Magic Milan blow away United to reach Champions League final

MILAN, Italy (AFP)
AC Milan produced a masterclass display to blow away Manchester United 3-0 here on Wednesday and reach the Champions League final for the third time in the last five seasons.Milan - winners of six of their 10 European Cup/Champions League finals - will meet Liverpool in the Athens showpiece on May 23, a repeat of the 2005 final which the Merseysiders won on penalties after fighting back from 3-0 down at half-time to draw 3-3 in Istanbul.Milan and #39;s victory at a rain-drenched San Siro, secured by first-half strikes from Kaka and Clarence Seedorf and a late breakaway goal by substitute Alberto Gilardino, clinched a 5-3 aggregate semi-final win over the Premiership leaders and prevented the first all-English European Cup final.United showed glimpses of their attacking flair in the second half, but they couldn and #39;t find a way through a well organised Milan defence.Milan have featured in a record five Champions League finals since the competition replaced the old European Cup in the 1992-93 season.Milan were one of several Italian clubs found guilty of match-fixing in last year and #39;s and #39;Calciopoli and #39; scandal and were originally told by the Italian football authorities they would not be allowed to take part in the Champions League.But the club and #39;s appeal was successful and they were allowed to join the competition in the third qualifying round.Gennaro Gattuso, who hobbled off during the 3-2 first leg defeat after sustaining a foot injury, returned to the Milan midfield, but their captain, Paolo Maldini, was ruled out after aggravating a knee problem at Old Trafford.Kakhabar Kaladze came in for Maldini at the heart of the Milan defence, with Filippo Inzaghi replacing Gilardino while Massimo Ambrosini took the skipper and #39;s armband.United defender Nemanja Vidic started his first match after breaking his collarbone, while Rio Ferdinand made the bench having recovered from a groin injury.However, United coach Sir Alex Ferguson decided not to risk the England centre-back with a starting role. Frenchman Patrice Evra was suspended for the visitors.Milan almost went ahead in the third minute but Edwin van der Sar did brilliantly to tip Seedorf and #39;s fierce half-volley over the bar.Urged forward by a boisterous home crowd, the hosts kept up the early pressure and United and #39;s defence was breached eight minutes later.Alessandro Nesta and #39;s chipped pass found Seedorf whose backward header fell at the feet of Kaka, and the talented Brazilian steered a low, left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net.Andrea Pirlo dragged a shot wide before United mustered their first attack, Ryan Giggs and #39; low drive comfortably saved by Nelson Dida.Milan looked threatening every time they pressed forward, but they were given a helping hand by the United back-four for their second goal on the half hour.Vidic and #39;s sliced a clearance out to the right flank and Pirlo took possession before crossing into the box.
A weak headed clearance dropped kindly for Seedorf who dodged Vidic and #39;s sliding tackle and hammered a right-footed shot beyond van Der Sar.Inzaghi almost made it 3-0 just before the break as Milan maintained their grip on a surprisingly one-sided contest with United and #39;s biggest threat, Cristiano Ronaldo, completely shackled.A last-ditch goal line clearance from Wes Brown denied Kaka in the 53rd minute before United squandered an excellent opening, Darren Fletcher firing wide after being put through splendidly by Wayne Rooney.Gilardino came on for the tiring Inzaghi and he made his mark 12 minutes from time, driving through the United defence before side-footing past van der Sar.

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