Celtic booked their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League despite being beaten by Milan in the San Siro.
Benfica boost for Strachan's men
Celtic booked their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League despite being beaten by Milan in the San Siro.
Gordon Strachan's side went into the game needing a point to be certain of finishing second in Group D, but with Shakhtar Donetsk going down 2-1 at home to Benfica, the Scottish giants were able to celebrate regardless of their own result.
Filippo Inzaghi broke Gerd Muller's European goalscoring record with his 63rd in continental competition, firing home from close range in the 70th minute after Kaka and Cafu had combined superbly down the right to carve out the chance.
Inzaghi had earlier contrived to produce one of the misses of the season, heading the ball into the grateful Artur Boruc's arms from point-blank range with the goal at his mercy after Giuseppe Favalli's clever chipped cross.
Scott Brown, who had Celtic's two best chances, will miss the first leg of the last 16 fixture after being booked just after the interval for a late challenge on Clarence Seedorf, who was making his 100th Champions League appearance.
Dida rested
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti rested several of his regular players, including Brazilian goalkeeper Dida, with Zeljko Kalac taking his place in goal.
Dida had controversially faked injury at the end of the first game between the sides in Glasgow and was subsequently banned by UEFA - and Ancelotti's decision kept him out of the spotlight.
In the 15th minute, Stephen McManus gave away a dangerous free-kick after bringing down Inzaghi just outside the area but Milan wasted a good chance with Seedorf's effort going straight into the wall.
Celtic were happy to sit back and hit Milan in the counter-attack but lacked the incisive cutting edge to break the Rossoneri defence.
In the 25th minute, Kaka fired wide of the near post and soon after Favalli found Inzaghi inside the area - but his first touch went straight into Boruc's hands.
Ancelotti was forced to make his first substitution on the half-hour mark with Kakha Kaladze replacing the injured Dario Simic.
Jiri Jarosik was the first to test Kalac with his right-footed effort after 39 minutes from a central position proving an easy catch for the keeper.
Milan almost broke the deadlock shortly before half-time with Favalli's ball finding Seedorf inside the area - but the Dutchman's powerful strike went high over the crossbar.
Fizzed wide
The home side picked up where they left off after the restart as Pirlo's swerving free-kick fizzed wide of the far post and, seconds later, Inzaghi's angled effort from inside the box went wide as Milan got closer.
In the 55th minute Brown missed a golden chance to put Celtic in front when he dragged his shot wide after collecting McManus' superb long ball out of defence.
Milan returned the favour shortly after, with Favalli's cross from the left finding an unmarked Inzaghi - but his header went straight to the keeper's hands.
Just past the hour mark, Kaka's left-footed strike went over, and soon after Strachan made his first substitution, with Vennegoor of Hesselink replacing McDonald. But it failed to spark Celtic as Milan took the lead shortly after.
Double save
Kaka played in Cafu inside the area, and he squared for Inzaghi to fire past Boruc from close range.
Milan should have doubled their lead 13 minutes from time, but Boruc made a spectacular double save to deny Cristian Brocchi and Inzaghi.
Shortly after, Brown warmed the hands of Kalac with a stinging drive which the keeper palmed away for a corner.
Celtic could have equalised with two minutes remaining but Vennegoor of Hesselink's header from Brown's cross from the left was off target.
At the death, substitute Evander Sno had to make a last-ditch challenge to deny Kaka - and soon after the final whistle meant both sets of players and fans were celebrating qualification.
| Milan |
Team Statistics |
Celtic |
|
| 1 |
Goals |
0 |
|
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
|
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
3 |
|
| 12 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
|
| 10 |
Blocked Shots |
0 |
|
| 3 |
Corners |
2 |
|
| 18 |
Fouls |
14 |
|
| 2 |
Offsides |
2 |
|
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
|
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
|
| 86.4 |
Passing Success |
78 |
|
| 30 |
Tackles |
29 |
|
| 90 |
Tackles Success |
69 |
|
| 63.3 |
Possession |
36.7 |
|
| 63.4 |
Territorial Advantage |
36.6 |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
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| |
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