AC Milan Scrape Through After Draw With Ajax

[Folami David]

AC Milan squeezed into the Champions League knockout phase after a battling 0-0 draw with Ajax at the San Siro on Wednesday despite playing for more than an hour with 10 men following Riccardo Montolivo's sending off.
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Ajax dominated even before Montolivo was shown a straight red card in the 22nd minute for a reckless challenge on Christian Poulsen, but Massimiliano Allegri's side held on to secure their place in the last 16.
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They finish second in Group H with nine points, a point ahead of Ajax and four behind group winners Barcelona, who beat Celtic 6-1 at the Nou Camp.
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Poulsen hit the post for Ajax after five minutes and Milan keeper Christian Abbiati was forced into a number of saves, but the Dutch champions couldn't capitalise on their territorial and numerical advantage and have to content themselves with a place in the Europa League.
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Frank De Boer's side were, if anything, better when both sides had 11 players, pinning Milan back in their own half with aggressive pressing and slick passing that culminated in Abbiati making a smart save from a powerful Davy Klaassen header in the 19th minute.
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Yet their enterprising play stopped almost immediately after Montolivo left the field, perplexed at referee Howard Webb's decision, and the game settled into a scrappy affair in which Milan striker Mario Balotelli led his side from the front with a strong, hard-working performance.

[Shola Sholaz]

I expected AC Milan to qualify and they did not dissappoint. Good one from the coach and their fans.