Wednesday October 3, 2012 Group Stage: Group C Finished Petrovskiy
Zenit St. Petersburg 2 - 3 AC Milan
- Hulk 45’
- Shirokov 49’
- Emanuelson 13’
- El Shaarawy 16’
- Hubocan 75’ (o.g.)
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Champions League - Abbiati sparkles as Milan claim win at Zenit
AC Milan saw Zenit recover from two goals down before completing a 3-2 away win over the Russian champions in their Group C match. More
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Live Commentary
Time:90'- Zenit St. Petersburg
- AC Milan
90+4' Milan see out the match fairly comfortably. Could have gone either way, but the Milan players are celebrating. A 3-2 away win for the Italian side.- 89' We are into four minutes of time added on.
- 88' Change for Zenit as Bukharov is brought on for Lombaerts. Time the real enemy for Zenit now.
- 87' Lombaerts brings Pazzini crashing to the deck with a late challenge.
- 86' Hulk tries to tease a cross into the box before a thumping shot comes off the head of Abate and flies wildly away from goal.
85' Shirokov has collected a booking for a late foul on Nigel de Jong.- 84' Yepes takes one for the team as he is booked for a late foul on Hulk. All Zenit now as they try to find this leveller.
- 83' Witsel takes out Antonini with a late challenge. Time running out now for Zenit.
- 82' Hulk tries to bundle his way through, but he is outmuscled by the Milan defenders. Goalkick to Milan.
81' Abbiati throws himself to his right to paw out the volley from Anyukov from Hulk's corner. That ball was travelling. Brilliant stop again by the Milan man.- 80' Zenit have another free-kick on the edge of the Milan box after Nocerino takes out Hulk, who can only knock the free-kick into a two-man wall.
79' Mario Yepes takes over from Boateng for Milan. Zenit having to defend a corner.- 78' Kanunnikov takes over from Fayzulin for the home side.
- 77' El Shaarawy is penalised for a foul on Anyukov. Another change coming here for Zenit.
- 76' Milan with everybody behind the ball as Zenit press forward.
- 75' A 3-2 lead now for Milan. Montolivo with the ball across goal. Zenit have to come back from the dead for a third time this evening.
74' GOAL! Pazzini scores for Milan as the visiting side move 3-2 to the good. Or does he? Would you believe it? Ball comes off Hubocan. Has to go down as an own goal.- 73' Russia national coach Fabio Capello is sitting in the stands with his arms folded. Has not been a brilliant second half, but that will suit Milan more than Zenit.
- 72' AC Milan have never lost in a Champions League game (excluding penalty shoot-outs) after leading by a two goals plus margin.
- 71' Zyryanov replaces Bystrov for Zenit. And on we go with the match level at 2-2.
- 70' Pazzini rises to head the cross by Antonini wide of the goal. Tough to test Malafeev from that range.
- 69' Hubocan has been booked for a late foul on Pazzini.
- 68' Lombaerts does well to block a pass with Kevin-Prince Boateng threatening to speed clear down the left flank.
- 67' Lombaerts penalised for a foul on Pazzini, and that will suit the visiting side as they look to take the sting out of this match.
- 66' Boateng heads on the free-kick into the danger area, but there are plenty of blue shirts back to scramble the ball away. Milan look get back on the front foot.
- 65' Boateng is taken out on the edge of the Zenit box by a rugged Criscito challenge. Chance for Milan to get the big men forward.
- 64' Change for Milan as Nocerino is introduced to take over from Emanuelson.
- 63' Kerzhakov complaining that he was being illegally held off the ball by Bonera as Abbiati is out quickly to collect. Never a free-kick. Better defending by Bonera.
- 62' Shirokov with another potent run to the edge of the Milan box, but there are enough bodies back to deal with the danger. This match so finely balanced.
- 61' Hulk with a dipping cross into the area, but this time Milan do their work well enough to deal with the danger.
- 60' Crsicito drives the ball over the bar from outside the Milan area. An intended cross, but the cross does not threaten the visiting goalkeeper Abbiati.
- 59' A few of the Zenit players showing off their handiwork to tie up the net. And we can continue then.
- 58' Referee has spotted a hole in the net. That will be need some looking at considering it is the Milan net. Be a brave man to suggest the Italians won't concede again this evening.
- 57' Boateng with some super play. Comes up with a decent cross, but Lombaerts is on hand to clear the danger.
- 56' Witsel thumps a shot inches wide from distance. Worth the shot, but Abbiati was always going to get there.
- 55' Game going through a bit of a lull, but Zenit looking the likelier side. Neither side overly convincing at the back it must be said.
- 54' Boateng nods inches wide from Abate's cross. That looked a certain third for Milan. Should have at least hit the target there.
- 53' Pazzini has been wheeled on for Milan to take over from the departing Bojan.
- 52' Abate pushes Hulk to the deck in the box. Clear foul, but the referee decides otherwise. Should have been a penalty to Zenit.
- 51' Think it was Montolivo who was nowhere to be seen as Shirokov popped up. Abbiati also at fault after failing to collect.
- 50' Bojan wallops a shot at the Zenit goal that Malafeev goes down low to stop. What a start to this second half. Milan have blown a two-goal lead.
- 49' GOAL! Shirokov heads into the net from Hulk's corner and the home side are level at 2-2. Milan defence marking fresh air. Awful defending.
- 48' Zenit fans bolstered by that goal before the break. Anyukov's cross is cut out by Antonini as Zenit start brightly in the second half.
- 47' Milan were dominant early on, but seem to have lost their way. Shirokov slams a shot over from distance.
46' Milan get the second half off and running. All to play for with the visiting side holding a 2-1 lead.- 45+2' The whistle sounds after a breathless first half. A 2-1 lead for Milan at the break. All to play for in the second period.
- 45+1' GOAL! Hulks smacks the ball beyond Abbiati from inside the visiting area, and Zenit are right back in this match. Lovely pass by Shirokov. Milan undone.
- 44' We are into two minutes of time added on to this first period. Zenit unbeaten in 16 games at home in Europe. That is under some threat this evening.
- 43' Hulk apologising to Bojan after clattering him with a late challenge. Milan will be relieved to get to the break holding a 2-0 lead after this Zenit recovery.
- 42' Abbiati is revelling in his surroundings so far as he gets down to make another stop from Bsytrov after neat play by Anyukov.
- 41' El Shaarawy has been booked for the foul that led to that free-kick. Fourth booking of a lively opening 45 minutes.
- 40' Abbiati dives low to his left to claw out a hammer blow by