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19 September 2007, by Marco Pereira

Milan beat Benfica in entertaining opener

AC Milan 2-1 Benfica

Benfica discovered last night they have a long way to go to reach the upper echelons of Europe as they succumbed to a 2-1 away defeat to AC Milan in their Group D Champions League opener.

First half strikes by Andrea Pirlo and Filippo Inzaghi were enough to see the defending champions through, but the Lisbon side, through Nuno Gomes, did manage to pull one goal back just before the final whistle to make the scoreline respectable.

Milan proved why they are the reigning champions of Europe as they took advantage of a jittery opening 45 minutes. Benfica got off to a dismal start as they suffered a goal in the 9th minute of the game from a wonderfully taken Pirlo free kick. The Italian international placed his shot perfectly to beat Quim, who reacted late trying to make the save.

Inzaghi spurned a great chance to double the lead in the 13th minute as his effort just went wide of the net and Quim made a spectacular save from Ambrosini two minutes later to keep the deficit down to one goal. Inzaghi was at it again in the 21st minute, but another sharp stop by Quim denied the Milan striker.

Cardozo hits woodwork

Benfica reacted well to the early onslaught and tried to make a game out of it as Rui Costa forced Dida into a good stop and Di Maria picked up the rebound, crossed the ball towards Cardozo, who saw his header come back off the post.

The missed opportunity would cost the Eagles as Milan scored their second in the 24th minute from a textbook counter attack, which saw Inzaghi make no mistake from a Pirlo pass to make give Milan a 2-0 lead.

In the 38th minute Rui Costa narrowly missed the Milan net with a free kick, but the team was lucky not to concede a third goal just before the break from an Inzaghi header that skimmed the crossbar.

The match continued just as open in the second half with both teams exchanging goal scoring opportunities. Rui Costa saw one of his efforts go over the bar in the 58th minute as did Ambrosini, four minutes later, with a header. Milan came very close to a third in the 66th minute when Inzaghi failed to convert an Ambrosini cross.

Rui Costa ovation

A touching moment arrived in the 87th minute when Rui Costa was substituted and the Milan faithful paid their respects to the classy midfielder with a rousing ovation.

The gesture must have spurred on Benfica as an unmarked Nuno Gomes converted a Katsouranis cross in they dying seconds to make it 2-1.

AC Milan:
Dida, Oddo (Bonera, 81), Kaladze, Nesta, Jankulovski, Pirlo, Gattuso, Ambrosini, Seedorf (Emerson, 75), Kaka, Inzaghi (Gilardino, 84)
Yellow Cards: Inzaghi (66)

Benfica:
Quim, Luis Filipe, Miguel Vitor (Gilles, 73), Edcarlos, Leo, Katsouranis, Maxi Pereira, Di Maria, Rui Costa (Nuno Assis, 87), Cristian Rodriguez, Cardozo (Nuno Gomes, 63)
Yellow Cards: Cardozo (61)

Goals:
[1-0] Andrea Pirlo, 9
[2-0] Filippo Inzaghi, 23
[2-1] Nuno Gomes, 92