ROME, 18 March 2005 — AC Milan’s treble hopes ended when they lost 4-1 to Udinese in the Italian Cup quarterfinal second leg on Wednesday to go out 6-4 on aggregate.
Udinese will play AS Roma in the semifinals after the capital club scraped through 7-6 on penalties against Fiorentina, who won the second leg 1-0 to leave the tie locked at 1-1.
Top of Serie A and through to the last eight of the Champions League, Italian champions Milan went into the match on a run of nine consecutive victories and with a 3-2 lead from the first leg.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti opted to field a second-string team with Danish international Jon Dahl Tomasson operating as a lone striker in place of in-form Hernan Crespo.
Despite enjoying more possession, Milan went behind in the 20th minute when Giampiero Pinzi cut the ball across the area for striker Vincenzo Iaquinta to whip a shot past goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.
Newcastle, AZ Reach Last Eight in UEFA Cup
In London, Newcastle United and AZ Alkmaar reached the UEFA Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday but the progress of three Spanish sides remains in the balance after Villarreal’s 0-0 draw at Steaua Bucharest.
Alan Shearer scored twice, taking his tally in the competition to 10 in seven matches, as Newcastle crushed Olympiakos Piraeus 4-0 at home in the second leg of their second knockout round tie for a 7-1 aggregate victory.
AZ won 2-1 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk for a 5-2 aggregate win over the Ukrainian team with goals from Barry van Galen, who struck a brilliant curling shot past keeper Jan Lastuvka from 16 meters, and Martijn Meerdink.
England winger Kieron Dyer, with a brilliant back-heel for the opening goal, and midfielder Lee Bowyer also scored for Newcastle.
Liverpool Held by Blackburn; Charlton Beat Spurs
In London, Liverpool were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at home by Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic beat visiting London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in Wednesday’s Premier League matches.
Liverpool’s hopes of finishing fourth and earning a place in next season’s Champions League qualifying round faded further as they remained in fifth, seven points behind local rivals Everton who they play in the Merseyside derby on Sunday.
Blackburn stayed 14th in the table, eight points clear of relegation.
There were few clear-cut chances in a poor game at Anfield, with Liverpool’s Czech striker Milan Baros guilty of the worst miss in the second half when he blazed the ball over the bar from eight meters.
The Champions League quarterfinalists struggled to break down Blackburn’s well-organized defense and were reduced to optimistic long shots by the closing stages, rarely troubling Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
Bellamy on Song as Celtic Close In on Rangers
In Glasgow, Celtic moved within a point of table-topping Rangers in the Scottish Premier League with a 2-0 win at Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Wednesday.
Wales’ striker Craig Bellamy, on loan from Newcastle United, scored the opening goal after 62 minutes and was brought down for a late penalty that was converted by Alan Thompson.
Celtic have 74 points from 29 matches, a point behind Rangers with a game in hand, and their manager Martin O’Neill savored his 150th League win in 181 games in charge.
Celtic can leapfrog Rangers if they beat Dundee United at Tannadice tomorrow. Rangers play Motherwell in the League Cup final at Hampden Park on Sunday.
