"It’s the biggest success of my life, but I need to carry on with balance,” he said.Ītlético had lost only twice in its last 31 European games at home. “I dedicate this goal to my family and friends in Brazil, and to those at Milan who believed in my qualities. “I saw the ball, I didn’t think twice and fired it home,” he said.
Messias, who began his professional career only a few years ago, got the winner with a header from the six-yard line after a cross from the left flank. “You have to deserve to be able to go through and we are going to go after our spot in the game we have left.”Ītlético had won three in a row against Milan in the Champions League, including 2-1 in Italy in their first match this season.Ītlético struggled to impose its game at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium and Milan looked like the more dangerous team during parts of the match. “The Champions League is unforgiving,” Atlético coach Diego Simeone said. It had won only one of its last 11 Champions League games and once in its last seven road games in the competition from group stage to final.Ītlético was coming off consecutive losses to Liverpool and had to avoid defeat against Milan to stay in contention to reach the round of 16 without having to depend on other results. Milan needed the victory to avoid elimination. Porto was a point ahead after a 2-0 loss at group-winner Liverpool.Ītlético will need to win at Porto and finish with a better goal difference than Milan if the Italians defeat Liverpool at home.
The result left Atlético and Milan tied on four points in the last two positions of Group B, with Atlético in last place on goal difference.
Junior Messias scored in the 87th minute to hand Milan a 1-0 victory at Atlético on Wednesday, giving the Italian club hope after a winless start to its campaign in the European competition. MADRID (AP) - A late goal by a 30-year-old Brazilian making his Champions League debut kept alive AC Milan's hopes of advancing and left Atlético Madrid on the brink of elimination.