Soccer: UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, second leg - AC Milan 3 Ajax 2 (agg 3-2): An injury-time goal from substitute Jon Dahl Tomasson gave AC Milan a 3-2 win over Ajax Amsterdam in their Champions League quarter-final, second leg last night to set up a semi-final with rivals Inter.
Ajax had equalised through South African Steven Pienaar 12 minutes from time and, until Tomasson struck, were set to go through on away goals after the first leg had ended goalless.
Milan led 1-0 at the interval thanks to a Filippo Inzaghi header before a pulsating second period in which a place in the last four changed hands four times.
It was cruel on a young Ajax side who played, as they have done throughout the competition, tight and neat football with a constant threat on the counter-attack.
But the win guarantees that one Serie A club will be in the final at Old Trafford on May 28th as Milan joined Inter and Juventus in the last four.
Milan took the lead against Ajax on the half hour when Rui Costa fed Andriy Shevchenko on the right and the Ukrainian's deflected cross was headed in by Inzaghi at the back post.
After Inzaghi's opener Milan's nerves were calmed and they went close again twice before the interval.
Ajax coach Ronald Koeman made a positive switch at the break by bringing on Finnish striker Jari Litmanen for defender Jelle van Damme.
It was Litmanen who brought Ronald Koeman's side level in the 63rd minute, slotting home from close range after a low cross from Van der Meyde.
Within two minutes, though, Milan had restored their lead with Inzaghi turning sharply and bursting into the area.
His attempted cross struck a sliding Pasanen and looped up to the back post where a grateful Shevchenko headed home.
That should have sealed the match for Milan but Ajax pulled level again on 78 minutes when Van der Meyde whipped in a cross from the left that was knocked down by Ibrahimovic and Pienaar scooped the ball in at the second attempt.
A place in the last four beckoned for the Dutchmen.
But in the final moments Massimo Ambrosini headed the ball into the Ajax danger area, Inzaghi poked it over the advancing Ajax goalkeeper Lobont and Tomasson helped the ball over the line.
AC MILAN: Dida, Maldini, Kaladze (Rivaldo 80), Nesta, Simic (Tomasson 83), Costacurta, Rui Costa (Redondo 85), Ambrosini, Brocchi, Shevchenko, Inzaghi. Subs Not Used: Abbiati, Helveg, Laursen, Dalla Bona. Booked: Ambrosini, Costacurta. Goals: Inzaghi 30, Shevchenko 64, Tomasson 90.
AJAX: Lobont, Trabelsi, Chivu, Pasanen, O'Brien, Van Damme (Litmanen 46), Pienaar (De Jong 83), Sneijder, Yakubu, Van der Meyde (Bergdolmo 88), Ibrahimovic. Subs Not Used: Didulica, Witschge, Boukhari. Booked: Pasanen. Goals: Litmanen 63, Pienaar 78.
Referee: M Gonzalez (Spain).
