Milan, Champions League Winner

Milan is the European Champion!!! The final match of UEFA Champions League played in Athens Olympic Stadium ended with Milan win over Liverpool by 2-1.

The game was attractive in the first half because both teams is playing very good defense in each defensive areas even there was few chances created. Liverpool controlled most of the first half, but AC Milan lead Liverpool by one goal. The goal was scored by Filippo Inzaghi in the last minute at the first half. The goal was crowned to Inzaghi after he deflected Pirlo's free kick from 22 meters distances following a foul on Kaka by Alonso. The shot meant to bend around the right side of the Liverpool wall hit Inzaghi on the shoulder and was redirected to the middle of goal. Lucky deflection. Pepe Reina had no chance. 1-0 for Milan.

In the second half, Pirlo almost bring Milan to lead by two goals, but his freekick was too high from the bar. Then Inzaghi also missed the chance when he got one on one with the Liverpool goalkeeper and the ball was blocked by Liverpool defense. And then Dida saved Gerrard shoot in 66 minute. Ten minutes later, Riise and Gerrard missed the chances to drew the score after their shoots went wide.

Liverpool tried to equal the score but Inzaghi doubled Milan lead by his goal in 82 minute when he passed the offside trap of Liverpool defenders and scored with a delightful sidefooted shot underneath the diving Reina after the ball being sent clear inside the area by a neat pass from Kaka. He celebrated wildly by grabbing the corner flag and shaking it. Funny!!

Then Kuyt scored the goal after his header found the Dida's net in 88 minute. The goal raised up Liverpool hope to drew and win the title in the extra time or by penalty shootout, just like what they did in Istambul two years ago. But that was the last goal of the match and there was no dramatic comeback from Liverpool. Liverpool got nothing in this championship, but the runner-up title.

Final score is AC Milan win 2-1 over Liverpool. And Milan take the tropy back home to Italy. It's truly Inzaghi and Milan's night.... Great!!



Inzaghi scored his second goal.

Line Up:
AC Milan: 1-Dida; 44-Massimo Oddo, 13-Alessandro Nesta, 3-Paolo Maldini, 18-Marek Jankulovski (4-Kakha Kaladze 80); 8-Gennaro Gattuso, 21-Andrea Pirlo, 23-Massimo Ambrosini, 10-Clarence Seedorf (19-Giuseppe Favalli 90+2), 22-Kaka; 9-Filippo Inzaghi (11-Alberto Gilardino 90).
Booked: Gattuso, Jankulovski.
Goals: Inzaghi 45, 82.

Liverpool: 25-Pepe Reina; 3-Steve Finnan (2-Alvaro Arbeloa 88), 5-Daniel Agger, 23-Jamie Carragher, 6-John-Arne Riise; 16-Jermaine Pennant, 20-Javier Mascherano (15-Peter Crouch 78), 14-Xabi Alonso, 8-Steven Gerrard 32-Boudewijn Zenden (7-Harry Kewell 60); 18-Dirk Kuyt
Booked: Mascherano, Carragher.
Goals: Kuyt 88.

Attendance: 74,000

Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany).