An inspired Lille beat AC Milan 2-0 to finish second in Group H behind the Italians and reach the knock-out stages of the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Peter Odemwingie struck in the eighth minute to put the French side on their way before Kader Keita doubled the lead shortly after the hour mark.

Claude Puel's side were made to sweat until the last minute as AEK Athens almost spoiled the party for them in the other group game.

However, the Greeks drew 2-2 at Anderlecht to give Lille a place in the last 16.

Milan went into the game having already guaranteed themselves top spot in the group.

Lille sent their first warning early on, with Odemwingie's right-footed strike from the edge of the area forcing former Socceroos goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac to make his first save.

It was not long before the visitors broke the deadlock.

Kalac failed to hold on to Mathieu Bodmer's long-range strike and Odemwingie reacted quickly to drive home the loose ball.

The hosts reacted with Andrea Pirlo's direct free-kick towards the far post, saved by goalkeeper Gregory Malicki.

The home fans demanded a penalty after Marco Borriello was brought down inside the area by Gregory Tafforeau but referee Graham Poll waved the appeals away.

Kalac was then forced to make an acrobatic save to palm Kabaye's powerful free-kick over the crossbar.

Ancelotti brought in Kaka in the hope his team would find the equaliser and they almost succeeded with Inzaghi's header from from Yohann Gourcuff's corner smacking against the crossbar.

It proved costly for the hosts as Lille scored a second minutes later.

Keita played a one-two with Bodmer before firing past Kalac.

The visitors held on and as news arrived of the final result in Belgium, Lille players began their celebrations.

PA Sport

In Italian : C'è solo il Lilla, figuraccia Milan

Vittoria a tutti i costi, aveva chiesto Carlo Ancelotti alla vigilia, anche se con la qualificazione e il primo posto in banca. Invece l'ultima giornata della fase a gironi della Champions League va in archivio con una figuraccia del Milan, battuto 2-0 dal Lilla che conquista i suoi storici ottavi di finale. Partita dominata per gli interi novanta minuti dai francesi, incorniciati dai gol di Odemwingie e Keita.