AC Milan 2 - 0 PSV Eindhoven

AC Milan 2-0 PSV: Dutch distress

Updated: April 26, 2005, 12:00 PM UK

A late goal by Jon Dahl Tomasson allowed AC Milan to seize command of their Champions League semi-final with PSV Eindhoven and move a step closer to Istanbul.

The Danish striker, who replaced the ineffective Hernan Crespo with 26 minutes remaining, pounced in injury time after Kaka's shot had been blocked.

The second goal was a cruel blow for PSV, who limited the hosts' attacking threat after Andriy Shevchenko had given Milan a 42nd-minute lead and had numerous chances of claiming an away goal before Tomasson struck.

Gennaro Gattuso (suspension) and Andrea Pirlo (injury) returned to the starting line-up, allowing Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti to name his strongest midfield trio, with Clarence Seedorf keeping his place on the left.

Former PSV defender Jaap Stam managed to recover from a muscle problem, replacing the suspended Alessandro Nesta, although captain Paolo Maldini had to be shifted over to the heart of defence, with Kakha Kaladze taking his place at right-back.

PSV coach Guus Hiddink made just one change from the previous round, with American DaMarcus Beasley replacing striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink in a three-man attack with Jefferson Farfan in the middle and Ji-Sung Park on the right.

The newly-crowned Eredivisie champions may have been considered the underdogs but their 4-3-3 formation sent a warning to Milan that they intended to clinch their first-ever European win on Italian soil.

Milan got off to a strong start, with Shevchenko having the first shot on goal on two minutes, but his flicked shot was easy for PSV goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

With nine minutes played, Crespo twice went close in quick succession, his first effort denied by Gomes' acrobatic save before Young-Pyo Lee was forced to clear the Argentinian's powerful header off the line.

Despite enjoying the better of the early play, Milan almost found themselves behind after 13 minutes when Farfan's fantastic run caught the hosts' defence off-guard but his poor shot let him down as he looked poised to break the deadlock.

With 27 minutes played, Greek referee Kyros Vassaras showed the first yellow card of the game to the PSV Keeper for time wasting.

But that didn't affect Gomes, who did well to turn two powerful Kaka shots behind on the half-hour mark.

Milan increased the tempo, hoping to find the net before the interval, and they should have gone in front after Shevchenko played a beautiful ball to Crespo, but his backheel pass inside the area only found a rival, much to the disappointment of the San Siro crowd.

But all was forgiven as Milan were finally able to make the breakthrough shortly before half-time.

Kaka spotted defender Alex out of position and played a perfect through ball for Shevchenko to race onto and calmly place the ball beyond Gomes.

Milan could have increased the advantage soon after, with Kaka providing another beautiful ball towards the area, but Crespo's strike went straight at Gomes.

Hiddink made a tactical change at half-time with Theo Lucius replacing central defender Wilfred Bouma.

The visitors showed signs of improvement and almost levelled after Dida failed to hold onto Lee's 20-yard effort but the keeper managed to grab the ball with Park ready to knock the ball home.

Shortly before the hour mark, Shevchenko almost doubled his tally, only for Gomes to brilliantly palm away his powerful drive.

The visitors started to look more aggressive in attack but they repeatedly failed to find the finishing touch, with an unmarked Park firing high of Dida's goal and a close-range drive and a header from Mark van Bommel going high and wide, respectively.

But the hopes of PSV fans were shattered when Tomasson took advantage of Kaka's shot rebounding off a defender to turn the ball home.