Celta Vigo recorded an historic win at the San Siro to secure a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Celta went to already-qualified AC Milan needing to win and hope Ajax failed to beat Club Brugge in the other Group game to make sure of advancing - a situation which meant the pressure was firmly on the visitors before the game.

But they responded in magnificent fashion, carving out a memorable triumph even after going a goal behind.

AC Milan's Kaka, of Brazil, celebrates after scoring against Celta Vigo during a Champions League group H soccer match at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday , Dec. 9, 2003. [AP]

Kaka gave Milan the lead after 40 minutes only for Jesuli to equalise two minutes later.

The winner came from Jose Ignacio with 19 minutes to play as Celta went through in second place in Group H alongside Carlo Ancelotti's men.

Milan named a shadow XI for the tie with several players being rested ahead of the Rossoneri's Intercontinental Cup clash with Boca Juniors in Tokyo on Sunday.

Regulars Paolo Maldini, Cafu, Alessandro Nesta, Andrei Shevchenko, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo and Giuseppe Pancaro had already left for Japan while Italy international Filippo Inzaghi was out through injury.

Fernando Redondo and Christian Abbiati were given rare starts, as were Brazilian Serginho, returning from a knee injury, and young striker Marco Borriello.

Celta coach Miguel Angel Lotina was without Russian international Aleksandr Mostovoi, who tore a thigh muscle last week, plus long-term injury victims Edu and Juan Velasco, but the Spaniards welcomed back influential midfield player Jesuli.

The visitors made the brighter start, looking to capitalise on the Milan changes, although the first chance did fall to Ancelotti's men after nine minutes with Dutch international Clarence Seedorf fizzing a shot inches wide of Pablo Cavallero's goal.

The Celta goalkeeper was called into action shortly afterwards to gather a long-range effort from Serginho, and he also had to be alert to keep out a brave diving header from Borriello.

Boriello had looked impressive in the early stages and he tested Cavallero again with a low shot from the edge of the area after 16 minutes.

The outstanding Cavallero had a stroke of luck as the match approached the midway point of the first half when Serginho's superb free-kick crashed against the bar and away to safety.

Following that flurry of chances, Celta finally began to establish a foothold in the game but even though they had plenty of possession, they failed to test Milan stopper Abbiati.

A period of stalemate ensued before Kaka opened the scoring with a superb effort from just outside the area which flew into the top corner.

Celta's task had suddenly become even more difficult, although they showed admirable stomach for the fight by equalising two minutes later - Jesuli matching Kaka's effort with another long-range strike.

Savo Milosevic almost gave Celta the lead seconds later but Abbiati stood firm with a crucial block.

The Serbo-Montenegrin striker also missed the target with a half-chance as the visitors finished the opening period in the ascendancy.

Ancelotti made a couple of changes at the interval with Jon Dahl Tomasson and Rui Costa coming on to replace Kaka and Seedorf.

And it was Danish international Tomasson who had the first chance of the second half, sending in an effort which required Celta left-back Silvinho to clear off the line.

Milan were, as they had been in the first half, largely on top and Borriello tested Cavallero with a blistering shot but unfortunately for the home side it was straight at the `keeper.

Celta were content to play on the break, though that offered them the chance to create several opportunities.

Former Parma star Milosevic, Angel Lopez, Gustavo Lopez, Silvinho and Jesuli all had chances as the visitors chased the crucial goal which would aid their qualification hopes.

The pressure finally told with 19 minutes remaining as Celta moved in front thanks to Ignacio's effort.

He was presented with the chance after a neat pass from Peter Luccin and needed two bites at the cherry to beat the unfortunate Abbiati.

Celta visibly grew in confidence as Milan wilted and Juanfran almost added a third after 75 minutes.

The miss mattered little when the final whistle went and the Spanish side were left to celebrate wildly on the San Siro pitch.

Lotina hopes for boost of domestic form

Celta Vigo put aside their domestic troubles in the Spanish league to beat AC Milan 2-1 on Tuesday and book a place in the knockout phase of the Champions League.

But coach Miguel Angel Lotina immediately told his players to forget about Europe and focus on the battle to climb away from the relegation zone of the Spanish Primera Liga.

'That was a very important win for us and we wanted it so much. It means a lot to us but we need to forget about it for a couple of months and focus on the Spanish league,' he said.

'Hopefully this victory and this qualification will give us a morale boost and help us towards better results in Spain.'

Lotina joked that if those league results did not improve he might not be around to enjoy the next stage of the European campaign.

Asked who he would like to face in the knockout stage, he said: 'We'll be there for sure. As for Lotina, we don't know.

'Maybe we were lucky to get an equaliser so quickly. We had a bit more luck than we have been receiving of late. But we did much better in the second half and kept possession well and showed good initiative.

'It is difficult to win a 'must-win' game away from home. We know that Milan maybe had their head elsewhere with an important game against Boca but it still required a major performance from us to win here.'

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti took off the two outstanding performers of the first half, Kaka and Clarence Seedorf, at the break and the move changed the game.

'I had to think about Sunday as well,' said Ancelotti explaining that decision.

'Celta played well in the second half and caused us some problems in midfield but I think that we deserved something out of the game for our first-half performance.'

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