Milan 0 - 2 Arsenal by Fabregas & Adebayor

Late goals from Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor sent Arsenal FC through to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League at the expense of holders AC Milan.

Fabregas decisive
With the game heading towards extra time an enthralling game was effectively decided with six minutes to go as Fabregas, who had earlier hit the bar, received the ball on the halfway line, ran 15 metres and unleashed a low shot onto the bottom corner of Zeljko Kalac's goal. Adebayor completed the memorable victory as substitute Theo Walcott raced down the right to square for the Togo international to score his first goal in the competition this season.


Maldini header
Arsenal knew an away goal would leave the European champions with a huge mountain to climb and set about trying to break the deadlock early on. Aleksandr Hleb shot over from distance but his effort only served to spark a flurry of activity at the other end, where Pato danced his way past four defenders and unleashed a venomous shot of his own. The fans in the Curva Sud were in full cry now and Milan almost fashioned the opening goal from a corner. Yet as in the first leg, Paolo Maldini's header was cleared off the line, in what was to prove the veteran's final game in this competition.

Milan opportunities
Milan's offensive approach left spaces at the back, and the Rossoneri rearguard opened up as Adebayor hared forward inside the quarter-hour mark, turning past Kakha Kaladze, before teeing up Abou Diaby who curled just wide from the edge of the area. Back came the hosts, Maldini crossing for Inzaghi, whose shot disappointed, while an unmarked Pato freed himself at the far post only to side-foot straight at Manuel Almunia.

Fabregas chance
Carlo Ancelotti's men were in charge for most of the first half, Kaká a livewire presence the visiting defence simply could not contain. The Brazilian twice raced through before flashing wide of goal. But as the rain that had started just before kick-off abated, so the Londoners appeared to have weathered the storm. Suddenly their trademark first-time passing was back and Kaladze was struggling to cope with the powerful runs of Adebayor, who set up Fabregas to rattle the crossbar with a 34th-minute strike.

Golden opportunities
Two further golden opportunities fell Arsenal's way shortly after the break. Philippe Senderos met Fabregas's corner only to send his first-time shot straight at Kalac, then on 53 minutes Andrea Pirlo sent a clearance straight at Adebayor, who fed Emmanuel Eboué, though the Ivorian thrashed wide from 12 metres. The visitors were seeing more possession, but lacked cutting edge. Walcott could have provided it when Hleb picked him out at the far post, but he opted to seek out Adebayor, his pass cut out by Kalac.

Late strikes
With ten minutes to go Pato sparked to life again, cutting in from the right before curling a low shot centimetres wide, but just as the game appeared to be heading for the extra half-hour Fabregas stepped up to silence the home fans.