First-half class sees Milan to semi-final

Bayern Munich  0 AC Milan 2 Milan win 4-2 on agg:There will be another trip to Italy for Manchester United, another meeting with the carabinieri for their followers and another visit to the San Siro where, two years ago, United bowed out of Europe in the last 16.

Milan went on to the final to meet Liverpool in Istanbul and that is a possible scenario for Athens, Milan having eased past a disappointing Bayern Munich here last night.

First-half goals from Clarence Seedorf and Filippo Inzaghi set up a semi-final against United that will begin at Old Trafford on Tuesday week.

Alex Ferguson departed Bayern's vast arena with much to ponder. Carlo Ancelotti's team showed weakness in the first leg to draw 2-2, but here Milan were clinical both in attack and defence.

Bayern had not lost at home in Europe for 11 matches, stretching back three years, but they were pedestrian - or made to look that way - as Milan soaked up pressure, hit them on the break, then soaked up some more pressure.

There were no heroics from Daniel van Buyten this time and the former Manchester City player will not have his derby.

As for Owen Hargreaves, Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer said on TV before kick-off that he would contemplate selling the England midfielder "for £25 million". Hargreaves was excellent in Milan but he laboured with his colleagues last night.

Although Bayern had scored a second equaliser deep into injury-time at San Siro, the Germans left Italy with the same amount of regret as their hosts nurtured. Milan did not care much for either of van Buyten's late goals, but then it was only the Russian referee who saw Lucio's clean tackle on Kaka as a penalty.

But that performance and first-leg result gave Bayern the advantage. Twice in the first 12 minutes they almost enforced it with a breakthrough goal, though by the 31st minute that sense was to be spectacularly overturned.

Mark van Bommel missed the first leg because of suspension but made his returning presence felt with a smart, far-post cross that bypassed Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta and found Lukas Podolski. Podolski was coming in at pace and could only stab the ball goalward, but it was beating Dida until Massimo Oddo cleared it a yard from the line.

Bayern had shown no trace of anxiety. Soon after that, a lovely reverse pass from Roy Makaay found Podolski unmarked on the 18-yard line. Podolski edged one stride forward before spiking a shot that was fierce but too close to Dida.

Milan were digging in.

Midfield sparring followed, but that was terminated by Kaka. On 27 minutes the Brazilian cut inside from the right wing and ran smoothly until supplying Seedorf.

The experienced Dutchman had little option but to shoot and, when he did, the ball careered through Van Buyten and into the bottom corner.

Oliver Kahn was nowhere, a sensation he was to know again less than five minutes later when, after neat interplay by Marek Jankulowski, Kaka and then Seedorf, with a creator's backheel, saw Inzaghi suddenly free and bearing down on the ageing Teutonic hero.

Inzaghi is no spring chicken either, but his finish - high into the roof of the net - was sprightly.

Ottmar Hitzfeld had to do something, and Bayern's coach brought on Roque Santa Cruz, though it was a careless throw-out from Dida that rekindled the atmosphere.

Hitzfeld also switched some positions around, Hasan Salihamidzic moving from right back to attacking left-side midfielder.

Ten minutes into the second half it nearly paid off, Salihamidzic running on to Christian Lell's fast cross. But Salihamidzic could not guide it in.

The same player then left a boot in on Nesta, prompting a caution and a scuffle that saw Ancelotti run on to restrain Massimo Ambrosini.

Guardian Service

BAYERN MUNICH: Kahn, Salihamidzic, Lucio, Van Buyten, Lahm, Ottl (Santa Cruz 46), Hargreaves, Van Bommel, Lell (Gorlitz 77), Makaay (Pizarro 61), Podolski. Subs not used: Rensing, Karimi, Ismael. Booked: Van Bommel, Salihamidzic.

AC MILAN: Dida, Oddo, Nesta, Maldini, Jankulovski, Gattuso (Cafu 87), Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf (Gourcuff 80), Kaka, Inzaghi (Serginho 70). Subs not used: Kalac, Kaladze, Oliveira, Bonera.

Referee: ME Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain).