Hits into quarters
Atletico beat Milan with two goals from Diego Costa, one of Arda Turan and other of Raúl García, to get to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League. KakA scored the 'Rossoneri' goal.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID 4–1 MILAN
Atlético: Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Filipe, Mario Suárez, Gabi, Koke (Diego Ribas, 82’), Arda (Cristian Rodríguez, 78’), Raúl García (Sosa, 71’) y Diego Costa.
Milan: Abbiati, Abate, Rami, Bonera, Emanuelson, De Jong (Muntari, 79’), Essien (Pazzini,69), Kaká, Taarabt (Robinho, 47’), Poli y Balotelli.
Goles:
1-0. Min.3. Diego Costa beats Abbiati after a sublime assistance from Koke..
1-1. Min.27. Kaka's header a pass from Poli.
2-1.Min.41. Arda dispara desde fuera del área para hacer el segundo rojiblanco.
3-1. Min.70. Raúl García headers the ball and he makes the third goal..
4-1. Min.85. Diego Costa crosses the ball and score his second goal.
Árbitro: Mark Clattenburg, Inglaterra. Yellow cards: Raúl Gacía (Min.5), Rami (Min.7), Balotelli (Min.45), Bonera (Min.69) and Robinho (74’).
25,000 flags flying at a deafening noise. The Champions League was back and the Atletico decided to make history. Under the baton of Gabi, omnipresent in midfield, the team of Simeone jumped into the Vicente Calderon´s lawn with courage and determination, while on the first half scored the first goal of the night. Koke made a perfect pass looking for Diego Costa , and the Lizard scored. An acrobatic and conclusive left shoot for Abbiati, opened the way towards qualification to the quarterfinals . Milan, knocked out with the start of the Atletico tried to control the game in midfield to stop the chances of real danger. Godin, in a dead-ball situation , wanted to try his luck, but his shot went next to the post .
When least expected, Kaka scored a goal, who headed in a cross from Poli without possibilities for Courtois. The Italian goal changed the game, as the Milan multiplied efforts to rebound the game in searching for the goal that would give them advantage in the tie. However, Arda Turan took care of the advantage to remain at the atletic´s side. A combination with Raul Garcia on the front, left the Turkish to shoot a ball into the goal after striking the milanista Rami. Spoiled by a full terrace, the team of Simeone looked hard to score the third. Raúl García, the day that he equaled the legendary Luis Aragonés as the atletic player with more matches played in Champions League, jumped above all in a colossal Chilean. With no time for more, the referee certified the first half final whistle 2-1.
The resumption started by a shooting crosshead of Gabi. Diego Costa quickly drove the ball for three quarters of the field to let Gabi a one on one with Abbiati . Only the post prevented the hard shot from our captain to drill the milanistas grids. After the storm, the team continued playing well , and Koke , Gabi and Arda with the aid of Filipe and Juanfran on the sides began to make collective moves. From their moves came the best opportunities for Simeone, with a header from Miranda and a good shot on the turn of Raúl García. Milan went all out for Essien pulling Pazzini, but the red and white dominance was total.
How could it be otherwise, Raul Garcia header to mark his goal. A cross by Gabi found the Navarre´s head to make the 3-1. Immediately afterwards, Seedorf team tried to catch up with a shot from Robinho that went out by the cross piece. The Atletico attacked mercilessly in search for the four, not to be asked twice. The same who opened the match, was also responsible for closing it. Diego Costa pulled off Bonera and then shot with a shot crossed to Abbiati. The whole stadium, sunk in a festival of song, rewarded with a giant ' wave' the great game of Simeone, with their unstoppable advance towards the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.