AC Milan went into Wednesday night's Champions League Group C clash at Anderlecht knowing a win would see them join Malaga in the next round of the tournament.
The hosts created the better chances in the first half, but no side deserved to be winning at the break. However, in the second half the game opened up and Milan took a 3-1 win courtesy of Stephan El Shaarawy, Alexandre Pato and a stunning Philippe Mexes overhead kick.
Read how the action unfolded below, with Sports Mole's live commentary.
Hello and welcome to our live text commentary from the important Group C clash in Brussels between Anderlecht and AC Milan.
The other game in this group tonight has just finished and it was a gripping 2-2 draw. It was a late equaliser from Zenit's Victor Fayzulin that stopped Malaga wrapping up the group today.
However, if Milan win today Malaga will be through and it would take a lot of goals from Andrea Stramaccioni's side to usurp the Spaniards at the top of the group.
Team news coming up...
Firstly, the Anderlecht XI: Proto; Gillet, Kouyate, Nuytinck, Deschacht; Biglia, Kljestan; Bruno, Praet, Jovanovic; Mbokani
Plenty there to worry to visitors. Highly-rated Dennis Praet will look to dictate alongside Milan Jovanovic. Powerful forward Dieumerci Mbokani will look to bully the Milan defence, which is not at its strongest...
Now the Milan XI: Abbiati; De Sciglio, Mexes, Yepes, Constant; Montolivo, De Jong, Nocerino; Boateng, Bojan, El Shaarawy
It's something of a 4-3-3 for the visitors, although I'd expect Kevin-Prince Boateng to drift deeper and come into midfield for the ball. Bojan and the on-form El Shaarawy make this an attacking team away from home in the Champions League.
Milan have made it past the group stages in each of the last 12 seasons, which makes this an important fixture not to lose. El Shaarawy, as mentioned, is key as he has half of the club's goals scored this term in Serie A.
Anderlecht have won their last five games in all competitions, a run that stretches back to matchday four with the 1-0 win over Zenit.
Although Anderlecht have a decent overall record against Italian teams, winning seven of 15 games, Milan have not lost in Belgium since the mid-70s. Since then, they have not conceded in five.
Five minutes away from kickoff and I should make a prediction. I honestly can't see a winner, and despite Serie A's leading goalscorer being on the field I also can't see many goals. I'm plumping for 1-1. So certainly don't bet on it...
Time for the anthem and handshakes...
We're underway and Bojan makes a driving run early on. Proto gathers.
El Shaarawy finds Boateng, but he's offside and he doesn't need to be. Fantastic pass but lazy from Boateng there.
Proto gathers again after more good work from Milan down the left, this time it was El Shaarawy stretching his legs.
Composed passing early on from Milan and Anderlecht are forced to have to play on the break. Bright start from the Italians.
Anderlecht pressing now and they force another offside; this time Kevin Constant too far forward.
Mbokani gives De Jong a swift kick to the shin. Referee missed it but replays suggest he could have taken action - it wasn't accidental!
Bruno does well to win a corner off Constant. First chance for the Belgians here.
De Jong heads away and El Shaarawy looks to break but it's good pressing again from Anderlecht and they're back on the ball.
Lovely passing move from Anderlecht. Biglia goes for the return pass but he just does not have the pace to keep it in.
Anderlecht are now the better side. They're giving Milan's defence no time on the ball and are winning it back constantly. Kouyate fouls El Shaarawy and Milan take it quickly.. but it leads to nothing.
Chance for Anderlecht! Great chance for Jovanovic as he's ut through one-on-one but Abbiati saves. In truth he should have done a lot better. Then Praet fizzes an effort just wide.
It was a great pass by Mbokani to find Jovanovic, but it was not a good finish from him.
Deschacht tries a cross into the box but Yepes is there to hack clear. Still Anderlecht with the pressing.
Constant looks for Boateng, but the crossfield ball forces him wide. Eventually Anderlecht win the free-kick and the danger has gone.
Milan are still nervous at the back; Anderlecht see this and pile players from midfield forward for attacks.
Cynical foul from Deschacht on De Sciglio, but not worth a booking in Milan's half.
Milan try to work something with neat passing. Eventually Nocerino tries to nick it over Kouyate but the defender does well enough.
Gillet defends well from a Bojan pass, but the Spaniard had other options than El Shaarawy and could have passed earlier.
Still that Jovanovic effort remains the best chance of the game. No side is dominating currently, although the hosts are certainly more on top.
Indeed they have 59% of the possession so far. You can see why Milan are struggling in the league, they look very disjointed.
Dangerous corner swung in by Biglia and it takes a good punch from Abbiati to clear it.
Milan again fail to clear their lines after a Biglia cross. The Italians remain pressed in their own half. Bruno is brought down by Constant and it's a free-kick in a decent position for Anderlecht.
A bit of passing pressure by Milan ends with Boateng giving the ball to Nuytinck.
Still more of a chess match than football at the moment. It's intriguing, sure, but there's enough caution in an important game that both teams are worried about mistakes.
Chance for Anderlecht! Boateng and Nocerino combine to bring down Mbokani and Constant is forced to clear from almost under his own bar for a corner. Great delivery by Biglia.
A theme of Biglia's corners from the right seem to be that he cannot beat De Jong at the near post.
Aside from the opening few minutes where Milan found some space in behind Gillet on a couple of occasions, the Italians have not created anything at all.
The lack of a central point up front is hurting them. Bojan is working hard but he's being comfortably dealt with by the home defence.
Yellow card! First of the game is given to Nocerino for dissent. He's been lenient on fouls, but won't take any lip!
In fact it wasn't dissent, Nocerino tried to stop the quick freekick and Damir Skomina from Slovenia did not like it.
El Shaarawy fires a low pass into Bojan. He skips past one but slips in the box. He was well-placed there if he stayed on his feet.
Late free-kick in this half as El Shaarawy is fouled. Kouyate got a slight touch on the ball so it was a bit harsh. Montolivo steps up from 40 yards... Too hard, really poor delivery into El Shaarawy.
Anderlecht 0-0 Milan
Not one second of stoppage time and it's half-time. Anderlecht have been the better side, but I can't say they deserve to be leading. After all, more pressure is on them to win despite Milan going through with victory should they get it.
Allegri has Robinho, Alexandre Pato and Giampaolo Pazzini to come off the bench. Will he bring any of them on for the second-half? He should, because Boateng, El Shaarawy and Bojan are not working as an attacking three.
We're back underway.
GOAL! Anderlecht 0-1 Milan (El Shaarawy)
It's really poor defending from Kouyate and Gillet as El Shaarawy collects a deep cross, takes a wonderful touch and fires past Proto. Great finish, you can't take that away from him.
Now it's interesting. It's Milan's only real chance and they've taken it. Anderlecht must score now or they're out! Yellow card! Biglia is booked for a foul in midfield. Deserved.
Chance for Milan! Bojan breaks and it's four on two for Milan. He finds El Shaarawy who wants too much time and the Nuytinck blocks his effort.
Couple of penalty shouts for Anderlecht! Possible handball against Yepes followed by Jovanovic going down under a challenge from Mexes. Nothing given.
Chance for Anderlecht! Praet finds Bruno in a good place and the winger seems to panic; instead of crossing he toe-pokes harmlessly wide.
Anderlecht have pressed since the goal but Milan's defence has been solid this half. They were nervy in the opening 45 but they're currently holding firm... as Mbokani heads over with a very difficult stooping header.
Constant is playing fantastically well at left-back for Milan tonight. A block and an excellent tackle there in quick succession.
Nocerino gets bundled over but he's down like he's been hit by a bus. It doesn't convince the ref to book Kljestan, however.
Bojan clattered this time by Kouyate. He's staying down too. The free-kick is in a decent position for a delivery.
Proto makes an excellent save from a Yepes header, but the flag was up - close call though, Anderlecht left three Milan players unmarked in the box!
Substitution for Anderlecht. Alexander Yakovenko comes on for Bruno as Gillet gets booked for leading with his arm.
Substitution for Milan: Pato comes on for Bojan.
Red card! Nuytinck brings down Pato 35 yards out in a two-on-one. It has to be red, he's the last man.
GOAL! Anderlecht 0-2 Milan (Mexes)
Oh. My. Word. What a hit from Mexes! Edge of the box, the centre-back chests it up and overhead kicks into the top corner. One of the best goals I've ever seen. Wow.
It's now Milan looking for a third. Emanuelsen is on for Constant in a surprising attacking change for Milan. Praet comes off for De Sutter.
Substitution for Anderlecht: Fernando Canesin comes on for Jovanovic. They are running out of ideas now.
GOAL! Anderlecht 1-2 Milan (De Sutter)
Or not... Milan don't defend from a cross and the ball falls to De Sutter who pokes home from a couple of yards. Still a chance then...
Pato has been clattered every time he's been on the ball since coming on. Kouyate did touch the ball there but not much.
It's the 10 men of Anderlecht doing the pressing. They have just under 10 minutes plus stoppage time to save their Champions League season.
Chance for Anderlecht! Huge chance! Deschacht, the left-back, is played in but skies his effort over the bar.
Yepes gives away a free kick against De Sutter. He's been a real menace since coming on.
The home pressure has died just a little. Can they muster any more chances in the closing minutes?
Milan have only had 39% possession and three shots on goal all game. They've taken their chances though.. not that Mexes's effort was a chance per se.
Zapata slices a cross behind for a late corner... Yakovenko to take. Straight at Abbiati. Poor corner.
GOAL! Anderlecht 1-3 Milan (Pato)
Text-book counter attack. El Shaarawy is sent away down the left and he cuts across for the free Pato to tap in. Milan are through.
Three minutes of stoppage time.
They look resigned now Anderlecht. Only 30 seconds left.
Anderlecht 1-3 Milan
Phew. A thrilling second half produces four goals, a red card and one of the best goals I have ever seen from Mexes. I didn't see that coming.
Milan were poor in the first half and did enough in the second to create the chances that have seen them qualify for the second round. Thanks for joining me tonight!
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
