Milan miss out on UEFA Cup group stage top spot
LONDON (Reuters) - UEFA Cup favourites AC Milan missed the chance to progress to the knockout stages as group winners when a late Mahir Saglik equaliser handed VfL Wolfsburg a 2-2 draw at the San Siro Wednesday.
As Group E's top side, Wolfsburg are guaranteed a tie against a third-placed side from another group in Friday's last 32 draw while seven-times European champions Milan must face a third-placed finisher from the Champions League group stage.
Former European champions Hamburg SV secured top spot in Group F as Martin Jol's Bundesliga side eased past Aston Villa 3-1. Croatia forward Mladen Petric scored his fifth goal of the competition and compatriot Ivica Olic added two more.
In a game between two already qualified sides, St Etienne continued to belie their poor domestic form when the Ligue 1 strugglers drew 2-2 at home to Valencia to top Group G.
FC Copenhagen, Deportivo Coruna and Lech Poznan picked up the evening's three qualifying places on offer.
The Danish side won 1-0 at Club Bruges in a shootout for the final spot in Group G while Lech's 1-0 win at twice-winners Feyenoord and Depor's success by the same margin at home to Nancy saw them join CSKA Moscow as Group H qualifiers.
MILAN SURPRISED
In Milan, Italy midfielder Massimo Ambrosini headed the home side ahead in the 17th minute and Brazil forward Alexandre Pato put Carlo Ancelotti's men 2-1 in front seconds after Cristian Zaccardo equalised early in the second period. Continued...
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