An eventful first half gave way to an uneventful second, where a goalless draw seemed the likely conclusion before substitute Ronaldinho lit up the San Siro with a fantastic goal in the last minute to hand Milan all three points at home.Milan 1-0 Braga
Braga have won their three away games in Europe this season by a 2-0 margin, and this certainly gave coach Carlo Ancelotti something to consider going into this encounter at the San Siro. Milan are overwhelming favourites to win Group E and they confirmed themselves as top dogs with a warning of their intentions in a 3-1 triumph away at Heerenveen in their first group encounter.
The Rossoneri go into the game in high spirits after reaching top spot in the domestic standings for the first time in four years following their 1-0 weekend win against Napoli at home.
First Half
Milan kicked off the game at the San Siro, and the Rossoneri were quickly on the attack, and a few minutes in Inzaghi came close to the opener after a cross from Pato found the head of the Italian international striker but his flick went agonizingly wide of the post.
A minute later Pato had a good chance on goal but the Brazilian put the ball just wide. In the 6th minute the Portuguese team had their first opportunity of the match, with a breakaway, which allowed a striker to pace past Senderos, but the finish was poor and Dida was not called into action.
Captain on the night, Gattuso was his usual tough tackling self and the midfielder won countless balls for the Rossoneri. In the 11th minute the visitors put in a dangerous cross from a corner, but Dida punched the ball away, clearing the attacking threat.
Two minutes later Braga created another opportunity, but a cross to Meyong was intercepted by Senderos and company at the back from Milan. In the 19th minute a mazy run from Pato opened up the Braga defence, but the Portuguese back line were able to clear the ball and remove the impending danger.
Milan had a clear command over the possession of the ball at this stage, with the home side pushing forward in search of a goal that would open up the game. Twenty-seven minutes into the encounter a move between Inzaghi and Pato almost created a threatening chance, but Braga did well to put the ball out of play.
In the 29th minute Senderos was found wanting, and a Braga attack nearly ended in a goal, but for a fine finger-tip save from Dida and a clearance from Jankulovski. The midfield was a battle ground in the latter stages of the first half, with Gattuso and Flamini coming up with the goods to keep Milan in possession.
Shevchenko seemed to be struggling to get into the game, with his passing and first touch eluding him. The 38th minute caused the San Siro crowd some panic, as a good cross went just beyond Renteria in attack.
A minute later Milan responded with a chance of their own, but Inzaghi could not comfortably get onto the end of Shevchenko's cross and his header bounced over the bar. The last few minutes of the first half were largely uneventful, and as the clock struck 45 minutes referee Rasmussen blew the half time whistle with the score at 0-0.
Second Half
The second half saw the introduction of Paulo Cesar in place of Meyong, as Jorge Jesus tried to change things up front for the visitors. Milan quickly found themselves in attack, but Shevchenko's effort from an acute angle was more hopeful than accurate, and ball went hi into the sky.
The first few minutes of the second half saw Braga create more space on the left wing, and they used it to good effect, moving the ball well down the flank and whipping in crosses for the strikers. The Milan defence dealt with the danger of aerial attacks well, and Braga struggled to create any attempts at goal.
A great deal of the play was concentrated in the middle of the park, with few chances on goal materialising in the early stages of the second half. The San Siro crowd became excited around the 56th minute as Ronaldinho and Seedorf left the bench and began to warm up.
In the 55th minute Milan were on a threatening counter attack, but Evaldo did well to stop the move before the Rossoneri were able to reach the Braga goal. Milan brought on Ronaldinho in the 62nd minute to resounding applause from the San Siro crowd.
The Brazilian took the place of his compatriot Pato, who had not done a great deal in the encounter. A few minutes later Carlo Ancelotti threw Seedorf into the mix, as the Dutch attacking midfielder replaced Emerson and attempted to give Milan more bite up front. In the 70th minute a shot from Luis Auguiar had power, but the ball was too close to Dida and the Brazilian comfortably saved.
Milan did not seem to pressed to get a result out of the game, despite the fact that it was a home game for the Rossoneri. Seedorf's introduction gave them some spark in midfield, and in the 76th minute the fresh legs of the Dutchman moved in and out, dribbling his way into the box before desperate Braga defending saw the ball cleared and the danger snuffed.
A few minutes later Ronaldinho floated in a great cross, but both Shevchenko and Inzaghi were well marked and the Italian could only get a wayward head to the ball, which sent it high and over Eduardo's goal. Senderos grew in confidence as the game progressed, and the Swiss defender did well towards the end to keep Braga at bay. That said, the Portuguese had a great chance in the 81st minute with the ball bouncing slowly through a sea of players in the Milan box, with none of the Braga strikers able to get a touch on the ball.
A flurry of chances from both sides gave fans more entertainment in the closing stages, as a Braga scuffed a shot before Shevchenko's cross traveled across the face of goal without anyone present to get the final touch. The last few minutes were promising, and suddenly out of nothing the ball was passed across to Ronaldinho who unleashed an incredible strike from outside the box which ended in the top left corner of the net, handing Milan a 1-0 win at home, and three valuable points.
GOALS: Ronaldinho 92'
MILAN (4-3-2-1): Dida, Senderos, Kaladze, Jankulovski, Antonini, Flamini, Gattuso, Emerson (Seedorf 68'), Pato (Ronaldinho 62'), Inzaghi, Shevchenko.
BRAGA (4-1-3-2): Eduardo; Frechaut, Moises, Rodriguez, Evaldo; Vandinho; Alan (Joao Pereira 89'), Luis Auguiar, Peixoto (Matheus 74'); Meyong (Paulo Cesar 46'), Renteria.
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