Kaka's extra-time winner sees Milan past Celtic

MILAN, March 8 (Reuters) AC Milan edged into the quarter-finals of the Champions League when an extra-time goal by playmaker Kaka gave them a 1-0 win over Celtic after the teams were again goalless over 90 minutes.

The six-times European champions gave a stilted performance at the San Siro but secured progress in the third minute of extra time when Kaka broke down the left on a solo run and slid the ball between the legs of Celtic goalie Artur Boruc.

It was a fitting reward for the Brazilian international, who was the most lively player on the pitch throughout the game and hit the bar just before the end of normal time.

Celtic had lost 11 of their previous 12 away matches in the competition but any suspicion they might have come to the San Siro to defend was swept aside in a lively opening.

Kaka produced the first shot of the match yesterday after four minutes, curling an effort towards the bottom corner of Celtic's goal that Boruc dived to push round his post.

Celtic responded a minute later, Jan Vennegoor chesting down a free kick at the far post before firing in a shot that was blocked.

By the middle of the half, Milan had taken control of the game, though lone striker Filippo Inzaghi was often an isolated figure.

Kaka was the one midfielder who seemed able to press forward and a nice one-two with Clarence Seedorf ended with the Brazilian curling in a shot that the Celtic defence managed to block.

In the 38th minute he provided the cross for Massimo Ambrosini to head against the bar as Milan finished the first half on the attack.

They continued to press forward at the restart but their inaccurate passing and predictable movement gave Celtic plenty of time to stop moves penetrating their area.

Milan almost won the game with a flurry of activity in the final six minutes of normal time. A pair of superb saves by Boruc - the first to beat away a Paolo Maldini header, the second to tip a Seedorf free kick over his bar - kept the scores level.

Kaka went even closer, rattling the bar with a shot from outside the area. At the other end Celtic's players appealed for a penalty after Shunsuke Nakamura went down under Ambrosini's challenge but for all their battling efforts they rarely looked dangerous.

After Kaka's goal, however, Milan looked more secure against the tiring visitors.

Pirlo and Seedorf both tested Boruc in the second period of extra time as Celtic vainly tried to pull themselves level.

REUTERS SAM VC1030