Milan make light work of Shakhtar

LONDON, England -- AC Milan shrugged off an indifferent season so far to thrash Champions League Group D leaders Shakhtar Donetsk 4-1 at the San Siro on Wednesday night.

Alberto Gilardino and Clarence Seedorf scored twice each for the home side, who bounced back from the 2-1 defeat away to Celtic and Sunday's 1-0 reverse against Empoli in Italy's Serie A.

Milan joined Shakhtar on six points from three outings after inflicting the Ukrainian side's first defeat.

Striker Gilardino netted the opening goal with a near-post header from Andrea Pirlo's corner in the sixth minute, then repeated the feat eight minutes later when he nodded in a left-wing cross from Seedorf.

Italian striker Cristiano Lucarelli pulled one back for the visitors in the 51st minute, volleying home after Brandao's shot was saved following a mistake by Massimo Oddo.

However, Seedorf restored Milan's a two-goal advantage in the 62nd minute with a superb volley that went in off the post following another Pirlo corner.

And the Dutch midfielder struck again seven minutes later in similar circumstances with another volley, this time with his right foot, after Pirlo's corner was pushed into his path by keeper Andriy Pyatov.

Meanwhile, Benfica joined Celtic on three points in Group D after snatching a late 1-0 victory against the Scottish champions in Lisbon.

Oscar Cardozo scored the winner in the 87th minute after chesting down a pass from Angel Di Maria and firing past keeper Artur Boruc from eight yards.

The Poland keeper, embroiled in controversy after refusing to shake the hands of Rangers players following Celtic's 3-0 defeat in the Glasgow derby last weekend, had made several fine saves to keep his side in the match.

But Cardozo finally broke the deadlock to hand Celtic an unhappy return to the city where the club won the European Cup in 1967. E-mail to a friend