Last-ditch Leon takes Madrid through in Milan
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A last-gasp goal from substitute Pedro Leon earned Real Madrid a 2-2 draw at AC Milan on Wednesday and sent the Spanish giant through to the Champions League knockout round.
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AC Milan forward Filippo Inzaghi, left, scores a goal as Real Madrid Brazilian defender Marcelo, center, and Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas try to stop him, during a Champions League, Group G, soccer match between AC Milan and Real Madrid at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010. The match ended 2-2. [Xinhua/AFP Photo] |
Filippo Inzaghi had earlier come off the bench to score a brace to put Milan 2-1 ahead in Madrid coach Jose Mourinho's first return to the San Siro since leaving Inter Milan.
But Leon save the night for Mourinho in the last seconds of the injury time as he collected a pass in the area and slotted between the legs of Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.
Madrid dominated the first half and took a deserved lead in the 45th through Gonzalo Higuain who scored on a well-placed pass from Di Maria.
Until Inzaghi came on Milan's only attacking outlet was Alexandre Pato, but Ricardo Carvalho and Marcelo on the left of Madrid' s defense easily contained him.HThe match began at a relentless pace and within the first 10 minutes Madrid twice came close to scoring.
In the 20th minute, Andrea Pirlo came to Milan's rescue by twice heading off the line to deny Higuain and Mesut Ozil in close succession.
On 60 minutes Milan coach Massimo Allegri brought on Inzaghi for Ronaldinho in a bid to give the Milan attack more life.
Inzaghi didn't let his coach down and pulled Milan level eight minutes after coming on. Ibrahimovic pounced on Alex's slip, raced down the left wing and when Casillas failed to hold his cross the 37-year-old Inzaghi headed in the loose ball.
He added his second in the 78th. Gennaro Gattuso chipped over the Madrid defense and Inzaghi ran in and poked the ball under Casillas.
Once Milan had scored Madrid's slick interchanging, attacking formation fell apart, but the nine-time European champion hit back one more time and when Milan was unable to clear a corner Benzema slipped a pass behind Alessandro Nesta for Leon to score.
