Milan 1-0 Celtic: Still Through!

By: JT | December 4th, 2007

The initial team sheets are in, and Ancelotti has his normal midfield and striker ready to go. The defense is quite different than normal, and Dida is not even on the bench. No Maldini or Nesta either.

Rossoneri: Kalac, Cafu, Bonera, Simic, Favali, Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Kaka, Seedorf, Inzaghi.

Subs: Fiori, Kaladze, Gilardino, Gourcuff, Brocchi, Oddo, Aubameyang

Celtic is showing a 4-5-1, though I think it will resemble the 4-4-1-1 they utilized in Glasgow when necessary. A 4-2-3-1 with Donati and Hartley protecting the back line is possible too, at least early on.

At first glance, I think Celtic will be able to attack Milan’s flanks considering their two fullbacks are 37 and 35. They can be had.

The Bhoys: Boruc, Caldwell, Pressley, McManus, O’Dea, Jarosik, Donati, Hartley, S Brown, McGeady, McDonald.

Subs: M Brown, Balde, Zurawski, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Sno, Killen, Caddis

I’ll be back around 230…

Ok, I’m back. I have officially traded in the idiots from Setanta Ireland for Seamus Malin and Tommy Smyth. Fair trade?

Here’s a debate for the new millenium. Do you go with the hi-def with the blocks on the side, or the less clear full screen? I think I’m going with the full screen.

Celtic have shocked everyone and come out in all green w/white socks. No one in the stadium at all. You can hear the traveling fans!

We’re almost ready to go! C’mon the Hoops!

Kaka’s getting some meaningless award.

0′–Celtic’s huddled up. Ready to rock and roll.

2′–Boruc still shaky kicking with his right foot after the toe fungus

5′–Seedorf challenges the Celtic rearguard for the first time. I’m not going to shave for a few weeks or wash my hair for a month to model myself after Hartley/Pressley.

6′–Benfica score!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cardozo for Benfica!!!!!!!!!!!!

10′–Seedorf down after Caldwell challenges. He’s OK. Celtic looking composed thus far.

15′–This is like a friendly. No risks taken, not much entertainment for the neutral.

16′–Inzaghi grabs McManus’ shirt and Milan get a free kick. Kaka to take.

16′–Milan overelaborate and the wall does its job. Still 0-0 and looking like its going to stay that way for a while.

18′–Kaka bursts from the midfield and McManus, the last man, makes a wonderful tackle. Top quality.

21–Corner for Milan after an O’Dea slip. Pirlo goes short, Celtic on the break…no dice.

22′–Cardozo again for Benfica!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2-0 Benfica!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So close!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

23′–Halfway through the first half. As Smyth keeps saying, its a leisurely pace.

25–Tommy Smyth reads the Celtic Offside.

26′–Bad mistake from the Celtic defense and Kaka fires dangerously wide.

27′–Nice move from Favali and Inzaghi. Boruc in the right place at the right time. Easy save.

28′–Kaladze on for Simic. Seedorf and Ancelotti are having a jolly old time. Let’s hope Benfica go up 3-0 and then they can let this game rip.

30′–Shakhtar gets on the board courtesy of a penalty courtesy of Lucarelli. Inzaghi loops over Boruc’s goal.

35′–Milan are in the ascendancy, but Celtic are not perturbed. Looking good so far.

39′–Jarosik tests Kalac from distance. One hopper is easily saved.

41′–Shaky stuff from Celtic’s back four. Inzaghi called for the foul. Pippo’s whining as usual.

43′–Pippo heads meekly wide with Ambrosini right behind him. Ambrosini’s not happy with his old pal.

44′–Bad corner kick conceded by Donati. Seedorf takes short, gets the ball back but fires high and wide.

45′–That ref is gigantic. A psychologist by trade. Interesting. Two minutes added on.

Halftime–Mercifully, the whistle is blown. 0-0 with Benfica leading at Shakhtar 2-1. That would see Milan and Celtic through, with Benfica snatching the UEFA Cup spot from under the Ukrainians noses.

Lunch time…Be back for the start of the second half.

It looks cold in Donetsk. Real cold. Great goals from Cardozo.

46′–Second half underway. You can hear the final strands on “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from the Celtic fans. Scott Brown get a quick yellow. Stupid foul. He’ll sit out the first leg of the knockout rounds, if Celtic make it.

47′–Handball on McDonald. Pirlo’s freekick freezes Boruc and drifts JUST wide.

49′–Inzaghi picks up the ball after another Celtic give away. Boruc comes out to challenge and Pippo is off target.

54′–The disjointed, uninspired play continues. Sorry for the lack on blogging, but there really isn’t too much to say.

56′–Still 2-1 Benfica after 60 minutes in Donestsk. Long ball from McManus to Brown…..NOOOOOOOOOOO…..Brown misses badly.

58′–Milan are rampaging but Celtic bodies are in front of every shot! Amazing stuff!

62′–About 30 minutes left. Milan looking to take a lead, but can’t quite find the right pass to break open the Celtic defense. Evander Sno is getting ready to come on. For who? Donati would be the guess.

64′–Kaka blazes embarrassingly high.

65′–Big Jan comes on for Scott McDonald. Good work Skippy. JVoH will get the winner!

67′–Pressley recovers quickly to thwart a Milan counter. The old man is looking pretty damn good, if I do say so. Gilardino and Gourcuff getting stripped and ready to take the pitch.

69′–Gourcuff on for Seedorf, who was Man of the Match till this point.

70′–Inzaghi gets his goal! Well worked move between Cafu, Kaka, and finally Pippo. Well done. Celtic need to get their shit together. Sno comes on for Donati. Its breath holding time for Celts fans, but then again, thats how it always is, and that’s how we like it.

73′–Ambrosini crushes McGeady. Free kick. Great free kick from McGeady, but Kalac handles with ease.

75′–Pirlo is pissed to be going off. Brocchi is on to hang with his twin Gattuso.

78′–Celtic are going to two strikers. Zurawski on for Jarosik. Do they know the score in Donetsk? Still 2-1 Benfica.

79′–Milan still dangerous, from all angles. Hold on you Bhoys!

80′–Milan coming at Celtic full bore. Corner cleared by Big Jan. Ten minutes till qualification!

81′–Amazing double save from Brocchi and Inzaghi by Boruc!!!! The man is simply awesome!

83′–Brown burns Kalac’s hands. Poor corner from Hartley is easily cleared.

85′–McManus’ clearance smashes into Gatusso’s ribs and Brocchi fires another rocket toward the Celtic net. Ably saved by Boruc.

89′–Great break from Celtic…Caldwell’s cross is nodded wide by JVoH! Oh so close!

90+2′–Kaka’s brilliant run is stopped cold by Evander Sno! Superb technique all around! Boruc was beaten, but Sno’s gutty tackle saves Celtic from further blushes!

90+3′-Benfica win, Celtic are through despite losing here today! Milan take the spoils, but who cares? Celtic on 9 points, Benfica on 7, Shakhtar on 6 as the group concludes.

Celtic are on to the knockout rounds for the second consecutive year! Milan are the group winners, and a rapidly improving Benfica side are headed for the UEFA Cup. They will be a force to be reckoned with in that competition, no doubt.

I’ll never liveblog a Celtic match again because it’s too distracting! No more.

Congrats to Inzaghi for setting the Champions League scoring record, and congrats to the Bhoys for advancing! Big props to Benfica and Oscar Cardozo.

Fortress Celtic Park is an understatement.

I’ll wrap up Group D sometime this week. Enjoy the evening! Never has a loss tasted so sweet!