Soccer: AC Milan beat Liverpool in Champions League final (+ photos)

AC Milan's Filippo Inzaghi (top) scores his 2nd goal past Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina. Photo / Reuters

ATHENS - Filippo Inzaghi scored two goals to help AC Milan win the European Cup soccer title for the seventh time after a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the Champions League final in Athens today.

Liverpool, who looked down and out, pulled a goal back in the 89th minute through a Dirk Kuyt header, but they could not repeat their achievement of 2005 when they fought back from 3-0 down to force a 3-3 draw and win the final on penalties.

The Italian side scored against the run of play just before halftime when Inzaghi got in the way of a free kick by Andrea Pirlo to divert the ball past helpless goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

He added the second in the 82nd minute when he rounded goalkeeper Reina and squeezed the ball home under his body after being played in by Kaka.

Liverpool enjoyed most of the possession and created more chances without managing to find the net earlier as Milan avenged their Istanbul heartbreak.

Milan's Champions League win completes an astonishing comeback for the club punished for their role in last year's Italian match-fixing scandal and who were only allowed to compete after UEFA decided they had no legal grounds to ban them.

- REUTERS