AC Milan produced a masterclass display to blow away Manchester United 3-0 on Wednesday and reach the Champions League final for the third time in the last five seasons.
Milan -- winners of six of their 10 European Cup and Champions League finals -- will meet Liverpool in the Athens showpiece on May 23, a repeat of the 2005 final which the Merseysiders won on penalties after fighting back from 3-0 down at half-time to draw 3-3 in Istanbul.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was jubilant.
PHOTO: AP
"It was an evening of dreams," said Ancelotti, who earlier in the season was under pressure as Milan showed indifferent league form.
"It was perfect football. As regarding the final, well it will be a fascinating challenge. Liverpool are not as good as Manchester United but they are harder physically," he said.
His United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson was gracious in defeat, though, he did regret the way they had conceded their goals.
PHOTO: EPA
"I think that they got their goals very cheaply, and we just can't do that. They were better prepared physically and had been able to rest players whereas we hadn't and that can work at this level, " he said. "I don't think we lacked in a physical sense but they were sharper and pressed harder. We were on the back foot the whole time."
Milan's victory at a rain-drenched San Siro, secured by first-half strikes from Kaka and Clarence Seedorf and a late breakaway goal by substitute Alberto Gilardino, clinched a 5-3 aggregate semi-final win over the Premiership leaders and prevented the first all-English European Cup or Champions League final.
Gennaro Gattuso, who hobbled off during the 3-2 first leg defeat after sustaining a foot injury, returned to the Milan midfield and completely closed down his United opponents.
For the World Cup winning hardman it was barely credible.
"For us this has been an unbelievable season," he said. "At the beginning of it we didn't even believe it was possible, no one would have put 1,000 lira on us," added Gattuso, referring to the country's former currency before it joined the euro.
Milan almost went ahead in the third minute but Edwin van der Sar did brilliantly to tip Seedorf's fierce half-volley over the bar.
Urged forward by a boisterous home crowd, the hosts kept up the early pressure and United's defense was breached eight minutes later.
Alessandro Nesta's chipped pass found Seedorf whose backward header fell at the feet of Kaka, and the talented Brazilian steered a low, left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Andrea Pirlo dragged a shot wide before United mustered their first attack, Ryan Giggs' low drive comfortably saved by Nelson Dida.
Milan looked threatening every time they pressed forward, but they were given a helping hand by the United back-four for their second goal on the half hour.
Recalled Croatian defender Nemanja Vidic sliced a clearance out to the right flank and Pirlo took possession before crossing into the box. A weak headed clearance dropped kindly for Seedorf who dodged Vidic's sliding tackle and hammered a right-footed shot beyond van der Sar.
A last-ditch goalline clearance from Wes Brown denied Kaka in the 53rd minute before United squandered an excellent opening, Darren Fletcher firing wide after being put through by Wayne Rooney.
Gilardino came on for the tiring Filippo Inzaghi and he made his mark 12 minutes from time, driving through the gaping United defense before side-footing past van der Sar.
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