AC Milan against PSV Eindhoven

Milan haven't been allowed to have any time on the ball in defence, and they certainly haven't played with their trademark composure. PSV have really got to their hosts.

Cocu flights a sensational cross in to the middle. VoH finds a little space between Kakadze and Maldini, but plants his header narrowly wide. Good effort, under pressure from two defenders.

Kaka wins another free-kick; a nice turn under pressure tempts Bouma in to a kick at his calf. Van Bommel and Ambrosini barge each other in the penalty area like a pair of angry buffalo.

Park has worked very hard tonight. He tracks back 60 yards to challenge Serginho, who throws himself to the ground and wins a free-kick.

We're in to the final ten minutes of a match that has been absorbing throughout.

Serginho's first contribution is to beat Ooijer down the left and curl over a dangerous cross. Gomes collects, and releases quickly.

SUB: Seedorf off, Serginho on. The left-sided substitute sprints on to the field with wild enthusiasm in his eyes and fire in his belly.

Oooh! Van Bommel drives a low volley straight at Dida after latching on to VoH's knock-down on the edge of the area.

The Milan fans are getting a little tetchy. Perhaps they need a shot of coffee.

Van Bommel is infuriated with the referee when he doesn't get a free-kick decision. He fumes, temples throbbing, arms wailing, testosterone pumping, eyes bulging. You get the picture.

Shevchenko heads over from Seedorf's corner. Difficult chance.

Milan, I suspect, will inevitably be ecstatic to take a single-goal win out of this game, especially considering the way that PSV have performed in this second half.

Park gets in to another great position as he bursts in to the box. Faced with an acute angle to goal, he chooses to drag the ball back towards the penalty spot, but Stam clears. What a ding, dang, do!

Farfan drives a low cross in to the box but Park can't quite keep the ball under control as he attempts to spin his marker. Good effort.

SUB: Pirlo off, Ambrosini on. Pirlo has been injured recently and has looked tired in the second half. Ambrosini will give the midfield a tougher feel.

VoH is brought down 35 yards out, on the right touchline. Milan prepare to make a second change.

PSV have been excellent in the second half. They have almost totally dominated the midfield and created a few decent chances. If there was any jutsice in this world, they'd be level.

Oooh! Farfan finds some space at the far post. He brings the ball down on his chest and fires a low cross across the six-yard box, but Park arrives a moment too late and can only divert the ball wide of the post.

What an entertaining game this has been, and played in a good spirit. There have been few rash challenges or fouls, and the game has flowed nicely.

Ooijer is booked for a challenge on Shevchenko. The yellow card means that the PSV man will miss the second leg of the tie. Hiddink looks rueful on the touchline, as if he has forgotten his wife's birthday.

Oooh! Kaladze is robbed by Van Bommel on the edge of the area. He cuts in to the box but slams his shot just over the bar when faced only by Dida's worried face.

Park is looking very lively. He breaks down the right, cuts the ball back to VoH, but his shot is blocked on the edge of the area.

SUB: Crespo off, Tomasson on. The Danish striker has barely been used by Milan this season, but he gets his chance to impress in the final half-hour.

Movement on the Milan bench.

Pirlo lobs a ball over Cocu towards a darting Shevchenko, but the PSV veteran gets back and cuts out the cross. Corner, but it comes to nothing.

Seedorf lofts a nice cross in towards Shevchenko. He takes the ball on his chest and prepares to shoot, but Alex flicks out a boot and denies him.

SUB: Vennegoor of Hesselink comes on for Beasley. The tall striker has been out through injury recently, but his return will give PSV a target to aim at; he's a big lad. Think of an oak tree, and you're pretty close.

Seedorf heads a Beasley free-kick clear, and only a desperate boot from Van Bommel prevents a three-on-one Milan counter-attack. PSV seem to be preparing to make a second change.

Beasley collects a pass from Van Bommel on the edge of the area, and flicks the ball through to Park but the Korean can't quite collect. He tumbles under a challenge, but there's no claims for a penalty.

Shevchenko takes a lofted pass on his chest, spins, and hits a first-time shot over Gomes. The big keeper is quick on his feet however, and palms the shot over the bar.

It's been a superb first 10 minutes in this second half; lots of skillfull touches from PSV as they bid to get themselves back in the match, with Milan looking very dangerous on the break.

PSV are showing a lot more in this second half. Cocu breaks from his new position in defence. He finds Park, who lays the ball back to Farfan, but his 20-yard shot is miles over the bar.

Van Bommel fires a lovely pass in to Farfan, who slides the ball back inside to Park. The Korean is in front of goal just eight yards out, but his right-foot shot is straight at a grateful Dida.

A flick of the hips sends Kaka free. He curls a pass in towards Crespo, but the Milan striker falls over when just eight yards out. Rubbish.

If the atmosphere inside the San Siro could be measured on a scale of type of hat, I'd say it was definitely 'Stetson.'

Shevchenko then breaks for Milan, but is robbed of the ball inside the PSV area. The visitors will have to be careful about being hit on the break.

Lucius causes a few problems in the Milan area, with Cocu having a fierce shot blocked before Stam blocks a second effort inside the six-yard area. A bold start to the half from the Dutch club.

Crespo has a goal rightly ruled out for off-side. He made his near-post run a fraction too early before turning in the low cross.

PSV break well through Park. Cocu then feeds the ball out to Lee, who cracks a right-foot shot toward the near post. Dida spills the shot, but he recovers his senses moments before Park can collect the loose ball.

Van Bommel attempts to clip a ball over Maldini towards Park, but the Milan defence slide across to thwart the danger.

PSV make a half-time substitution, bringing on Lucius to replace Bouma. No idea whether that is a tactical or injury-enforced decision.

HALF-TIME: The home side have dominated possession, and got the goal they deserved. It's going to be tough for PSV in the second half.

Just one minute added on for stoppages. PSV end the half with a spell with the ball, but create nothing.

Milan do have a habit of scoring goals at key times; they broke Inter's resistence just before half-time in the quarter-final. I remember that.

Kaka sprints on to the end of a knock-down and fires over a dangerous cross towards Crespo, but Gomes dives off his line to collect. PSv need to remain composed until the break.

Shevchenko's 34th Champions League goal came very easily. Perhaps Gomes should have been more alert to the danger and been off his line quicker. They'd done such a good job until that point.

GOAL! Shevchenko shows great pace to get on the end of Kaka's poked through-ball. He holds off the defender before sliding under Gomes from the edge of the penalty area.

Seedorf winces as he is brought down by Beasley. He's a tough lad, though. Back on his feet in moments.

Hiddink has got it right tonight; his side are marking the key men out of the game, and had Farfan taken his gilt-edged chance early on, would be a goal-up.

Shevchenko holds off a challenge before sliding a nice through-ball towards Crespo, who back-heels in an effort to find Cafu. Bouma does well to read the move, and clears.

Gattuso lofts a long ball forward, but Shevchenko is caught off-side. He gives the thumbs-up sign to his mate. Nice retro touch. What's next? Tank tops over their shirts?

Park again receives some rough treatment from Stam, who looks utterly unrepentent. Van Bommel wastes the free-kick.

PSv will be the happier after the early exchanges. Milan have certainly had more of the play, but have been restricted to a couple of long shots; nothing too threatening.

Bouma gives the ball away on the edge of the area. Kaka collects and shoots first-time, forcing Gomes to palm over the bar. The Milan playmaker had more time than he realised.

Dutch international colleagues Van Bommel and Seedorf clash, with the Milan player hitting the deck after a strong challenge.

Kaladze makes his first dart forward from left-back, but Seedorf's ball in to space is too heavy and runs out of play.

The corner is half-cleared and the ball eventually finds its way to Gattuso, who cracks a shot straight at Gomes from the edge of the area.

Kaka finally finds some space. He takes the ball down the left channel and fires a left-foot shot at goal, which Gomes turns wide.

Park loses the ball in his own half, but shows good determination to win possession back off Shevchenko.

Gomes is booked for delaying a goal-kick. The referee was alerted to the time-wasting by the whistling of 70'000 home fans.

I must say, I'm a massive fan of Maldini. Over the course of 15 years, he has had consistently good hair. And those cheekbones! His face looks as though it's been chisled out of marble.

Shevchenko breaks in between two PSV defenders, but Gomes is off his line quickly and Bouma and the goalkeeper combine to stop the Milan striker in his tracks.

We see the first flash of skill from Kaka, who beats a man and sends over a low cross. Crespo can't quite get on the end of it, however, and PSV clear.

Park is dragged back out on the left wing. Free-kick to PSV. Van Bommel curls the cross in to a crowded box, but Dida claims easily. The Brazilian goalkeeper has six consecutive Champions League clean sheets going in to this match.

Shevchenko finds Crespo on the edge of the area. the Argentinian tries to reverse a pass back in to Shevchenko, but Bouma stands firm to intercept. Seedorf then smashes a volley in to the stands from the edge of the box.

Park disspossesses Pirlo 30 yards out, and hits a first-time shot just over the bar. Dida seemed to have it covered, but it was a decent try from Park.

Farfan hits the grass after a pacy break, but the referee declines his pleas for a free-kick. Stam, standing over the PSV striker, looks unimpressed.

Kaka is being man-marked by Cocu, who is following his opponent everywhere. They even went to the toilet together before the match, I'm told.

Rubbish. Farfan attempts to curl the free-kick in to the top corner, but lofts the ball well over the bar. What a waste.

Park goes down after breaking down the left channel. He collapsed to the turf very easily as Seedorf closed him down. The Milan player is booked, which is ridiculous. Seedorf looks a little bemused as the referee flashes his yellow.

Crespo, of course, is still technically a Chelsea player. And the London club have said it's fine for him to play for Milan should the two clubs meet in the final. That could be interesting. In a way.

Lee is bullied off the ball by Gattuso and Cafu, who launch a swift counter-attack. It comes to nothing, however, when Crespo gifts possession away.

Van Bommel slips a beautiful ball through to a rampaging Farfan, but the 20-year-old scuffs his left-foot shot when faced with Dida inside the penalty area. Good chance.

The San Siro is a cracking stadium, isn't it readers? And tonight it is jam-packed with passionate Italians, cheering on their team of heroes.

Park shows a nice touch on the ball in midfield as PSV attempt to get some sort of foothold in the match. At the moment, Milan are dominating possession.

Farfan pounces on a loose ball on the edge of the Milan penalty area; his right-foot shot is scuffed but on target, and Dida is forced to save down low.

Kaka slides a good ball in towards Crespo in the penalty area, but Gomes is out quickly to dive at his feet. Milan are raising the tempo.

Crespo has a header cleared off the line when Gomes comes for a cross and doesn't get a firm punch on it. Stam then smashes the loose ball high in to the crowd.

PSv are almost caught out by another long ball over the top, but Lee tracks back to hold up Crespo. The Korean is being caught quite high up the pitch; he needs to watch for the runs in behind him.

It's been a quiet start, all in all. What else can I tell you? Well, the pitch looks nice and it's a very pleasant evening in Milan. The sort of evening to sit outside, enjoying a cappuccino and reading a nice Hemingway novel.

Maldini lofts another long ball over the top of the PSV defence. A defensive header drops to Crespo, who smashes a 25-yard shot in to the face of a PSV defender.

Stam goes in very high on Park, almost kicking the little Korean in the head. No booking. Stam looks particularly mean tonight; a little like a bayliff.

PSV look keen to play on the break. I've seen a few of their games this year, and they do counter at pace and with numbers. But can they hold firm against Shevchenko and Crespo? Stay here, and find out.

Maldini lofts a ball over the PSV defence to Shevchenko, who tamely volleys at Gomes. Good chance, but he didn't get enough power on the shot. The striker mutters something under his breath. Probably unrepeatable.

PSV won their national title at the weekend, despite resting four players in preparation for this tie.

Beasley, PSV's American striker, is brought down around the half-way line. Free-kick, taken short, as PSV enjoy a short spell of possession.

Milan kick off. For those of you reading in black and white, the home side are playing in red.

The Champions League anthem is being belted out as the two teams line-up. Maldini smiles and winks at the camera. The Milan mascot, a young fair-haired Italian boy, looks a little dazed with the whole affair.

Can the underdogs spoil the party? There's a white-hot atmosphere inside the San Siro tonight. We could be in for a cracker.

SUB: Pirlo off, Ambrosini on. Pirlo has been injured recently and has looked tired in the second half. Ambrosini will give the midfield a tougher feel.

VoH is brought down 35 yards out, on the right touchline. Milan prepare to make a second change.

PSV have been excellent in the second half. They have almost totally dominated the midfield and created a few decent chances. If there was any jutsice in this world, they'd be level.

Oooh! Farfan finds some space at the far post. He brings the ball down on his chest and fires a low cross across the six-yard box, but Park arrives a moment too late and can only divert the ball wide of the post.

What an entertaining game this has been, and played in a good spirit. There have been few rash challenges or fouls, and the game has flowed nicely.

Ooijer is booked for a challenge on Shevchenko. The yellow card means that the PSV man will miss the second leg of the tie. Hiddink looks rueful on the touchline, as if he has forgotten his wife's birthday.

Oooh! Kaladze is robbed by Van Bommel on the edge of the area. He cuts in to the box but slams his shot just over the bar when faced only by Dida's worried face.

Park is looking very lively. He breaks down the right, cuts the ball back to VoH, but his shot is blocked on the edge of the area.

SUB: Crespo off, Tomasson on. The Danish striker has barely been used by Milan this season, but he gets his chance to impress in the final half-hour.

Movement on the Milan bench.

Pirlo lobs a ball over Cocu towards a darting Shevchenko, but the PSV veteran gets back and cuts out the cross. Corner, but it comes to nothing.

Seedorf lofts a nice cross in towards Shevchenko. He takes the ball on his chest and prepares to shoot, but Alex flicks out a boot and denies him.

SUB: Vennegoor of Hesselink comes on for Beasley. The tall striker has been out through injury recently, but his return will give PSV a target to aim at; he's a big lad. Think of an oak tree, and you're pretty close.

Seedorf heads a Beasley free-kick clear, and only a desperate boot from Van Bommel prevents a three-on-one Milan counter-attack. PSV seem to be preparing to make a second change.

Beasley collects a pass from Van Bommel on the edge of the area, and flicks the ball through to Park but the Korean can't quite collect. He tumbles under a challenge, but there's no claims for a penalty.

Shevchenko takes a lofted pass on his chest, spins, and hits a first-time shot over Gomes. The big keeper is quick on his feet however, and palms the shot over the bar.

It's been a superb first 10 minutes in this second half; lots of skillfull touches from PSV as they bid to get themselves back in the match, with Milan looking very dangerous on the break.

PSV are showing a lot more in this second half. Cocu breaks from his new position in defence. He finds Park, who lays the ball back to Farfan, but his 20-yard shot is miles over the bar.

Van Bommel fires a lovely pass in to Farfan, who slides the ball back inside to Park. The Korean is in front of goal just eight yards out, but his right-foot shot is straight at a grateful Dida.

A flick of the hips sends Kaka free. He curls a pass in towards Crespo, but the Milan striker falls over when just eight yards out. Rubbish.

If the atmosphere inside the San Siro could be measured on a scale of type of hat, I'd say it was definitely 'Stetson.'

Shevchenko then breaks for Milan, but is robbed of the ball inside the PSV area. The visitors will have to be careful about being hit on the break.

Lucius causes a few problems in the Milan area, with Cocu having a fierce shot blocked before Stam blocks a second effort inside the six-yard area. A bold start to the half from the Dutch club.

Crespo has a goal rightly ruled out for off-side. He made his near-post run a fraction too early before turning in the low cross.

PSV break well through Park. Cocu then feeds the ball out to Lee, who cracks a right-foot shot toward the near post. Dida spills the shot, but he recovers his senses moments before Park can collect the loose ball.

Van Bommel attempts to clip a ball over Maldini towards Park, but the Milan defence slide across to thwart the danger.

PSV make a half-time substitution, bringing on Lucius to replace Bouma. No idea whether that is a tactical or injury-enforced decision.

HALF-TIME: The home side have dominated possession, and got the goal they deserved. It's going to be tough for PSV in the second half.

Just one minute added on for stoppages. PSV end the half with a spell with the ball, but create nothing.

Milan do have a habit of scoring goals at key times; they broke Inter's resistence just before half-time in the quarter-final. I remember that.

Kaka sprints on to the end of a knock-down and fires over a dangerous cross towards Crespo, but Gomes dives off his line to collect. PSv need to remain composed until the break.

Shevchenko's 34th Champions League goal came very easily. Perhaps Gomes should have been more alert to the danger and been off his line quicker. They'd done such a good job until that point.

GOAL! Shevchenko shows great pace to get on the end of Kaka's poked through-ball. He holds off the defender before sliding under Gomes from the edge of the penalty area.

Seedorf winces as he is brought down by Beasley. He's a tough lad, though. Back on his feet in moments.

Hiddink has got it right tonight; his side are marking the key men out of the game, and had Farfan taken his gilt-edged chance early on, would be a goal-up.

Shevchenko holds off a challenge before sliding a nice through-ball towards Crespo, who back-heels in an effort to find Cafu. Bouma does well to read the move, and clears.

Gattuso lofts a long ball forward, but Shevchenko is caught off-side. He gives the thumbs-up sign to his mate. Nice retro touch. What's next? Tank tops over their shirts?

Park again receives some rough treatment from Stam, who looks utterly unrepentent. Van Bommel wastes the free-kick.

PSv will be the happier after the early exchanges. Milan have certainly had more of the play, but have been restricted to a couple of long shots; nothing too threatening.

Bouma gives the ball away on the edge of the area. Kaka collects and shoots first-time, forcing Gomes to palm over the bar. The Milan playmaker had more time than he realised.

Dutch international colleagues Van Bommel and Seedorf clash, with the Milan player hitting the deck after a strong challenge.

Kaladze makes his first dart forward from left-back, but Seedorf's ball in to space is too heavy and runs out of play.

The corner is half-cleared and the ball eventually finds its way to Gattuso, who cracks a shot straight at Gomes from the edge of the area.

Kaka finally finds some space. He takes the ball down the left channel and fires a left-foot shot at goal, which Gomes turns wide.

Park loses the ball in his own half, but shows good determination to win possession back off Shevchenko.

Gomes is booked for delaying a goal-kick. The referee was alerted to the time-wasting by the whistling of 70'000 home fans.

I must say, I'm a massive fan of Maldini. Over the course of 15 years, he has had consistently good hair. And those cheekbones! His face looks as though it's been chisled out of marble.

Shevchenko breaks in between two PSV defenders, but Gomes is off his line quickly and Bouma and the goalkeeper combine to stop the Milan striker in his tracks.

We see the first flash of skill from Kaka, who beats a man and sends over a low cross. Crespo can't quite get on the end of it, however, and PSV clear.

Park is dragged back out on the left wing. Free-kick to PSV. Van Bommel curls the cross in to a crowded box, but Dida claims easily. The Brazilian goalkeeper has six consecutive Champions League clean sheets going in to this match.

Shevchenko finds Crespo on the edge of the area. the Argentinian tries to reverse a pass back in to Shevchenko, but Bouma stands firm to intercept. Seedorf then smashes a volley in to the stands from the edge of the box.

Park disspossesses Pirlo 30 yards out, and hits a first-time shot just over the bar. Dida seemed to have it covered, but it was a decent try from Park.

Farfan hits the grass after a pacy break, but the referee declines his pleas for a free-kick. Stam, standing over the PSV striker, looks unimpressed.

Kaka is being man-marked by Cocu, who is following his opponent everywhere. They even went to the toilet together before the match, I'm told.

Rubbish. Farfan attempts to curl the free-kick in to the top corner, but lofts the ball well over the bar. What a waste.

Park goes down after breaking down the left channel. He collapsed to the turf very easily as Seedorf closed him down. The Milan player is booked, which is ridiculous. Seedorf looks a little bemused as the referee flashes his yellow.

Crespo, of course, is still technically a Chelsea player. And the London club have said it's fine for him to play for Milan should the two clubs meet in the final. That could be interesting. In a way.

Lee is bullied off the ball by Gattuso and Cafu, who launch a swift counter-attack. It comes to nothing, however, when Crespo gifts possession away.

Van Bommel slips a beautiful ball through to a rampaging Farfan, but the 20-year-old scuffs his left-foot shot when faced with Dida inside the penalty area. Good chance.

The San Siro is a cracking stadium, isn't it readers? And tonight it is jam-packed with passionate Italians, cheering on their team of heroes.

Park shows a nice touch on the ball in midfield as PSV attempt to get some sort of foothold in the match. At the moment, Milan are dominating possession.

Farfan pounces on a loose ball on the edge of the Milan penalty area; his right-foot shot is scuffed but on target, and Dida is forced to save down low.

Kaka slides a good ball in towards Crespo in the penalty area, but Gomes is out quickly to dive at his feet. Milan are raising the tempo.

Crespo has a header cleared off the line when Gomes comes for a cross and doesn't get a firm punch on it. Stam then smashes the loose ball high in to the crowd.

PSv are almost caught out by another long ball over the top, but Lee tracks back to hold up Crespo. The Korean is being caught quite high up the pitch; he needs to watch for the runs in behind him.

It's been a quiet start, all in all. What else can I tell you? Well, the pitch looks nice and it's a very pleasant evening in Milan. The sort of evening to sit outside, enjoying a cappuccino and reading a nice Hemingway novel.

Maldini lofts another long ball over the top of the PSV defence. A defensive header drops to Crespo, who smashes a 25-yard shot in to the face of a PSV defender.

Stam goes in very high on Park, almost kicking the little Korean in the head. No booking. Stam looks particularly mean tonight; a little like a bayliff.

PSV look keen to play on the break. I've seen a few of their games this year, and they do counter at pace and with numbers. But can they hold firm against Shevchenko and Crespo? Stay here, and find out.

Maldini lofts a ball over the PSV defence to Shevchenko, who tamely volleys at Gomes. Good chance, but he didn't get enough power on the shot. The striker mutters something under his breath. Probably unrepeatable.

PSV won their national title at the weekend, despite resting four players in preparation for this tie.

Beasley, PSV's American striker, is brought down around the half-way line. Free-kick, taken short, as PSV enjoy a short spell of possession.

Milan kick off. For those of you reading in black and white, the home side are playing in red.

The Champions League anthem is being belted out as the two teams line-up. Maldini smiles and winks at the camera. The Milan mascot, a young fair-haired Italian boy, looks a little dazed with the whole affair.

Can the underdogs spoil the party? There's a white-hot atmosphere inside the San Siro tonight. We could be in for a cracker.