Real qualify with late Milan draw
Substitute Pedro Leon scored deep into injury time to rescue a 2-2 draw for Real Madrid at AC Milan and send the Spanish team into the Champions League knock-out rounds.
Gonzalo Higuain had given the Spaniards a deserved first half lead but a Filippo Inzaghi brace lit up an otherwise uninspired performance from the hosts.
Leon's last gasp heroics saved Real coach Jose Mourinho from suffering defeat on his return to the San Siro, where he coached Inter for two years.
Real are through to the second round while Milan are now a point ahead of Ajax, who lost 2-1 at Auxerre.
In a feisty start Madrid carried on from where they had left off in the Bernabeu, where they won 2-0, creating many scoring chances.
Higuain had a low shot on just three minutes that Christian Abbiati tipped around the post while Pepe's downward header from Xabi Alonso's free-kick on nine minutes bounced up and over the bar.
Milan's Kevin-Prince Boateng sent a volley too close to Iker Casillas and Alonso's speculative long-range volley went wide.
Angel Di Maria got behind Milan's backline on 13 minutes but Gianluca Zambrotta battled away to put him off and the Argentine scuffed his shot wide.
World Cup final referee Howard Webb had his hands full at times trying to keep a lid on a tetchy affair that almost spiralled out of control when Cristiano Ronaldo rolled around on the floor theatrically after contact with Ignazio Abate.
Real came within inches of taking the lead on 20 minutes but Andrea Pirlo twice headed off the line, first from Higuain's header and then Di Maria's volleyed follow-up.
Boateng played Ibrahimovic in one-on-one with Casillas but his weak shot from an angle hit the keeper's legs.
After a brief lull, Ronaldinho clipped in Ibrahimovic on 37 minutes but his chip over Casillas went well wide.
Abbiati spilled a fierce Alonso drive from distance before Real scored in the final minute of the half.
Di Maria ran at the defence and slipped in Higuain as Alessandro Nesta tried to play offside but stepped up too late, allowing the Argentine to finish coolly from seven yards.
It was more of the same after the break as Ronaldo stung Abbiati's hands with a rasping shot from distance.
Milan were getting nowhere so coach Massimiliano Allegri sent on 37-year-old Inzaghi who immediately injected some passion into the side.
And it was he who brought the home side level after a comedy of Real errors on 68 minutes.
Pepe slipped when favourite to reach a Gennaro Gattuso through ball, allowing Ibrahimovic to run in on goal from the left, the Portuguese centre-half even tripping up team-mate Sergio Ramos when trying to do likewise to the big Swede.
Ibrahimovic then slipped as he went to cross but Casillas had already committed himself to come out and as the ball went behind him, he let it slip through his hands, presenting Inzaghi with an easy header home from three yards.
Ten minutes later, Inzaghi had repeated the trick following another Madrid defensive disaster as the master poacher was allowed to run onto a long Gattuso ball forward -- the defenders claiming in vain he was offside -- and slipping the ball under the advancing Casillas.
But then Mourinho threw on Leon and deep into injury time fellow sub Karim Benzema slipped him in to shoot home between Abbiati's legs.
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C Muscat
Nov 4th 2010, 13:16
If a linesman in such a favourable position, with nothing to obstruct his view and in line with the action taking place, can make such a blatant mistake as to allow play on, when the Milan attacker was clearly in an offside position, then I wonder what do we need linesmen for?
A. Farrugia
Nov 4th 2010, 15:02
Mistakes happen both ways, and when Milan twice had goals disallowed against Real Madrid last year, there were equally refs and linesmen that had to do their duty probably and realise that the goals disallowed were in fact legitimate. These mistakes happen over and over again - if FIFA/UEFA insist on disallowing replay technology, then bring on more refs on the goalline so hopefully results are fairer for all.
D. Farrugia
Nov 4th 2010, 16:05
@ C.Muscat
mistakes do happen, as A.Farrugia quoted above they also deprived Milan last year when they played against Real Madrid as well on that occasion. If proof is ever needed that mistakes do happen, I suggest you look up Manchester United's goal by Nani last weekend, which was one of the worst mistakes committed by a linesman which I have ever seen in my life. What can I say, maybe yesterday's linesman was the same culprit.
Trying to downplay a great and spirited display by mentioning that mistake is useless when mistakes happen everywhere-they happen in Italy, Spain and England. Sometimes a team may be the victim and sometimes the same team may benefit, as happened to Milan over the past year when playing over Real Madrid.
Christopher Buttigieg
Nov 3rd 2010, 23:40
I think it was a good result, but it's hard to concede 2 goals in both extra-time of the 2 half's
A. Farrugia
Nov 4th 2010, 11:20
I'm a Milan fan and I'm glad Pippo scored two goals, but we have to be honest and admit the second goal should never have stood, as it was very clearly offside. That said, seems like 'divine justice' prevailed and that goal was 'annulled' with Pedro's equaliser...
R Grixti
Nov 4th 2010, 14:54
Inzaghi's 2nd was offide... but last year Milan were disallowed a goal in both games against Real (Thiago Silva at the Bernabeu, Pato at San Siro). Not to mention the penalties not given in favor of Chelsea and Barcelona..