Real escapes in Mourinho's return to San Siro
Source: Agencies |
November 5, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
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SUBSTITUTE Pedro Leon scored a last-gasp equalizer on Wednesday to give Real Madrid a 2-2 draw at AC Milan that sent the Spanish club through to the Champions League knockout round.
Filippo Inzaghi had earlier come off the bench to score twice and take his Champions League goal tally to 50, as Milan rallied from a 1-0 deficit in Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho's first return to the San Siro since leaving Inter Milan.
But Leon collected a pass in the area in the last seconds of injury time and slotted between the legs of Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.
"It was a great experience for my team to play at the San Siro but my team still has to learn how to play Champions League football," Mourinho said. "In the second half we needed to finish the game off, but instead we nearly lost.
"It is therefore a big lesson for us," he said. "It was a very satisfying goal, it was excellent for Pedro Leon to score his first Champions League goal and really good for us as we qualified."
Madrid dominated the first half and took a deserved lead in the 45th through Gonzalo Higuain.
But Real's Cristiano Ronaldo was not at his best and went down theatrically clutching his face after a minor tangle with Ignazio Abate, prompting anger from Milan fans.
Until Inzaghi came on Milan's only attacking outlet was Alexandre Pato, but Ricardo Carvalho and Marcelo on the left of Madrid's defense easily contained him.
"When Inzaghi came on everyone in the San Siro knew that he was worth putting on," Milan coach Massimo Allegri said. "We played better with him and overcame a difficult period against one of the best teams in the world."
Mourinho made sure to remind everyone of his success as Inter coach. He held up three fingers from the coach window to signify the treble of Champions League, Italian championship and Italian Cup he won last season - the only time a team has won all three trophies in one season.
"Those three fingers weren't for the Milan fans, but Inter fans," Mourinho said. "It meant that they could see from their homes that their ex-boss is still an Inter fan and will never forget those three historic trophies."
The match began at a relentless pace and within the first 10 minutes Madrid twice came close to scoring.
Higuain curled in a low shot that Abbiati pushed away for a corner. Alex then wasted a a good chance by heading into the ground and over from Xabi Alonso's freekick.
Alonso went close himself when he volleyed narrowly wide from long range in the 12th, and a minute later Angel Di Maria took too long to shoot after his pace took him behind Milan's defense.
Andrea Pirlo then came to Milan's rescue by twice heading off the line to deny Higuain and Mesut Oezil.
Such was Madrid's dominance that Milan was forced to rely on the counterattack. Iker Casillas held Kevin Prince Boateng's shot in the 10th and then blocked Zlatan Ibrahimovic's effort after Boateng's run surprised the Madrid back four.
"Real Madrid did well in the first half, but we had three good chances," Allegri said. "Ibrahimovic had two good chances and Boateng brought a good save out of Casillas. Plus there were a few narrow offside decisions.
"But Inzaghi is the sort of player that knows how to fit in and pick up the pace of the game."
Filippo Inzaghi had earlier come off the bench to score twice and take his Champions League goal tally to 50, as Milan rallied from a 1-0 deficit in Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho's first return to the San Siro since leaving Inter Milan.
But Leon collected a pass in the area in the last seconds of injury time and slotted between the legs of Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.
"It was a great experience for my team to play at the San Siro but my team still has to learn how to play Champions League football," Mourinho said. "In the second half we needed to finish the game off, but instead we nearly lost.
"It is therefore a big lesson for us," he said. "It was a very satisfying goal, it was excellent for Pedro Leon to score his first Champions League goal and really good for us as we qualified."
Madrid dominated the first half and took a deserved lead in the 45th through Gonzalo Higuain.
But Real's Cristiano Ronaldo was not at his best and went down theatrically clutching his face after a minor tangle with Ignazio Abate, prompting anger from Milan fans.
Until Inzaghi came on Milan's only attacking outlet was Alexandre Pato, but Ricardo Carvalho and Marcelo on the left of Madrid's defense easily contained him.
"When Inzaghi came on everyone in the San Siro knew that he was worth putting on," Milan coach Massimo Allegri said. "We played better with him and overcame a difficult period against one of the best teams in the world."
Mourinho made sure to remind everyone of his success as Inter coach. He held up three fingers from the coach window to signify the treble of Champions League, Italian championship and Italian Cup he won last season - the only time a team has won all three trophies in one season.
"Those three fingers weren't for the Milan fans, but Inter fans," Mourinho said. "It meant that they could see from their homes that their ex-boss is still an Inter fan and will never forget those three historic trophies."
The match began at a relentless pace and within the first 10 minutes Madrid twice came close to scoring.
Higuain curled in a low shot that Abbiati pushed away for a corner. Alex then wasted a a good chance by heading into the ground and over from Xabi Alonso's freekick.
Alonso went close himself when he volleyed narrowly wide from long range in the 12th, and a minute later Angel Di Maria took too long to shoot after his pace took him behind Milan's defense.
Andrea Pirlo then came to Milan's rescue by twice heading off the line to deny Higuain and Mesut Oezil.
Such was Madrid's dominance that Milan was forced to rely on the counterattack. Iker Casillas held Kevin Prince Boateng's shot in the 10th and then blocked Zlatan Ibrahimovic's effort after Boateng's run surprised the Madrid back four.
"Real Madrid did well in the first half, but we had three good chances," Allegri said. "Ibrahimovic had two good chances and Boateng brought a good save out of Casillas. Plus there were a few narrow offside decisions.
"But Inzaghi is the sort of player that knows how to fit in and pick up the pace of the game."
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