Galatasaray cruise past Milan

Hagi and Ambrosini contain a high ball

Galatasaray 2-0 AC Milan

Galatasaray cruised past a disappointing Milan side to become the first Turkish team ever to make the Champions League knockout stages.

Romanian Gheorghe Hagi and Brazilian striker Mario Jardel gave last season's UEFA Cup winners an easy home win.

The first half was an ill-tempered affair with four bookings.

As early as the ninth minute, a scuffle involving nearly a dozen players ended in a booking for Milan's Leonardo.

The Turkish champions took the lead in the 20th minute when Hagi, sent clear on the right by a long ball from the back, lobbed keeper Dida from a tight angle on the right edge of the penalty area.

Two minutes later Hagi went close again with a 25 yard free-kick that Dida saved low to his left.

Milan pushed more players forward but failed to test home keeper Claudio Taffarel.

Olivier Bierhoff replaced the ineffective Leonardo early in the second half and the German sent a powerful header over the bar in the 60th minute.

But Galatasaray responded and after Emre and Hagi had gone close, substitute Arif Erdem sent Jardel through to settle the match.

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Galatasaray:Taffarel, Korkmaz, Popescu, Belozoglu, Yilderim, Buruk, Jardel, Hagi, Sas, Davala, Capone. Subs: Inan, Suat, Akyel, Aykut, Atalay, Asik, Arif.

AC Milan: Dida, Sala, Chamot, Maldini, Ba, Giunti, Garcia, Coco, Boban, Leonardo, Shevchenko. Subs: Rossi, Comandini, Jose Mari, Bierhoff, Guly, Serginho, Ferri.

Referee: Helmut Krug (Gelsenkirchen)