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Champions out but Milan keep eye on the prize
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-09 08:32
Although Liverpool battled bravely to defend their crown and hit the post
twice, they failed to score for a fourth successive Champions League match as
their 14-game campaign, which began in the first qualifying round last July,
ended in a shattering anti-climax.
AC Milan's Filippo
Inzaghi (front) challenges Michael Ballack of Bayer Munich during their
Champions League first knockout round second leg soccer match in Milan,
Italy March 8, 2006. [Reuters] |
It was Benfica's first away win in the Champions League at the 11th attempt
and, though they remain outsiders, the victory keeps them on course to lift the
European Cup for the first time since their back-to-back successes in 1961 and
1962.
MILAN FOCUSED
Milan, who lost last season's final to Liverpool in Istanbul on penalties,
remain focused on a seventh European success by advancing to the last eight with
a 4-1 win over Bayern after the first leg had finished 1-1 in Germany.
Filippo Inzaghi fashioned Milan's success with two goals, taking his total in
European competition to 50, while Andriy Shevchenko, who missed a penalty,
scored soon after that miss with a superbly executed header. Kaka added a fourth
late on.
Bayern had given themselves some hope when Valerien Ismael took advantage of
a slip by Milan keeper Dida in the 35th minute to make the score 2-1.
However, the Italians showed no signs of faltering and stretched their
unbeaten home Champions League record to 12 matches -- a new club record.
ARSENAL THROUGH
Arsenal also reached the quarter-finals after a goalless draw with Real
Madrid at Highbury following their stunning 1-0 win at the Bernabeu in the first
leg.
Despite the lack of goals the match was high on excitement and goalmouth
action with both sides hitting the woodwork.
Spaniard Jose Antonio Reyes should have scored against his countrymen but
wrapped a shot against the bar in the first half while Raul hit the post for
Madrid in the second.
Arsenal have now played six Champions League matches without conceding a goal
-- just one match short of Milan's all-time record of seven games between
November 2004 and April last year.
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