Schalke hold Milan

Schalke came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw with Milan in Group E.

Clarence Seedorf gave Milan a dream start with the opener after just 45 seconds, but Soren Larsen hit back for Schalke two minutes later.

Andrei Shevchenko restored Milan's lead just before the hour mark with a firm header, but Schalke replied again with substitute Hamit Altintop scoring with a brilliant long-range strike.

Milan made the perfect start opening the scoring through Clarence Seedorf on his 100th European appearance, although it was moment to forget for Schalke goalkeeper Frank Rost.

Seedorf picked the ball up from Kaka fully 35 yards from goal and his speculative shot somehow squirmed through the arms of Rost and into the net.

The lead proved short-lived as Larsen replied for Schalke just two minutes later with a simple header from right in front of goal after Lincoln's cross deflected off Alessandro Nesta into his path.

Paolo Maldini wasted a good chance for Milan on ten minutes when he ghosted into the box to meet Andrea Pirlo's free kick with a free header only to direct his effort into the ground and wide of the target.

Schalke came close to scoring on 14 minutes when Kevin Kuranyi headed Mladen Krstajic's cross just wide of the post.

Larsen had a half chance on 23 minutes when he picked up the ball on the edge of the box, but his left-footed volley did not have the power to trouble Dida.

Andrei Shevchenko almost got through on goal a minute later after a superb pass from Seedorf, but Schalke got enough players back to snuff out the Ukrainian.

Schalke wasted a glorious chance to go in front when Kuranyi picked out Lincoln on the edge of the box, but the Brazilian dragged his volley wide of the target.

Kuranyi got clear on goal on 32 minutes when he beat the Milan offside trap, but under pressure from Nesta he volleyed inches wide of the far post.

Brazilian ace Lincoln went close to scoring on 37 minutes with a free kick from the edge of the box which sailed just wide of the target.

Shevchenko tried his luck from a long-range free kick five minutes before the break, but his fierce strike flashed wide.

Schalke started the second half brightly with Kuranyi dragging a shot just wide and then hitting a shot from Lincoln's pass straight at Dida.

Shevchenko restored Milan's lead on 59 minutes when he headed Maldini's left-wing cross past Rost.

The Ukrainian went close to scoring again on 67 minutes when he worked his way past a couple of challenges and drove a shot just wide.

Schalke introuduced Altintop on 67 minutes and the substution paid off three minutes later when he picked the ball up 30 yards from goal and arrowed a ferocious shot into the top corner past a startled Dida.

Kuranyi went close to firing Schalke in front on 72 minutes when he headed Lincoln's free kick just wide of the target and that was Kuranyi's last involvement in the game as he was forced off with an injury.

Dida denied Schalke the lead on 74 minutes when he produced a brilliant fingertip save to keep out Larsen's header.

The impressive Lincoln had the final chance of the game on 87 minutes when he volleyed from the edge of the box, but straight at Dida.

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Schalke v Milan

FC Schalke 04	Team Statistics	Milan
2	Goals	2
1	1st Half Goals	1
8	Shots on Target	3
8	Shots off Target	8
2	Blocked Shots	3
2	Corners	0
25	Fouls	21
2	Offsides	7
1	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
75.3	Passing Success	82.9
24	Tackles	20
75	Tackles Success	100
45.7	Possession	54.3
54.3	Territorial Advantage	45.7