O’Neill gutted by Celtic loss to Milan

AC Milan 3 Celtic 1

O’Neill was inconsolable after the way his players lost their second Group F game in such similar circumstances to their first, against Barcelona.

“I feel terrible,” said O’Neill. “I thought that losing (to Porto) in Seville (in the UEFA Cup final) was a really big disappointment - I know that was a couple of years ago now.

“Tonight I thought that in the first half we were tentative - but we were absolutely fantastic in the second half.

“When we came to grips with the game we stormed back and we dominated proceedings in the San Siro. I have massive disappointment but I am really proud of the team. I am disappointed only for the team.”

Celtic’s dismal away record in the Champions League continued following a dramatic late double at San Siro which left their Champions League dream hanging by a thread.

Stanislav Varga cancelled out Andriy Shevchenko’s first-half strike to become the first man in a Scottish side to score against AC Milan in their famous stadium.

But Filippo Inzaghi’s close-range strike and a deflected Andrea Pirlo free-kick, both in the last two minutes, sank Celtic.

After defeat to Barcelona in their opening game, the Scottish champions look down and out ahead of the double-header with Shakhtar Donetsk.

However, O’Neill defiantly declared that his team are not yet out of Champions League.

Milan went ahead in the eighth minute and it was no surprise that it was Shevchenko who broke the deadlock.

The Ukraine international linked up well with Kaka inside the box to leave Celtic chasing shadows before crashing a left-foot drive past Marshall.

Celtic failed to learn from their defensive mistakes and Marshall and Balde were asking for trouble when they started passing the ball about in the final minute of the half.

Shevchenko humiliated the defender by robbing him of the ball and centred for Kaka, but the Brazilian’s effort was saved by the teenage goalkeeper.

O’Neill would have been relieved to get his players in at the break with just one goal between the sides.

Celtic finally tested Dida in the 48th minute when Henri Camara sent a low right-foot shot, from John Hartson’s knock-down, towards goal and the Brazilian looked far from comfortable as he turned his effort around the post.

Celtic continued to go forward and Thompson fired wide from 25 yards after being teed up by Didier Agathe but the Englishman dealt them a major blow in the 58th minute when he left the pitch of a stretcher after pulling up with what looked like a hamstring injury.

O’Neill decided Juninho was the man to replace him before Sutton became the first man booked for a reckless lunge on former Rangers midfielder Gennaro Gattuso.

Dida had to race off his line to save at the feet of Camara in the 68th minute with his defence again day-dreaming.

The Italians paid the price for their failure to kill the game off when Varga found the target. The giant defender was allowed to get on the end of Petrov’s corner and head into the roof of the net from just five yards.

Ancelotti brought on Inzaghi for Tomasson and within minutes he was the hero when Shevchenko turned provider with a cross from the right and the Italian nonchalantly flicked the ball past Marshall. It got even gloomier for the youngster as a minute later Pirlo’s free-kick took a wicked deflection and flew past him.

AC MILAN: Dida, Cafu, Nesta, Maldini, Pancaro, Gattuso (Rui Costa 86), Pirlo, Seedorf (Ambrosini 77), Kaka, Shevchenko, Tomasson (Inzaghi 77).

CELTIC: Marshall, Agathe, Varga, Balde, Valgaeren, Petrov, Lennon, Sutton, Thompson (Juninho Paulista 59), Hartson (Sylla 86), Camara.

Referee: Gilles Veissiere (France).