AC Milan Wins Champions League for the Seventh Time

AC Milan made sure there was no Liverpool comeback this time.
Filippo Inzaghi scored two goals and Milan did it by the book to win European soccer's biggest prize for the seventh time last night at Athens, beating Liverpool 2-1 in the Champions League final.
It was a repeat meeting of their 2005 final when Milan tossed away a 3-0 halftime lead to lose on penalties after a 3-3 draw that become one of the greatest finals in the competition's 52-year history.


"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 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 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.

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