PSV Eindhoven 3 AC Milan 1 AGG.3-3 Milan win on away goalsLiverpool were always going to enjoy watching this game as they waited to discover their opponents in the final, and they must have enjoyed the way Milan were made to look vulnerable before sneaking past PSV Eindhoven thanks to a late goal last night.
The Dutch club looked set to force extra-time, which they would have deserved after a stirring comeback from 2-0 first-leg deficit, but a header by Massimo Ambrosini in the dying moments put Milan through. Phillip Cocu's second goal of the night followed immediately, but it was not enough to prevent the Italian champions from progressing.
Liverpool will be encouraged by the way Milan were rattled by the intensity, pace and talent of Guus Hiddink's side. The Italian champions were pinned back for the most part, unsettled by the way Eindhoven gave them no time and came at them from all angles. They struggled to gain a serious foothold until Hiddink boldly introduced Robert as an attacker, in place of a defender, as he sought triumph.
That might have paid dividends had Dida not saved from the forward, but Milan found more room and Ambrosini's header from a Kaka cross did for them.
Eindhoven enjoyed all the early pressure and got a ninth-minute goal from Park Ji-Sung.
Hiddink had spoken of the importance of patience but his players pressed forward immediately, with the full backs getting down the flanks to good effect and Cocu, Mark van Bommel and Johann Vogel passing neatly.
Carlo Ancelotti started with an attacking formation, using Clarence Seedorf and Kaka behind Andriy Shevchenko, but none of them featured much in the opening 30 minutes as Milan failed to hold possession.
But Milan restricted Eindhoven to relatively few chances once Park had lashed a shot past Dida, bursting on to a loose ball after Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink had got the better of Jaap Stam. Yet they were rarely comfortable. Only the bar kept out a Vennegoor of Hesselink header from a free-kick and Dida saved from Lucius.
PSV's pressure was almost constant and there were only fleeting glimpses of threat on the break from Milan. When Kaka tried to set up Shevchenko, Lucius did well to deny the striker and, just as Milan had briefly looked like getting a foothold, Eindhoven got the second deserved goal.
The left back Lee Young-Pyo was involved, as so often, as Milan's lack of width in midfield was again exposed. He got the better of Cafu and sent in a cross which Cocu headed in at the far post to level the tie.
PSV EINDHOVEN: Gomes, Lee, Alex, Bouma (De Pinho 70), Van Bommel, Park, Cocu, Vogel, Lucius, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Farfan. Subs not used: Zoetebier, Addo, Bogelund, Van der Schaaf, Afellay, Sibon. Goals: Park 9, Cocu 65, 90.
AC MILAN: Dida, Cafu, Maldini (Kaladze 46), Nesta, Stam, Gattuso, Seedorf (Tomasson 69), Pirlo, Ambrosini, Shevchenko, Kaka. Subs not used: Abbiati, Costacurta, Rui Costa, Serginho, Crespo. Goal: Ambrosini 90.
Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway).
