Celtic advance; Inzaghi surpasses Mueller’s mark
Milan, December 5:
Filippo Inzaghi became the top all-time scorer in European play, and Celtic advanced to the second round of the Champions League despite the 1-0 loss to AC Milan on Tuesday.
Inzaghi scored in the 70th minute at the San Siro for his 63rd goal in European play, moving him past former Bayern Munich forward Gerd Mueller.
Kaka started the play by passing to Cafu, who shifted it back to Inzaghi in the goalbox. It was Inzaghi’s third goal in four Champions League this season. He also scored both goals when Milan beat Liverpool in last season’s final.
Real Madrid striker Raul Gonzalez has the most goals in the Champions League with 58. Raul and Andriy Shevchenko are tied for third with 60 goals each on the total European list.
Milan, which had already qualified, finished first in Group D with 13 points. Celtic finished second with nine points. Benfica beat Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 and finished third with seven points. Shakhtar was last with six points.
Oscar Cardozo scored for Benfica in the sixth and 22nd minutes, and Cristiano Lucarelli converted a penalty for Shakhtar in the 30th. Both matches were moved up a week to accommodate Milan’s trip to Japan for the Club World Cup.
Chelsea, FC Barcelona, Manchester United, AS Roma, Inter Milan, Sevilla and Arsenal have also reached the second round. The other seven places will be decided next week.