Defending Champion AC Milan upset
( 2003-10-23 08:45) (Agencies)
Defending champion AC Milan was upset 1-0 by FC
Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday.
AC Milan's Kaka (R)
fights for the ball against Bruges defender Peter Van Der Heyden (L)
during their Champion's League match at the San Siro stadium in Madrid.
[AP] | English powerhouse Manchester United and
nine-time winner Real Madrid both won, while another Italian team, Lazio, lost
2-1 to Chelsea.
AC Milan, which beat Juventus on penalties in last year's final, was the
heavy favorite at home. But Andres Mendoza of Brugge scored in the 33rd minute.
AC Milan fell to second in Group H after four-time tournament winner Ajax
downed Celta de Vigo 1-0. Ajax has six points, two more than Milan.
United beat Rangers 1-0 in a match dubbed the "Battle of Britain" because
both clubs won their respective leagues last season. Phil Neville scored in the
fifth minute and cleared a header off the line in the second half. United
goalkeeper Tim Howard made a good save in the 89th minute to preserve the win.
Stuttgart beat Panathinaikos 2-0 in the other Group E game. Stuttgart and
United have six points and the Rangers four.
Real Madrid beat Partizan Belgrade 1-0 as Raul Gonzalez, the leading
goal-scorer in Champions League history, scored in the 38th minute. Real Madrid
has three wins in three games — the only other perfect team is Juventus — to
lead Group F.
Real Madrid team doctor Alfonso del Corral said David Beckham strained
his right thigh and he would be examined Thursday, news agency Efe reported. He
said it was too early to say whether Beckham would be able to play in Saturday's
league match against Racing de Santander.
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