Shakhtar 0 - 3 Milan
AC Milan moved clear at the Group D summit as three second-half goals saw them claim a flattering 3-0 victory away to FC Shakhtar Donetsk on a night when Filippo Inzaghi equalled Gerd Müller's record of 62 UEFA club competition goals.
Proven class
Goalless at half-time, the UEFA Champions League holders made their class tell after the restart, and it was substitute Inzaghi that did much of the damage. Entering the fray on 63 minutes he took just three minutes to find the breakthrough, thrashing the ball into the corner of the net after being released by Andrea Pirlo. Kaká added a second soon after before Inzaghi rounded off the win in added time.
Liedholm honoured
The crowd observed an impeccable minute's silence in honour of Rossoneri legend Nils Liedholm who died on Monday at the age of 85. In freezing temperatures in Donetsk it was stirring stuff and both teams began with purpose. Serginho warmed Andriy Pyatov's hands with a long-range effort before the home side began to pose a threat themselves. Having warned his side before the game about the need to improve their defending at set-pieces, Mircea Lucescu's charges twice went close themselves from dead-ball situations.
Dead-ball threat
Răzvan Raţ fizzed a free-kick just wide from nearly 30 metres on eight minutes though when Milan committed a foul nearer the touchline soon after it was Jadson that took the honours. The 24-year-old delivered a pinpoint cross that Dmytro Chygrynskiy, in space, contrived to direct straight into the arms of Dida. Milan were lacking their usual creativity but a simple long ball almost proved deadly as Alberto Gilardino collected the ball inside the box but his shot was well blocked.
Serginho struggle
Gilardino went close again midway through the half, Serginho's cross just evading him but gradually Shakhtar came into their own as memories of the 4-2 defeat in the reverse fixture a fortnight ago faded. Milan left-back Serginho was struggling to cope with the presence of Darijo Srna and Ilsinho and the latter released Cristiano Lucarelli, whose effort was blocked by Alessandro Nesta. Srna forced Dida to tip his screaming goal-bound effort out. The visitors ended the half on top and although Shakhtar briefly redressed the balance soon after the restart when Fernandinho squeezed an effort just the wrong side of the upright, Milan began to make their class tell.
Warning
Massimo Ambrosini gave significant warning when he hit the post after Pirlo's free-kick on 56 minutes, yet Shakhtar did not heed it and were soon punished as Inzaghi pounced. Forced into action the hoses went close when Brandão tested Dida with a header but on 72 minutes Kaká made theirs an almost impossible task as he fired in after being teed up by Inzaghi. With Ukraine prime minister Viktor Yanukovich in the crowd, Shakhtar refused to wilt as Jadson, Srna and substitute Olexandr Gladkiy all went close before Inzaghi completed their misery in the third minute of added time, collecting the ball from Kaká and firing in as Milan went three points clear in Group D.
Celtic 1-0 Benfica
A deflected shot from Aiden McGeady at the end of the first half kept Celtic FC's qualification hopes alive following their 1-0 victory against ten-man SL Benfica, who had Augustin Binya sent off four minutes from time.
McGeady impresses
The Republic of Ireland midfielder had been given the playmaker's role in the absence of the injured Shunsuke Nakamura and the 21-year-old rose to the challenge by scoring his first UEFA Champions League goal to move Celtic on to six points and into a share of second place in Group D.
Boruc saves
Gordon Strachan kept faith with the same team that beat Kilmarnock FC at the weekend but the Celtic manager made a tactical alteration with McGeady deployed on the left. Within the first few minutes he had escaped the attentions of right-back Luís Filipe before sending in some tempting early crosses. However, it was the visitors who had the first goalscoring opportunity after seven minutes when Óscar Cardozo turned his marker inside the area before unleashing a left-foot shot which Artur Boruc parried to safety.
End to end
Two minutes later John Kennedy should have scored at the other end when he found himself unmarked at the back post from Paul Hartley's free-kick, but the centre-back headed wide with the goal at his mercy. Within seconds Boruc had produced a fingertip save to deny the Paraguayan Cardozo again as the game swung relentlessly from end to end. Scott Brown was the next to try his luck, bursting forward from central midfield and forcing Quim to save his left-foot shot at the expense of a corner.
McGeady strikes
The aerial ability of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was causing problems for the Benfica defence and the striker's knockdown on 17 minutes presented Brown with another opening only for the Scotland international to spurn the chance by miskicking from close range. Celtic looked the likelier to break the deadlock at this stage and Quim kept his side in contention with two saves from Scott McDonald. Eventually the pressure paid off and right on the stroke of half-time Celtic made the breakthrough courtesy of McGeady, who cut in from the left and his right-foot shot took a deflection off Luisão that left Quim helpless.
Open game
The game continued in the same vein after the break with both sides creating openings. Jiří Jarošík was becoming more influential on the right flank for Celtic, while McGeady was proving to be a constant thorn on the other side. In a bid to add more vim to the attack, Benfica coach José Camacho introduced Angel Di María for Maxi Pereira on the hour and the change almost produced an immediate dividend when Cardozo headed wide from Léo's cross.
Binya off
As the game entered the last quarter Edcarlos had a header cleared off the line by Lee Naylor before Brown forced another save by Quim. Camacho sacrificed Cardozo for Nuno Gomes as the Eagles chased the elusive equaliser but their frustration got the better of them when Binya was dismissed for a high tackle on Brown.
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