Inzaghi gets champions Milan off to winning start
European champions AC Milan began their title defence with a 1-0 Champions League win over Ajax Amsterdam thanks to a 67th minute strike from the in-form Filippo Inzaghi on Tuesday.
European champions AC Milan began their title defence with a 1-0 Champions League win over Ajax Amsterdam thanks to a 67th minute strike from the in-form Filippo Inzaghi on Tuesday.
Inzaghi drove home a loose ball after Ajax keeper Bogdan Lobont had parried a shot from Andriy Shevchenko to get Milan off to a winning start in Group H.
But Carlo Ancelotti's side had goalkeeper Dida to thank for a superb save in injury time to keep out a close-range strike from Ajax midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, minutes after Milan had midfielder Gennaro Gattuso sent off.
Until Inzaghi's strike, his sixth in four games including his goals for Italy in their recent qualifiers, Ajax had the better chances.
The influential van der Vaart struck the bar with a free kick in the 25th minute before Milan keeper Dida was forced into a diving save to keep out a Zlatan Ibrahamovic header.