Champions Milan begin with victory

MILAN, Italy -- European champions AC Milan began their Champions League defence with a 2-1 Group D win over Benfica at the San Siro.

Andrea Pirlo gave the home side a deserved lead inside 10 minutes with a trademark free-kick into the top corner.

Paraguayan striker Oscar Cardozo then hit the post with an open-goal header from two meters out for Benfica and Milan swiftly punished them for the miss.

Kaka led a break which stretched the Benfica defence and last season's Champions League final matchwinner Filippo Inzaghi volleyed home Pirlo's chip across the box.

Nuno Gomes snatched an injury-time consolation strike for Benfica, and the goal meant Shakhtar Donetsk took the early lead in the group after their 2-0 win over Celtic in Ukraine.

Shakhtar were in control after eight minutes. Defensive errors let in Brandao for the first and Italian striker Cristiano Lucarelli added the second with a spectacular header.

Brandao had a second goal disallowed to give the Scottish champions hope for the second half, but they could find no way back. E-mail to a friend