Milan: Zenit St. Petersburg beat AC Milan 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday to qualify for the Europa League. Milan, who had already qualified for the knockout stage, dominated the game but Danny scored the only goal in the 35th minute to ensure the Russian side finished third in Group C - ahead of Anderlecht. However, the Rossoneri were denied what appeared a clear penalty early on when Bruno Alves toppled Giampaolo Pazzini.
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri rotated his squad, leaving top goal scorer Stephan El Shaaraway on the bench, while Djamel Mesbah, Cristian Zapata, Mathieu Flamini and Pazzini were handed rare starts. Milan have only won four of its last 18 European games at home. It is Zenit's first win in Italy in European competition, and only its second ever away victory in the Champions League.
Milan looked set for a penalty in the fourth minute when a corner was cleared but only as far as Massimo Ambrosini, who headed it back in towards Pazzini in the six-yard box. Zenit defender Bruno Alves clambered all over Pazzini, falling on top of him as he attempted to clear, but the referee waved away Milan's furious claims for a penalty. The home side slowly began to take control and Urby Emanuelson went close with an effort from outside the area that was deflected wide of the right hand post.
Milan went even closer in the 22nd minute when Mattia De Sciglio's cross was cleared by Nicolas Lombaerts off Pazzini's feet, from almost under the crossbar. From the resulting corner, Pazzini headed down to Zapata, who slid in to meet it at full stretch but fired off target from two meters out.
Zenit took the lead with its first real chance of the game. Danny raced into the box and saw his cross blocked, but ran back onto the ball and fired into the bottom right corner. Bojan Krkic could have leveled in outrageous fashion five minutes later but his overhead kick flew wide of the right post.
Milan again went close eight minutes after the break. Zenit goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev pulled off a great save to deny Pazzini and the ball rolled tantalizingly in front of an open goal for Emanuelson, but it was cleared at the last second by a defender. The Rossoneri should have leveled in the 75th when Bojan was released by a brilliant through-ball from Robinho and, although the Spaniard's effort was deflected, Pazzini was then millimeters from connecting with the ball, right in front of the open goal. There were huge cheers as El Shaarawy came on with 10 minutes to go, although Milan still couldn't find the equalizer despite again going close with a curling Robinho effort which flew wide of the right upright. Zenit almost doubled its lead on a counter when Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati had his hands stung by a fierce shot from Maksim Kanunnikov.
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