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AC Milan champs

AC Milan won a dramatic Champions League final, beating Juventus 3-2 in a penalty shootout. Captain Paolo Maldini completed a unique family double when he emulated his father Cesare in leading Milan to victory.

It is the sixth time the club has been crowned European champions. Only Real Madrid with nine titles -- five of them in a row when the competition was first instituted in 1956 -- is ahead of Milan now.

The match started brightly with Milan going on the offensive and putting Juventus under pressure, and later developed into a good midfield battle, but there was little of the dull defensive play the Italians are usually pilloried for. Goalless after extra time, the match went into the most penalty shootout.

The pressure told on the penalty takers with David Trezeguet, Marcelo Zalayeta and Paolo Montero missing for Juve while Clarence Seedorf and Kakha Kaladze missed for Milan. Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko kept his nerve to fire the winner past Gianluigi Buffon and win the first all-Italian European Cup final for Milan.

Text: Ashish Magotra

AC Milan win Champions League
Images from the final


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