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Shevchenko penalty hands Milan draw at Bayern
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-22 09:03
Two minutes later, Ballack set up Roy Makaay for what should have been the
second goal. Makaay was alert to the clever pass inside from his captain but the
Dutchman's first-time shot was weak and Dida got down in time to save.
Milan looked no better at the start of the second half but they clinched the
equaliser when Serginho broke down the left and smacked a cross-shot towards the
near post.
Ismael seemed to be attempting a clearance with his thigh but the ball hit
his hand and Belgian referee Frank De Bleeckere awarded the spot kick.
Rensing was unable to keep it out but did at least salvage a point for Bayern
when he pulled off a fine left-handed save from Shevchenko after the Ukraine
striker had been put clear.
Incredulous Bayern Coach
Bayern Munich coach Felix Magath was aghast at the penalty decision that gave
AC Milan the equaliser in Tuesday's 1-1 draw in the Champions League.
Belgian referee Frank De Bleeckere adjudged Valerien Ismael to have
deliberately handled the ball in his attempt to clear a cross-shot from Serginho
in the round of 16 match.
Andriy Shevchenko stroked the spot-kick past Michael Rensing, standing in for
the injured Oliver Kahn, and Bayern, who had been leading thanks to a fantastic
Michael Ballack goal, had to settle for a draw at the Allianz Arena.
"I've never seen anything like that in the Champions League," Magath told
Premiere TV after the opening leg of the first knockout round tie.
"I can't understand how a match can be decided by a penalty like that. It
threw us out of our rhythm and we were too passive in the second half. The
penalty hurt the players' psyche."
Magath could at least take heart for the second leg on March 8 at the San
Siro, after seeing the way his Bayern team overran Milan in the first half.
"We've shown that we can control them," Magath said. "It's up to the players to
get a better result in Milan."
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said he understood Magath's frustration.
"Of course, I understand it," the Italian told reporters. "There was
definitely a hand, but whether it was deliberate or not I don't know. He did
have time to remove his hand."
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