Beaten - but Bhoys make it to the Champions League last 16 yet again - Sport

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Gordon Strachan's team qualified thanks to Benfica's shock win at Shakhtar Donetsk.

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No way through: Kaka is denied yet again by superb Celtic defence

Veteran striker Filippo Inzaghi separated the teams at San Siro last night but it was Benfica's 2-1 win in the Ukraine which decided the final standings in Group D.

After a quiet opening, Milan's Clarence Seedorf had the first chance of the night when he fired wide in the 15th minute.

It's there: Filippo Inzaghi scores against Celtic

Liverpool target Kakha Kaladze replaced the injured Dario Simic in the Milan defence just before the half-hour as Gordon Strachan's men defended well. And the thousands of noisy visiting fans turned the volume up even further when news filtered through of Benfica's early two-goal lead against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Milan were looking by far the more incisive team, though, with Celtic unable to break through the well-marshalled home defence.

Jiri Jarosik was the only Celtic player to test Zeljko Kalac in the opening 45 minutes but his right-footed effort proved an easy catch for the keeper.

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What a feeling: Inzaghi celebrates his match-winning goal

Milan almost broke the deadlock shortly before half-time with Giuseppe Favalli's penetrating ball finding Seedorf inside the area — but his powerful strike flew high over the bar.

Celtic suddenly found themselves relying on a favour from Benfica after 69 minutes when Milan finally broke through. Inevitably, Ballon d'Or winner Kaka was the heart of the move, his pass finding fellow Brazilian overlapping on the right and, in turn, his cutback was swept home by Inzaghi.

It took an amazing double save by Artur Boruc to keep Celtic in the game, the Pole denying Cristian Brocchi and then Inzaghi's follow-up shot.

In the end it did not matter as the Celtic fans celebrated when news of Benfica's win came through.