Milan rolls past Sparta with Shevchenko double

MILAN, Italy (AP) -- Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko scored two goals Wednesday as European champion AC Milan thrashed Sparta Prague 4-1 to send the Italian team into the Champions League quarterfinals.

A first-half header by Filippo Inzaghi and an own-goal by Petr Johana on a long distance drive by Ivan Gattuso gave the Italian side a clearcut win at San Siro stadium in a second-leg, second-round match of the European competition.

The 4-1 was decisive for AC Milan following a 0-0 draw in the first-leg at Prague.

At one moment Sparta put the Italian side's qualification at risk when it netted an equalizer in the 59th minute through substitute Tomas Jun.

"We were able to control our nerves after Sparta's equalizer. It was a difficult moment for us. Then our great offensive potential paid off once again," Shevchenko said. "This team can always score when it's needed."

The 1-1 draw would have qualified the Czech team on the away goals rule.

It was a tactical match with Sparta fielding a tight defense and a crowded midfield, and AC Milan trying to attack without taking too many risks.

There were a few scoring chances during the first half and AC Milan needed a spectacular header by Inzaghi in first-half injury time to earn a 1-0 lead.

Inzaghi, who returned from a long injury absence two weeks ago, outjumped a defender and put the ball close to the opposite post on a cross by Brazilian teammate Cafu for his 47th career goal in European competitions on his 100th match with the Milan team.

"I'm glad because we are going on in the competition and I have the chance to go after the 49-goal mark of the great Alfredo Di Stefano," Inzaghi said.

Jun, fielded two minutes earlier, silenced the home crowd by scoring the equalizer, kicking in a low cross following a defensive mishap by Alessandro Nesta.

Shevchenko, the leading Italian league scorer with 17 goals, made it 2-1 in the 66th with a precise header off a pass from Giuseppe Pancaro and sealed AC Milan's win on a quick counterattack in the 79th.

Fed by Brazilian Kaka, the Ukrainian striker put the ball past goalkeeper Jaromir Blazek with a powerful diagonal shot.

In the 85th, Gattuso secured a rare goal when his shot from 30 meters (yards) was deflected by Johana into the Czech net.

After much suffering, about 50,000 fans could at last grant a standing ovation to the winning side.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, who hugged and kissed Shevchenko as he left the field, said his team overcame a crucial moment after allowing 1-1 "on Sparta's only scoring chance."

"They grew confidence after the goal, and luckily we managed to regain control of the match," Ancelotti said.

Milan was the only Italian team to make the last eight in the most prestigious European competition for clubs.

Last year's losing finalist Juventus was knocked out by Deportivo de La Coruna on Tuesday on a 2-0 aggregate score. Inter Milan and Lazio were eliminated in the earlier rounds.

Last year three Italian teams had made it to the semifinals.

Milan, which leads AS Roma by five points in the Serie A standings, will play another decisive match against third-place Juventus in the "Big Match" of the 25th round Sunday.

Summary

AC Milan 4 Sparta Prague 1 - result

Champions League first knockout round, second leg

First leg: 0-0; AC Milan win 4-1 on aggregate.

Scorers:

Milan - Filippo Inzaghi 45+2, Andriy Shevchenko 66, 79, Gennaro Gattuso 85

Sparta Prague - Tomas Jun 59

Halftime: 1-0; Attendance: 50,000

Teams:

Milan: 12-Dida; 2-Cafu (19-Alessandro Costacurta 89), 13-Alessandro Nesta, 3-Paolo Maldini, 26-Giuseppe Pancaro; 8-Gennaro Gattuso, 21-Andrea Pirlo, 23-Massimo Ambrosini; 22-Kaka; 7-Andriy Shevchenko (10-Rui Costa 87), 9-Filippo Inzaghi (15-Jon Dahl Tomasson 76).

Sparta: 29-Jaromir Blazek; 4-Pavel Pergl, 16-Tomas Huebschman, 17-Petr Johana, 3-Vladimir Labant; 8-Karel Poborsky, 15-Radoslav Kovac, 7-Lukas Zelenka (21-Tomas Jun 57), 2-Tomas Sivok, 10-Rastislav Michalik (13-Vladimir Gluscevic 71); 24-Jiri Stajner (18-Mirko Poledica 88)

Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)

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