Champions League

[Rasputin]

کمتر کسی فکر می کرد که میلان و لیورپول، دو غول فوتبال اروپا، بعد از پیکار هیجان انگیز دو فصل پیش به این زودی در یک فینال تازه به مصاف همدیگر بروند.
در فینال لیگ قهرمانان اروپا در استانبول ترکیه، ابتدا میلانی ها با سه گل پیش افتادند، ولی لیورپول بطور حیرت آوری توانست نتیجه را به تساوی بکشاند.

سپس در ضربات پنالتی، یرزی دودک توانست پنالتی آندری شوچنکو را مهار کند تا لیورپول برای پنجمین بار فاتح جام باشگاه های اروپا شود.

مسیر دشوار فینال

امسال هر دو تیم مسیری دشوار و طولانی را طی کردند. شاگردان رافائل بنیتس ابتدا در مرحله مقدماتی لیگ قهرمانان اروپا ناگزیر شدند از سد نماینده اسرائیل بگذرند. سپس با آیندهوون، گالاتاسرای و بوردو در گروه سوم قرار گرفتند. چهار برد، یک تساوی و یک باخت، و صدرنشینی در گروه، کارنامه لیورپول در این مرحله بود.

لیورپول در اولین مرحله حذفی در مقابل بارسلونا، مدافع عنوان قهرمانی قرار گرفت. در بیست و یکم فوریه، مردان بنیتس در ورزشگاه نیوکمپ شهر بارسلون به پیروزی ارزشمند دو بر یک دست یافتند و راه صعود را هموار کردند.

هرچقدر مسابقه بعدی مقابل آیندهوون آسان بود، ولی نبرد با چلسی در نیمه نهایی نفس گیر بود. لیورپول در زمین این رقیب لندنی یک بر صفر باخت و در آنفیلد بعد از کسب پیروزی با نتیجه مشابه توانست در ضربات پنالتی برنده شود و به فینال برسد.

میلان نیز در مرحله مقدماتی، قهرمان صربستان را از پیش رو برداشت و در گروه هشتم، بالاتر از لیل، آئک آتن و آندرلشت ایستاد.

شاگردان کارلو آنچلوتی بعد از عبور از سد سلتیک اسکاتلند، در مرحله یک چهارم نهایی بایرن مونیخ را در زمین خودش دو بر صفر شکست دادند و سپس در نیمه نهایی مقابل منچستر یونایتدی قرار گرفتند که توانسته بود آ اس رم، دیگر نماینده ایتالیا را در اولدترافورد هفت بر یک خرد کند.

پس از شکست سه بر دو در خانه منچستر، میلانی ها در دیدار برگشت به لطف درخشش کاکا و سیدورف (تنها بازیکنی که با سه تیم فاتح این جام شده) با پیروزی سه بر صفر کلاس برتر خود را به رخ کشاندند.

بوی انتقام

حالا در پایان این مسیر دراز، برخی ناظران می گویند میلان علاوه بر تلاش برای کسب هفتمین قهرمانی در اروپا می خواهد انتقام شکست فینال دو سال پیش را از لیورپول بگیرد. ولی امیر حاج رضایی، تحلیلگر فوتبال چنین عقیده ای ندارد و می گوید در دنیای حرفه ای فوتبال، واژه انتقام مفهومی ندارد.


لیورپول دو سال پیش در استانبول میلان را شکست داد و قهرمان شد

با این حال، آقای حاج رضایی می گوید گریز از سایه شوم باخت در استانبول برای آنچلوتی ممکن نیست، یکی از پنج مردی که هم به عنوان بازیکن و هم در مقام مربی قهرمان اروپا شده است.

پیش از بازی فینال، آنچلوتی لیورپول را متهم کرد که بازیکنان بااستعداد ندارد و او ترجیح می داد در این مسابقه نیز مقابل منچستر قرار می گرفت.

رسانه های ایتالیایی پیش بینی کرده اند که مربی لیورپول تاکتیکی را انتخاب خواهد کرد تا بازی را به ضربات پنالتی بکشاند. اما فریدون شیبانی، کارشناس فوتبال چنین نظری ندارد و می گوید مربیان با اتکا به نقاط قوت بازیکنان خود، می کوشند از لغزش های احتمالی حریف بهره برداری کنند.

هرچند عمده کارشناسان می گویند میلان بازی را تهاجمی تر شروع خواهد کرد، ولی آنها هشدار می دهند که نباید انتظار داشت تیم ایتالیایی مانند فینال دو سال پیش در نیمه نخست با چند گل جلو بیافتد، چرا که لیورپول برای ضد حمله آماده است.

میانه شناور

امیر حاج رضایی مانند اکثر تحلیلگران معتقد است نقطه قوت میلان برای غلبه بر لیورپول، خط هافبک این تیم است.

میلان معمولا شناور بازی می کند و مربی اش یک مهاجم در خط حمله می گمارد. خط میانی لیورپول نیز تاحدودی سیال است و از خط حمله خود که گاه یک و گاه دو مهاجم دارد، حمایت می کند.

در این میان، دوئل استیون جرارد، کاپیتان لیورپول و جنارو گتوزو از حالا بیشتر توجه ها را جلب کرده، اما هر دو بازیکن می گویند در فینال فقط به کسب پیروزی فکر خواهند کرد.

در راه پدر

دروازه بانهای دو تیم نیز در این میان نباید فراموش کرد. در یک سو دیدا دروازه بان برزیلی میلان، مطمئن و با تجربه است و در سوی دیگر پپه رینا می خواهد یک گام از پدرش جلوتر برود.

میلانی ها امیدوارند که بار دیگر بتوانند جام قهرمانی را در آغوش بگیرند

در سال ۱۹۷۴، میگل رینا در فینال جام باشگاه های اروپا با آتلتیکو مادرید مقابل بایرن مونیخ باخت. اما در این فصل پسرش با مهار دو پنالتی مقابل چلسی نشان داد اشتهای زیادی دارد تا بالاخره خانواده اش را در این جام به موفقیت برساند.

بهتر از لیگ

جالب اینجاست که دو تیم با وجود این ستارگان امسال در مسابقات داخلی نتیجه خوبی نگرفتند.

فریدون شیبانی کارشناس فوتبال می گوید کلاس لیگ های ایتالیا و انگلستان هم سنگ جام باشگاه های اروپایی است، اما بدلیل طولانی تر بودن، گاه یک تیم در یک مقطع نتایج ضعیفی می گیرد و شانس قهرمانی در لیگ را از دست می دهد.

اکثرا ناظران معتقدند بازی چهارشنبه شب ورزشگاه المپیک آتن ترکیبی هیجان انگیز از تاکتیک های دو مربی بزرگ و تکنیک های ستارگان لیورپول و میلان خواهد بود.

میلانی ها از این ورزشگاه خاطرات خوش تری دارند. در سال ۱۹۹۴ میلان توانست در فینال جام باشگاه های اروپا در همین ورزشگاه، بارسلونا را چهار بر صفر شکست دهد. اما شکست استانبول به میلان اجازه نمی دهد به دست یاریگر تاریخ امیدوار باشد.

[abadani69]

The short flight to Athens is an easy trip for the thousands of Liverpool and AC Milan fans who want to watch their teams in the Champions League final.

For Dan Dahlin and Ian Smith, both 20-year-old students from Wyoming, it's a lot more air time, with a few transfers thrown in.

"We were traveling for about 36 hours," Smith said. "But it was worth it."

Dahlin won the chance to buy two of the 70,000 tickets to Wednesday's match in a lottery on the Web site of European soccer's governing body. When it came time to pick a travel partner, Smith was an easy choice.

"He loves soccer as much as I do," said Dahlin, an international studies student heading into his final year at the University of Wyoming. "We've been playing together our whole lives."

The pair grew up on the soccer fields of Jackson, Wyo. But when it comes to Wednesday's match at the Olympic Stadium, the friends will become rivals -- at least temporarily.

"Liverpool," Dahlin said. "I've been following them the whole time. (Steven) Gerrard's always going full speed."

Smith backs the Italians.

"I got to see Italy last year at the World Cup and Milan has some of their players on the team," said Smith, a literature major with two years to go at the University of Colorado. "(Andrea) Pirlo is the best set-piece guy in the game. I love Kaka, too. He's the best player in the world right now."

Business partners Tom McCormack and Joe Dunne got their tickets from Heineken, one of the competition's main sponsors. The Irishmen own a string of bars in Boston and Dublin, and they came to Athens despite being ardent Manchester United supporters.

"We booked this trip before (Man United lost to Milan in) the semifinals," said the 43-year-old McCormack, who intends to cheer for Liverpool on Wednesday because his son is a fan of the five-time European Cup champions.

Dunne, however, will be hoping Milan wins its seventh title.

"Footballwise, Milan play a lot better," said the 46-year-old Dunne, who splits his time living in Dublin and Boston.

For most soccer fans on the continent, the European leagues are easy to follow. That's not the case for Dahlin and Smith.

"We don't get to watch enough," Smith said. "I didn't even get to see any AS Roma games before the Champions League."

And not even David Beckham's arrival in Major League Soccer to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy will be enough for the soccer-hungry American students.

"He's obviously shifting away from soccer to the movies," Smith said. "Bend it Like Beckham III."

[abadani69]

AC Milan were crowned European champions for the seventh time after they edged Liverpool 2-1 in the Champions League final here on Wednesday, taking their revenge for their heartbreaking defeat to the Merseysiders in the 2005 final.

Filippo Inzaghi scored both Milan goals - the first coming off his shoulder after he was struck by Andrea Pirlo's free-kick just before half time - before he netted a second in the 82nd minute after being put through superbly by Kaka.

Dirk Kuyt pulled one back for Liverpool a minute from time with a close range header, but Milan held on to lift the trophy.

For Milan it was pretty much a miraculous victory having originally been expelled from this year's tournament and docked eight points from their domestic championship for their involvement in Italy's match-fixing scandal.

However, they were allowed back into the Champions League and Wednesday saw them culminate one of the more extravagant comebacks since Lazarus was raised from the dead.

Two years ago in Istanbul Milan stormed into a 3-0 half-time lead only to allow Liverpool to draw level within a six-minute second half spell, before losing to the Premiership side on penalties.

But this time there was less drama and no Liverpool heroics as Milan atoned themselves for the worst night in their history.

However, for Milan's hardman midfielder Gennaro Gattuso it was revenge personified

"The defeat in Istanbul will stay with me for the rest of my life," said Gattuso, who briefly had a spell with Scottish giants Rangers.

"But today it's Liverpool who are crying, just like we did two years ago," added the non-compromising World Cup winning midfielder.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez admitted the best team had won.

"I am not happy with the time added on but congratulations to AC Milan," said the Spaniard.

"We created some chances in the first-half. I think we played better than we did in Istanbul (2005) with the wingers being used more but the deflection on the first goal changed everything.

"Of course we can come back and make another final, after all that is two (finals) in three years."

For Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard, who had a great chance to level with 30 minutes remaining but saw Dida smother it, the better team had won.

"I'll have to go back and see the video but to my mind the better side won," said the England international.

"We controlled the game in the first-half but let it drift away in the second.

"They (AC Milan) are a top side and we have to take stock and come back again which we will do again next year."

AC Milan midfield counterpart Clarence Seedorf, who was more muted than in his previous Champions League appearances this season, admitted that it had not been the greatest of finals.

"I am so proud to be part of this team. We worked so hard as it has been a very difficult year," said the Dutch international referring to the .

"We made it happen because we have such a great spirit in this team but it was not a great final. We were lucky and took our chances."

The Olympic Stadium in Athens, which was modernised in 2002 for the Olympic Games two years later, has proved a lucky venue for Milan as they also won the 1994 Champions League final here, beating Barcelona 4-0.

Milan captain Paolo Maldini, whose season has been plagued by a left knee injury was passed fit to play, enabling him to equal former Real Madrid midfielder Francisco Gento's record of eight European Cup final appearances.

Inzaghi was preferred to Alberto Gilardino to play as a lone striker for the Serie A side. Behind him to offer support were attacking midfielders Kaka, the competition's leading scorer with 10 goals, and Dutchman Clarence Seedorf.

Gerrard, whose goal sparked his side's comeback in Istanbul, was deployed in an advanced role just behind lone striker Kuyt. Javier Mascherano was paired with Xabi Alonsi in midfield to help counter the threat of Kaka.

Liverpool came close to taking the lead in the 10 minute after Czech defender Marek Jankulovski lost possession to Pennant. The marauding Liverpool midfielder's one-two with Gerrard left him in a wider position than he would have liked, and his angled shot was saved by Dida's outstretched hand.

Pirlo's through-ball just crept beyond Inzaghi as Milan countered before Kaka's shot was comfortably gathered by Pepe Reina, Liverpool's hero in the semi-final penalty shoot-out against Chelsea.

The momentum swung back Liverpool's way with Gerrard firing over the bar and Alonso screwing a shot wide from the edge of the box.

With Milan being squeezed out in midfield, Liverpool continued to Milan to dominate, John Arne Riise's drive clearing the bar before Kuyt's effort was blocked.

Milan's frustration grew and Gattuso was booked in the 40th minute for bringing down Alonso.

Totally against the run of play, Milan made the breakthrough just before the break.

Alonso's clumsy foul on Kaka resulted in a free-kick 20 yards from goal, and Pirlo's shot hit Inzaghi's shoulder to divert the ball away from Reina's grasp.

Jankulovski and Mascherano joined Gattuso in referee Herbert Fandel's notebook before Zenden made way for Harry Kewell.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was the fourth player to be yellow-carded as the game became more fractious,

Gerrard should have equalised in the 62nd minute after Gattuso had given the ball away, but the Liverpool skipper's shot lacked power and accuracy and Dida was able to make a straightforward save.

With 13 minutes to go, Benitez brought on Peter Crouch for Mascherano, hoping to benefit from the giant striker's aerial presence.

Inzaghi pounced again eight minutes from time, running onto Kaka's sublime pass before rounding Reina and slotting home from a tight angle.

Kuyt's header gave Liverpool hope, but Milan clung on to banish those dark memories of Istanbul.

[abadani69]

I TOLD YOU ALL FROM THE FIRST DAY THAT AC MILAN IS GOING TO BE THE CHAMPION AND HERE THEY ARE

[abadani69]

Police detained 128 fans for trying to enter the Champions League final between AC Milan and Liverpool without a ticket or using forgeries.

Authorities said about 90 supporters, mostly from England, had been stopped with counterfeit tickets by police equipped with ultraviolet scanners at the entrance to the Olympic Stadium. The others tried to enter the complex without tickets.

The fans were not formally arrested or charged.

Minor violence broke out at a fan zone in central Athens immediately after the final, which Milan won 2-1 on two goals from striker Filippo Inzaghi. One woman was slightly injured.

Early Wednesday, two Liverpool fans were injured in a fight.

There was no trouble reported inside the stadium, where Liverpool fans heavily outnumbered the Italians. Supporters at both ends of the stadium clapped and sang throughout the award ceremony.

Play was briefly interrupted in the second half when a spectator ran onto the field wearing with a Greek flag draped over his back.

Earlier, police arrested at least eight people for selling tickets on the black market, including a 27-year-old Englishman who allegedly sold 28 forged tickets for $78,240.

Authorities were investigating a possible link between six of those arrested and the theft of 43 VIP tickets reported stolen by UEFA from a downtown hotel.

Police unions staged street protests before the match to demand higher pay at Athens International Airport and in the center of the capital, handing out leaflets in English and Italian to fans.

Nevertheless, they maintained heavy security after the match, with about 8,500 officers deployed in the Greek capital.

In the port town of Rafina, near Athens, an English fan told police a taxi driver had driven off with his luggage and match ticket after he refused to pay $125 for a ride that should cost less than $33.

Associated Press writer Nicholas Paphitis contributed to this report.

[abadani69]

Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. never imagined this when they bought Liverpool -- their team playing for Europe's biggest club soccer title amid thousands of singing red-shirted fans.

And the partying, no doubt, would have shifted into higher gear had their team won Wednesday, but the English club lost 2-1 to AC Milan in the Champions League final.

"There's no way either of my two teams' fans have the level of intense passion that Liverpool has," said Hicks, who also owns baseball's Texas Rangers and the NHL's Dallas Stars. "I want them to. Hopefully, someday they will."

Throngs of Liverpool fans descended on the Greek capital with and without tickets, looking to see the Reds win their sixth European Cup title. Many paid more than 10 times face value to get into the Olympic Stadium.

Hicks and Gillett, who owns the Montreal Canadiens, took over full control of the 18-time English champions in March. Now they were in Athens to savor the atmosphere of one of soccer's great nights.

Hicks, wearing a white Liverpool shirt and carrying a printout of his hockey team's latest news under his arm before the game, predicted his team would win 2-1.

At least he got the score right. Filippo Inzaghi scored twice for Milan before Dirk Kuyt got one back for Liverpool in the closing minutes.

Despite the loss, Liverpool's success in Europe's top club competition this season is not lost on Hicks and Gillett.

The idea now is to keep winning, especially in the Premier League. Liverpool finished third in the English league this season, 21 points behind champion Manchester United and 15 behind second-place Chelsea.

"We are passionate about winning in our lives and our families," said Gillett, whose Canadiens are one of the most successful sports franchises. "We want to be regularly competing for the Premiership and the Champions League."

That will be good news to the millions of Liverpool fans all over the world.

"The fans are smart," Hicks said. "The fans can sense that George and I want exactly what they want."

[abadani69]

AC Milan made sure there was no Liverpool comeback this time.

The Italian club won the Champions League final Wednesday, defeating Liverpool 2-1 behind two goals by Filippo Inzaghi for its seventh European Cup title.

"These are the evenings that remain with you for all your life," Inzaghi said. "I've scored quite a few times in Europe but scoring in the Champions League final is something special."

The game was a a rematch of the 2005 final when Milan blew a 3-0 halftime lead and lost on penalty kicks after a 3-3 tie that become one of the greatest finals in the competition's 52-year history.

"The defeat two years ago will stay me for a lifetime," Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso said. "But this is a different story. It's our turn to celebrate now."

Milan moved within two of Real Madrid's record of nine European Cup triumphs. Liverpool has won five times.

Milan, whose previous title came in 2003, won a showdown between teams struggling in their leagues -- Milan is fourth in Serie A and Liverpool is third in the Premier League.

The sea of red of Liverpool fans at one end of the stadium outnumbered the red and black of Milan at the other.

Milan went ahead when Andrea Pirlo's 45th-minute free kick went through the wall and deflected off the side of Inzaghi and past goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

Inzaghi made it 2-0 in the 82nd, taking a pass from Kaka in the center, spurting ahead and rolling the ball from an angle past the outstretched Reina.

"The first goal opened up the game, but the second was certainly more beautiful," Inzaghi said.

Dirk Kuyt scored for Liverpool with a minute to go. This time, however, there was no extra time and no penalty shootout.

"It's the complete opposite," said Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, whose goal began the comeback in Turkey two years ago. "You've got to take it on the chin, move on and try to pick yourself up, but at the moment it's heartbreaking. We gave everything but it wasn't to be tonight."

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, who also led Valencia to the UEFA Cup title in 2004 before moving to Anfield, rued the deflected goal.

"We lost against a good team with top-class players," he said. "The first half we played really well but conceded a goal, a deflection, through bad luck."

AC Milan nearly was kicked out of this year's competition by European soccer's governing body but was allowed to remain and started in the third round of qualifying.

AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini, a month short of his 39th birthday, became the oldest nongoalkeeper to take part in a final. He collected his fifth winners' medal, one short of the competition record by Real Madrid's Francisco Gento.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti now has two winners medals as a coach to go with the ones he won as a Milan player in 1989 and 1990.

"This joy has to be shared with all those close to the club, all those who have sustained us, and all the fans," Ancelotti said. "It was a very difficult game, much like our season. We started slowly but grew in confidence as the game went on.

[Rasputin]

تيم ميلان با پيروزي برابر ليورپول به هفتمين مقام قهرماني رقابت*هاي ليگ قهرمانان اروپا رسيد.

به گزارش خبرنگار اعزامي ايسنا به آتن، ديدار تكراري دو فصل پيش رقابت*هاي ليگ قهرمانان اروپا نتيجه متفاوتي داشت. در حالي كه ليورپول در ديدار نهايي فصل 2004- 2005 موفق شد ميلان را شكست دهد اين بار تاريخ بر عكس تكرار شد و اين بار تيم پر افتخار ايتاليا موفق شد تيم انگليسي را شكست دهد.

تيم ميلان كه با مربيگري كارلو آنجلوتي پا به ديدار نهايي گذاشته بود، در نيمه اول بر خلاف جريان بازي موفق شد با ضربه ايستگاهي آندره پيرلو كه در ميانه راه با پاهاي فيليپو اينزاگي برخورد كرد گل اول خود را در دقيقه 45 به ثمر برساند. اين گل در حالي براي ميلان به دست آمد كه بيشتر زمان اين نيمه در اختيار تيم انگليسي بود.

با شروع نيمه دوم بر خلاف انتظارات تيم ليورپول نتوانست نمايش چندان خوبي را از خود ارائه كند. بازيكنان ميلان كه انگيزه بالايي براي حفظ نتيجه داشتند بر تلاش خود در اين نيمه افزودند و توانستند نبض بازي را در ميانه ميدان از آن خود كنند.

بازي منطقي بازيكنان ميلان در ميانه زمين سبب شده بود كه تيم انگليسي به رهبري جرارد نتواند بازي هميشگي خود را به نمايش بگذارد و اين چنين تيم ميلان موفق شد در دقيق 82 و با فرار خوب فيليپو اينزاگي به گل دوم دست يابد. اينزاگي با اين دو گل ستاره زمين بود و نقش بزرگي در پيروزي اين تيم ايتاليايي داشت.

در ادامه بازيكنان ليورپول برا ي جبران گل خورده به سمت دروازه ميلان حمله كردند و موفق شدند در دقيقه 88 توسط «كويت» به تنها گل خود دست يابد. در دقايق پاياني تلاش بازيكنان ميلان بي نتيجه باقي ماند و اين ميلان بود كه توانست به مقام قهرماني معتبرترين رقابت*هاي باشگاهي دست يابد.

[Rasputin]

پليس يونان تعدادي از كساني كه تلاش داشتند بليت*هاي جعلي ديدار نهايي ليگ قهرمانان اروپا را به فروش برسانند، دستگير كرد.

به گزارش خبرنگار اعزامي ايسنا به آتن، پليس يونان اعلام كرد كه تعداد نود و هفت نفر از كساني كه تلاش داشتند بليت*هاي جعلي را به هواداران بدون بليت دو تيم ميلان وليورپول به فروش برسانند را دستگير كرد. گروهي از اين افراد كه بخش بزرگ آن را هوادارن ليورپول تشكيل مي*دادند قصد ورود از درهاي ورودي ورزشگاه را داشتند كه پس از مشخص شدن جعلي بودن بليت آنها دستگير شدند.

گروهي ديگر كه ابتداي هفته با دستبرد به هتل محل اقامت سران يوفا، تعداد چهل وسه بليت ديدار نهاي را دزديده بودند نيز امروز پس از شناسايي از سوي پليس آتن دستگير شدند. مسولان يوفا اعلام كردند كه به دليل اينكه اين بليت*ها ويژه بودند قابليت فروخته شدن نداشتند.

همچنين پليس آتن سي تن از اوباش انگليسي را كه قصد عبور از موانع ورودي به ورزشگاه داشتند را دستگير كرد. آنها قصد ورود به ورزشگاه محل بازي را داشتند كه با اقدام به موقع پليس دستگير شدند.

ديدار نهايي ليگ قهرمانان اروپا در فصل 2006-2007 با پيروزي دو بر يك ميلان برابر ليورپول به پايان رسيد.

[Rasputin]

AC Milan beats Liverpool, 2-1

An epic rematch in Olympic Stadium became a salve for AC Milan of Italy, which certainly looked healed Wednesday night as its players hugged, hopped and took their new European Champions League trophy over to their delirious fans.

They had replaced 2-year-old nightmarish memories with fresh sublime ones, defeating Liverpool, 2-1, in the world's biggest club soccer game to avenge a renowned and ghoulish defeat in 2005.

That night in Istanbul, Turkey, also starred Liverpool, which helped AC Milan waste a 3-0 halftime lead and won its own fifth European title in a penalty shootout when 120 minutes left the clubs tied, 3-3.

Just across the Aegean Sea on this May night, AC Milan forged a whole bushel of new realities. It added a seventh European title and it crept within two titles of first-place Real Madrid in the 52-year-old, continent-wide competition.

AC Milan also foiled England in England's year, having eliminated Manchester United and Liverpool from among England's three semifinalists. It cemented itself as the contemporary titan, having won five of the last 19 titles, all with 38-year-old showpiece defender Paolo Maldini, who received the giant cup and whisked it into the air.

"It's the complete opposite," said the losing captain, Steven Gerrard, and with 74,000 spectators plus a whole continent looking on, soccer again showcased its delicious meanness.

The sport's capriciousness lent a starring role to one Filippo Inzaghi, a 33-year-old striker/enigma who wound up scoring AC Milan's goals. Inzaghi produced both a fluke that startled Liverpool and a beaut that all but killed it off.

The fluke came in the 45th minute just after Liverpool's Xabi Alonso knocked down Kaka, the Brazilian who tops many a best-players-in-the-world list. Andrea Pirlo's free kick curled around the right of the Liverpool wall, but goalkeeper Pepe Reina slid over to block, but then the ball grazed off Inzaghi's left shoulder, back toward the middle and in.

The beaut came in the 82nd minute and owed largely to Kaka, whose through ball seemed to debilitate three defenders as it slid on the right side to Inzaghi, who peeled away from traffic to receive. Alone with the goalkeeper, he moved along to the last possible angle before nudging it under Reina's dive until it rolled slowly in.

That gave AC Milan a 2-0 lead that seemed insurmountable even if nobody could blame the audience for not assuming so. In the 89th minute, a corner from Liverpool's Jermaine Pennant glanced off two players over to the right and to Dirk Kuyt, whose header halved the deficit.

Liverpool's final two charges during the three minutes of added time forged no threat, unlike Jermaine Pennant's threat on the right in the 10th minute, which Dida saved with his outstretched right hand; or Xabi Alonso's threat from 25 yards in the 26th minute, which surpassed Dida but strayed just left; or Gerrard's threat past Alessandro Nesta into the left side of the box in the 62nd minute, which Dida saved more easily with his grounded left hand.

The team that mastered the first half trailed at halftime, the team that created more chances all told lost (that a reprise of 2005), and the team briefly disqualified from the 2006-07 Champions League from the Italian game-fixing scandal, but reinstated on appeal, won the whole thing.

The AC Milan section began a long fete with a fete to match already started back home, and the players posed with their cup and their team president, Silvio Berlusconi, the former prime minister of Italy.

Gerrard, gutted, still embraced Gennaro Gattuso, the opponent he'd mocked in his autobiography, and Gattuso, in turn, said the Istanbul nightmare would remain with him, even if his eyes and all eyes around him made it look freshly buried.

[Rasputin]

[abadani69]

Liverpool boosted its chances of a place in the Champions League group stage following a 1-0 win in Toulouse on Wednesday.

Playing the opening leg of its third qualifying round clash, the Reds' Andriy Voronin scored the only goal with a spectacular strike two minutes before halftime.

The win puts last year's beaten finalists in the drivers' seat ahead of the return match in Liverpool in two weeks.

Rosenborg are also on course for a spot in the next round following a comprehensive 3-0 win over Finnish champions Tampere United.

Miika Koppinen opened the scoring for the Norwegian visitors, with Ivory Coast striker Yssouf Kone adding two goals to secure a healthy advantage ahead of the second leg in Trondheim.

It finished honors even between Spartak Moscow and Celtic in their first-leg clash, with Roman Pavluchenko cancelling out Paul Hartley's opener for the Scottish club to claim a 1-1 draw.

BATE Borisov and Steaua Bucharest also played out a stalemate with Gennady Bliznuk's last-gasp goal securing a 2-2 draw for the Belarus title holders.

Goals from Dorin Goian and Nicolae Dica had given Steaua a 2-1 lead following Artem Radkov's opener for the hosts.

Fenerbahce will take a slender 1-0 lead into the return leg of its third qualifying round match against Anderlecht thanks to Alex de Souza's decider, while Dynamo Kiev beat FK Sarajevo by the same scoreline following a goal from Maxim Shatskikh.

Besiktas scored a valuable away goal to claim a 1-1 draw at Swiss champions FC Zurich.

But it could have been even better for the Turkish giants, who opened the scoring through Matias Delgado after three minutes before Alexandre Alphonse snatched a last-minute equalizer.

Shakhtar Donetsk have some work to do in the second leg in Ukraine if it wants to reach the group stage after Alexander Zickler's penalty earned SV Salzburg a 1-0 win on Wednesday.

Ajax also have a mountain to climb against Slavia Prague with David Kalivoda's 76th-minute goal enough to earn the Czechs a 1-0 victory in Amsterdam.

Werder Bremen battled back from a goal down to see off Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 at the Weserstadion thanks to Hugo Almeida and Daniel Jensen.

Bosko Balaban had fired the Croatian visitors ahead two minutes before the interval.

Cesc Fabregas and Alexander Hleb both scored as Arsenal sealed a valuable 2-0 away win against Sparta Prague in the opening leg of its third qualifying round clash.

And UEFA Cup holders Sevilla made a positive impact following its step up to Europe's elite club competition with a 2-0 victory over AEK Athens.

Luis Fabiano and Frederic Kanoute were the scorers for the Spanish hosts.

[abadani69]

Liverpool cruised into the Champions League group stages with a compelling performance in their third qualifying round second leg at Anfield on Tuesday.

The 2007 runners-up, Liverpool coasted to a 4-0 victory over Toulouse to secure a 5-0 aggregate victory.

Peter Crouch, left out of the last two games, returned to score after just 19 minutes from a Dirk Kuyt cross.

Toulouse presented a feeble bid to disrupted the Premier League side, and Liverpool could have had a hatful. Sami Hyypia headed home the second on 49 minutes, while Kuyt scored twice in the final three minutes.

The Reds will be joined in Thursday's draw by Italian giants Lazio, who progressed courtesy of a 3-1 win at Dinamo Bucharest which saw them advance 4-2 on aggregate.

Florin Bratu capitalized on a defensive error to put the Romanian champions ahead in the first half. But the influential Tommaso Rocchi levelled matters two minutes after the interval and then set up Goran Pandev for the visitors' second before sealing matters with his side's third.

An outstanding defensive display from Rangers in Belgrade also carried Walter Smith's side into the group stages. Nacho Novo's late goal in the first leg at Ibrox two weeks ago proved decisive as Rangers withstood all the pressure Red Star could muster to clinch a 1-0 aggregate victory.

Red Star had promised they would intimidate Rangers, but Smith's side kept their cool to secure themselves a place in the next phase.

Celtic will look to join them on Wednesday, when they take on Spartak Moscow at Parkhead, and it could be a glorious double for Scotland's clubs.

[abadani69]

Arsenal, Werder Bremen, Glasgow Celtic and Valencia advanced to the European Champions League with victories Wednesday night, while Ajax Amsterdam was eliminated in qualifying for the second straight season.

Arsenal beat visiting Sparta Prague 3-0 on goals by Tomas Rosicky, Cesc Fabregas and Eduardo da Silva to advance on 5-0 aggregate and join English rivals Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool in Thursday's draw.


Werder Bremen won 3-2 at Dinamo Zagreb on two penalty kicks from Diego and a goal from Boubacar Sanogo. The German club advanced 5-3 over the Croatian champion, which got goals by Ognjen Vukojevic and Luka Modric.

Celtic defeated visiting Spartak Moscow 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie in overtime that left the teams with a 2-2 aggregate score. Rival Glasgow Rangers won its qualifier a night earlier.

Scott McDonald scored in the 27th minute for Celtic but Roman Pavluchenko, who hit a post with a penalty kick in the 25th minute, tied the score in the 45th. Celtic's Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink hit the crossbar with a penalty kick in overtime.

Spartak's Martin Stranzl was ejected in the 85th for a tackle on Vennegoor of Hesselink. Celtic advanced after goalkeeper Artur Boruc saved Spartak's fifth penalty from Maxim Kalinichenko on Spartak's fifth penalty kick.

Valencia beat Swedish champion Elfsborg 2-1 to advance on a 5-1 aggregate.

Ajax lost 2-1 at Slavia Prague, which got two goals from Stanislav Vlcek, and was eliminated on 3-1 aggregate.

Fenerbahce won 2-0 at Anderlecht in a match briefly interrupted by rowdy fans and advanced on 3-0 aggregate. Referee Massimo Busacca paused the game in the 81st for five minutes after some 50 Anderlecht supporters tried to push through a barricade to storm the field. Riot police also had to keep Fenerbache and Anderlecht fans apart after bottles and garbage was thrown.

Shakhtar Donetsk beat visiting Salzburg 3-1 on goals by Cristiano Lucarelli, Nery Castillo and Brandao and advanced on 3-2 aggregate. Benfica won 1-0 at Copenhagen 1-0 on Kostas Katsouranis's 18th-minute goal to advance on a 3-1 aggregate.

Defending champion AC Milan, Internazionale, AS Roma, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Stuttgart were among the teams that qualified automatically for the 32-team first round.

LONDON (AP) -- Michael Owen scored his first goal for Newcastle in 20 months in a 2-0 League Cup win over Barnsley.

Owen scored in the 57th minute to help the Magpies to the third round of the League Cup, English soccer's second-tier cup competition Manchester City and Middlesbrough also advanced.

Since Owen connected against Newcastle on Dec. 17, 2005, in a 4-2 Premier League, he had been sidelined for long periods, most notably the serious knee injury sustained while playing for England in the World Cup.

Manchester City defeated League Championship side Bristol City 2-1, with Rolando Bianchi scoring the winner in the 81st minute. Middlesbrough defeated Northampton 2-0 on goals by Fabio Rochemback and Lee Dong-gook.

ROME (AP) -- Cristian Molinaro, Sergio Almiron and Hasan Salihamidzic, all new to Juventus this season, scored in a 3-1 win over Parma in the third round of the Italian Cup.

Napoli advanced 3-2 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 tie with Livorno. Francesco Tavano put Livorno in front in the 81st and Maurizio Domizzi tied it in the 88th.

Udinese beat second-division Bari 3-0 but may have lost national team forward Antonio Di Natale to injury. Michele Paolucci scored twice and Di Natale converted a penalty before carried off with an apparent left leg injury.

Alessandro Rosina scored in overtime to lead Torino over Rimini 3-2 and a fourth-round matchup with defending champion AS Roma. Robert Acquafresca scored twice as Cagliari defeated Siena 2-1 and Reggina edged Piacenza 3-2 to advance to a matchup with Inter Milan.

Andrea Soncin scored in the 120th minute as second-division Ascoli advanced past Atalanta 2-1. Catania eliminated Triestina 4-2 on penalties and will face AC Milan.

Catania coach Silvio Baldini watched from the stands after being banned until Sept. 30 for kicking Parma counterpart Domenico Di Carlo in the backside during the teams' Serie A opener Sunday.

PARIS (AP) -- Mathieu Bodmer scored the go-ahead goal in the 56th minute to give six-time defending champion Lyon a 2-1 victory at Sochaux in the French first division.

Karim Benzema scored his fourth league goal of the season to give Lyon the lead in the 20th, but Walter Birsa tied it two minutes later with a penalty kick.

Lyon (3-2) improved to ninth place with nine points, four behind Monaco (4-1-1), Nancy (4-0-1) and Valenciennes (4-1-1).