unison. Fletcher unable to win it but gets a corner which Giggs takes and it is headed out by Heinze. He is good in the air.

20:48 Manchester United having a better run of it after the goal. They’ve been able to build up their attack a couple of times, but still having problems with Kaka in the middle.

19:28 Giggs has a go from the top of the area and Dida swallows it up. Dida’s first test and he passed it.

17:42 Ronaldo taken down by Gattuso and earns a free kick. Giggs is over it from 36m and it is cleared away in the box. Right back in and Scholes heads it over the goal. He was offside anyway.

16:53 Kaka once against strolling up the middle and Pirlo is able to get off a shot that goes wide.

16:23 It is so much fun watching Pirlo pass. He is so understated but so good. Unable to find Pippo in front of the goal but a nice effort.

15:48 The Milan midfield is owning the middle of the pitch and as a result Manchester United can’t build up their attack. Tough playing from behind when you are on Italian soil.

13:58 It has been all Milan to this point as they continue the full field build up towards the Manchester goal. United have had a knack of coming back in this competition just when they are looking their worst.

12:43 Kaka making claim to being the best in the world at the moment. United need to settle down if they want to stay in this one. Corner for Manchester is cleared away by Milan.

11:27 That was Kaka’s 10th goal of the competition and it was set up by a nice flick from Clarence Seedorf.

10:23 Goallllllllll!!!!!! Kaka with a blast from the top of the box. Pretty finish.

10:06 Ronaldo causing some problems on the left side but the junkyard dog Gattuso is up to the task. I wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley late at night.

9:02 Scholes with a pass that makes you wonder if he even cares about the Champions League. He has been dreadful the past few CL games.

8:32 United have withstood the early attack and it is starting to settle down. Oddo falls on his backside and looks none too pleased about the feeling.

7:12 I have officially determined that liveblogging games like these is not good for my fingers. The sacrifices I make to watch football during the work day.

6:17 Oddo goes forward and Kaka gets a soft shot on goal that is saved. Milan taking it right up the heart of the Manchester defense at the moment.

5:16 Ronaldo with a strong run up the side and unable to finish it to Rooney. Ronaldo blew by Oddo like he was stuck in mud, which given the rain might be the case soon.

4:56 All Milan to this point as United unable to string together any passes and Milan looking hungry for a goal.

3:45 Ronaldo with a give away and Milan back pouncing around the box. Oddo with a weak shot in the box.

2:34 Gattuso wins a free kick and it cleared away only for Seedorf to blast a shot that tests van der Saar. Great shot. Corner to Milan is cleared out.

1:49 Milan opening up attacking like a team that needs a goal, which they do. The crowd sounds great at the San Siro.

:54 Kaka with a dangerous run and he sends a cross in that just goes by Pippo in the box. great pace from Kaka.

:40 It is a shame that all the beautiful hair on the pitch is being ruined by the rain. The pitch looks to be in excellent shape despite the downpour.

Kickoff We’re underway from the San Siro in Milan where AC Milan and Manchester United are meeting in the second leg of their Champions League semifinals tilt. Thanks for stopping by. Your comments are always welcome. Keep them clean, have fun and let’s all enjoy another exciting midweek football contest.

2 minutes to go - The players are out of the tunnel. AC Milan wearing their red and black uniforms. Manchester United dressed in white shirts and black shorts. The rain is streaming down. Looks more like Manchester weather than what you find in Milan. The Champions League anthem is played and now my blood is officially pumping.

5 minutes to go - AC Milan have appeared in the final 10 times and have won the tournament 6 times. Manchester United has two European Cup trophies to their name. Milan has been average this year in Serie A after starting the season in the dock thanks to last year’s scandals. Manchester United is gunning for a treble and their players have played a lot of games this season. Will fatigue play a factor? I doubt it.

10 minutes to go - Much has been made about the questions surrounding the defenses of both clubs. Manchester United has been banged up. AC Milan’s players were born about the same time as when the wheel was first made. But if you look at the offenses you will see that both teams can put the ball in the back of the net. Manchester United has scored 40 goals in their past 10 games. AC Milan has scored 34 goals in the same period. Will we see some more goals this evening? I think we will. Manchester United has not been involved in a scoreless draw all season.

15 minutes to go - The referee for tonight’s contest is Frank De Bleeckere from Belgium. The Belgians make fine beer and fine bicyclists, but what about referees? Let’s hope he plays no role in the contest. The weather in Milan is 15C, it is a cloudy evening and the pitch is described as being “wet”. That should contribute to the number of times we see Cristiano Ronaldo on the turf, as well as the number of times the defenders fall trying to keep up with him.

Teams
Milan: Dida; Massimo Oddo, Alessandro Nesta, Kakha Kaladze, Marek Jankulovski; Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini; Kaká, Clarence Seedorf; Filippo Inzaghi.

Man. United: Edwin van der Sar; John O’Shea, Nemanja Vidić, Wes Brown, Gabriel Heinze; Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick; Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs; Wayne Rooney.

Pregame - After Tuesday’s extended liveblog action my fingers are fully calloused and ready for some more midweek fun. I’m not sure if my heart can take another penalty shoot-out situation, however.

Today’s match promised to be full of drama as well. The scenario is only slightly different. AC Milan is down a goal and playing at home. They do have those two road goals in their bag and that could prove to be huge. The Rossoneri will be without captain Palo Maldini, who is out with a knee problem. He is replaced by Kakha Kaladze . Pippo Inzahi - 40 goals in 67 CL appearances - is back, replacing the ineffective Alberto Gilardino. Gennaro Gattuso is also fit and ready to go.

Manchester United’s fortunes have also been boosted by the return of defenders Namanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand. With Patrice Evra suspended and their backline already short staffed their return takes on even more importance. Vidic gets the start while Ferdinand is available on the bench.

Twice before – in 1958 and 1969 - United lost to Milan in this stage of the competition. Will it happen again today? What are your thoughts and predictions?

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