AC Milan show off the champion's trophy as they arrive at Malpensa Airport in Milan yesterday after winning the Champions League title against Liverpool, in Athens, on Wednesday. - Reuters

ATHENS, (Reuters):

AC MILAN rounded off a troubled season in memorable style by settling their scores with Champions League final opponents, Liverpool and with UEFA.

Milan's 2-1 victory over Liverpool, on Wednesday, certainly avenged their sensational defeat on penalties by Rafael Benitez's side in the 2005 final after the 'Rossoneri' had famously squandered a 3-0 lead at halftime.

Both sides in Athens were packed with players, who had been in Istanbul, and Milan's bitter memories seemed to show through in their determined defending - which lapsed only in the 89th minute with Dirk Kuyt's consolation goal for Liverpool.

By then, two goals from accomplished poacher, Filippo Inzaghi, had given Milan a decisive lead and there was simply not enough time for Liverpool to turn another final around.

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Victory not only brought the European Cup back to Milan, it also restored the image of the seven-time champions on the world's stage. For this was a team UEFA would have preferred not to have in the competition in the first place.

Tarnished by Italy's match-rigging scandal and deducted points, Milan lost their automatic place for the competition and their slot in the qualifiers was given only grudgingly by European soccer's ruling body after a meeting of its emergency panel.

UEFA said they had "insufficient legal basis in the regulations" to deny Milan a place in the qualifiers, much as they would clearly have liked to.

In a rare piece of sustained criticism, UEFA said Milan had not fully realised "the troubles it is in and the damage it already caused to European football".

Though Milan got into the competition, their place in the qualifiers meant bringing forward their pre-season preparations, soon after the national side had gone all the way in Germany and won the World Cup.

Run of defeats

Milan struggled early in Serie A, being soon cut adrift by city neighbours Inter and suffering a run of defeats, injuries and what the club saw as a series of unfavourable refereeing decisions. Carlo Ancelotti's role as manager became a subject of speculation.

As he savoured Wednesday's triumph, Ancelotti said, "Very few people expected us to win this trophy, maybe nobody expected it."

He dismissed the newspaper talk of the previous November, saying "this is all part of football. I wasn't bothered by rumours of replacements. When things don't go well, you pay the price".

Club president Silvio Berlusconi put the points deduction at the top of a list of hurdles the club had faced, before adding, "but thanks to steadfastness and perseverance, we showed ourselves to be stronger than injustice and envy.

"I think Milan are an example to be followed - a team that goes out on the pitch to win, playing good football."