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Milan force holders Barca to standoff

Comment: 0 September 14th, 2011 by: admin

BARCELONA opened their title-retention drive on a shaky note as AC Milan salvaged a 2-2 draw in their Champions League group stage duel on Tuesday at Camp Nou.

The Catalans conceded an early goal and then allowed the Italians to find the back of the net in stoppage time to the disbelief of home fans.

Alexandre Pato put Milan to the lead by converting in the 24^th minute but Barca replied with goals from Pedro Rodriguez and David Villa and looked like had the Group H fixture in the bag.

Thiago Silva managed to put the Italians back with a header to frustrate Barca, who beat Manchester United for the crown in Wembley last May.

In other matches, hosts Borussia Dortmund also stunned Arsenal with a late brace to force a 1-1 standoff in Group F; Andre Villas-Boas celebrated his first Champions League match win as Chelsea dumped Bayer Leverkusen in Group E; and his former club Porto turned back nine-man Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 in Group G.

Milan, who battled Barca gallantly despite missing the services of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho due to injuries, celebrated early when Pato broke through Barcelona’s half and calmly slid the ball under goalkeeper Victor Valdes

Lionel Messi set up Rodriguez’s 36^th-minute equaliser, while Villa curled a long-range free kick into the back of the net five minutes into the second half.

Silva’s stoppage-time strike came after Clarence Seedorf sent a corner which the former met with a superb leap before nodding the ball into the net.

“We could have played better after Barcelona took the lead,’’ said AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri. “But I’m happy because we did not collapse until we found the equaliser.’’

Skipper Robin van Persie sent the Gunners to the lead but Dortmund’s Ivan Perisic hit a volley in the 88^th minute.

The draw sent Marseille to the lead in Group F after they beat Olympiakos 1-0.

At Stamford Bridge, Fernando Torres continued his goal-scoring slump but set up both goals for the Blues. Torres fed David Luiz for their first goal in the 67^th minute and then assisted Juan Mata early in stoppage time.

The Blues are now atop Group E following a 0-0 draw between Genk and Valencia.

 

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