Sometimes, the soccer gods have a way of dealing out even-handed justice, which is exactly what Bayern Munich got Tuesday night when a last-second goal earned the club 2-2 draw in Milan. Both goals came from a center back, no less: Belgium’s Daniel Van Buyten put away a pair of opportunistic goals like the best of strikers. The second, in particular, was a fantastic left-footed volley that beat Dida at the near post from what looked like an impossible angle.
It was no less than Bayern deserved. As ever, Milan controlled the play but was wasteful in front of goal. Handed an absolute gift of a penalty five minutes after Van Buyten brought Bayern level, Kaka put the home team back in front with six minutes to spare. But the Belgian defender’s deserved 90th minute leveler doubled the trouble for Milan: because now Milan needs to come away from Germany with a win or at least a 2-2 draw to force extra time.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti found it hard to digest the draw. “They clearly have a better chance of qualifying now, but I think tonight we were the better side,” he said. “We deserved to win, but I’m sure we can still triumph in Munich. We only have to play as we did tonight, keep a high tempo and make sure we press a lot in midfield.” And finish.