Milan ease into last eight

Milan ease into last eight

Rivaldo won the game for AC Milan

Lokomotiv Moscow 0-1 AC Milan

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A Rivaldo penalty secured AC Milan's passage into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Rivaldo's spot-kick proved decisive as the Italian team won away at Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow in the Group C match.

Brazilian striker Rivaldo confidently slotted in a 34th-minute penalty to maintain Milan's 100% record in the second phase.

He scored after Filippo Inzaghi was adjudged to have been fouled by Lokomotiv defender Vadim Yevseyev.

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They have won each match so far 1-0 and top the group with 12 points while Lokomotiv's challenge is all but over as they lie bottom of the table.

Milan's quality proved too much for the home side with Clarence Seedorf twice being denied by Lokomotiv keeper Sergei Ovchinnikov within the first 21 minutes.

Rivaldo then converted the spot-kick to put Milan into the ascendancy going into the break.

Milan controlled the tempo after the interval with precise passing and fine ball control.

Everyone played well, but I was especially pleased with our defence

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti

Rivaldo and late substitute Rui Costa could have added a second in the dying minutes, but both just missed the target.

"I'm very happy that we won and booked ourselves a place in the quarter-finals with two games to spare," said Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti.

"I think we played real well in the first half and Lokomotiv were a bit better in the second, but I don't want to single out any players on our team.

"Everyone played well, but I was especially pleased with our defence."

Milan captain Paolo Maldini celebrated the victory in style by breaking Giuseppe Bergomi's Italian record for appearances in European competition after playing a full 90 minutes in Moscow.

It took Maldini's appearance total in all of Uefa's club competitions to 118 games, breaking the old mark set by the former Inter Milan defender.

Maldini, 35, has played a full 90 minutes in all but five of his matches.

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Lokomotiv Moscow: Ovchinnikov, Nizchegorodov, Ignashevitch, Sennikov, Sirkhaev (Pimenov 58), Izmailov, Maminov, Loskov, Cesar (Parks 82), Evseev, Mnguni.
Subs Not Used: Zakharchuk, Drozdov, Ionov, Obradovic, Buznikin.

Booked: Sennikov, Loskov, Nizchegorodov.

AC Milan: Dida, Maldini, Kaladze, Nesta, Costacurta, Redondo (Brocchi 75), Gattuso, Seedorf, Serginho (Laursen 87), Inzaghi (Tomasson 85), Rivaldo.
Subs Not Used: Fiori, Simic, Rui Costa, Dalla Bona.

Booked: Gattuso, Serginho.

Attendance: 24,000.

Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece).