Draw gives Milan advantage

Wednesday, 29, Mar 2006 11:11

AC Milan will take a slight advantage into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie with Lyon after a 0-0 draw in France.

The Italians had the better of the early exchanges in this tense encounter, but the French champions came back into it in the second-half and almost forced a goal.

Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko, who had scored eight times in this season's competition before the match, could have given the away side the lead inside the first six minutes as he got in behind the Lyon defence.

However, French international goalkeeper Gregory Coupet remained big and made a good save.

Kaka and Shevchenko both had good efforts on goal but Lyon forced a great save from Brazilian goalkeeper Dida with their first attempt on goal on 25 minutes.

Benoit Pedretti's free-kick from 25 yards looked destined for the top-left corner until Dida intervened at full-stretch.

Shevchenko was denied once more on the stroke of half-time by a point-blank save from Coupet but this was as good as it got for the Italians.

It was Lyon who created the better chances in the second period as they began to assert some authority.

Midfielder Tiago unleashed a good drive nine minutes after the break which was fortunately deflected wide by Serginho, before the former Chelsea man was denied by a good save from Dida with eight minutes remaining.

However, Milan held on to the draw for the return leg in the San Siro on Tuesday.