Filippo Inzaghi came off the bench to score twice and create another goal as AC Milan secured a comfortable win over Shakhtar Donetsk to go top of Group D. Lazio defeated Werder Bremen 2-1.

Milan created the game's first chance after three minutes when Serginho tried a low 25-yard effort but Andrei Pyatov saved comfortably.

Shakhtar could have gone in front a minute later when Darijo Srna's dangerous cross from the right evaded everyone and Dida was able to save.

Razvan Rat's 30-yard free-kick on nine minutes looked destined for the top corner but went just the wrong side of the post and nestled in the side-netting.

Serginho sliced a clearance in his own penalty area in the 19th minute, and as the ball fell in the six-yard box Dida flapped at it before eventually claiming the loose ball at the second attempt.

Evaeyerson Brandao headed straight at Dida when he found himself unmarked on the penalty spot on 23 minutes.

Christiano Lucarelli's 33rd-minute effort rebounded to Srna whose powerful half-volley was brilliantly tipped around the post by Dida.

Five minutes after half-time Fernandinho was inches away from putting the home side in front when his low 20-yard drive whistled past the post with Dida beaten.

Andrea Pirlo's free-kick on 56 minutes was met by Massimo Ambrosini whose towering header thumped the post, while three minutes later Alberto Gillardino headed wide when well-placed.

It was the Italy striker's last action of the game as he was replaced by Inzaghi moments later.

Gennaro Gattuso's 64th-minute header was well saved by Pyatov after the combative midfielder had met Pirlo's corner.

The deadlock was broken two minutes later when Pirlo played a defence-splitting pass which left Inzaghi with just the keeper to beat.

The veteran striker made no mistake, sliding the ball coolly into the corner as Pyatov rushed out.

Shakhtar could have equalised three minutes later when Srna's cross was met by Brandao but he headed straight at Dida.

Milan doubled there lead on 72 minutes when Inzaghi controlled a long ball with his chest on the edge of the area, before passing to Kaka who beat his defender before showing the composure to curl the ball into the bottom corner.

Brandao shot straight at Dida from 20 yards after 76 minutes as the hosts looked for a way back into the match, while four minutes later Fernandinho brilliantly shuffled past three Milan defenders but his shot was deflected over the bar.

Brandao then created space for himself on the edge of the box in the 82nd minute but his shot was smartly saved by the busy Dida.

Shakhtar were dealt a further blow on 86 minutes when Srna took a dive in the penalty box and in doing so appeared to seriously injure his arm as he fell.

And to round off the hosts' misery, Inzaghi made it three in stoppage time when Milan broke through Pirlo and Kaka, the Brazilian squaring for Inzaghi to place the ball into an empty net.

Tommaso Rocchi struck twice in the second half as Lazio clinched their first Champions League win this season at the expense of Werder Bremen.

Having wasted a hatful of chances in the opening half, Rocchi finally broke the deadlock on 57 minutes before scoring his second 11 minutes later.

Lazio were made to sweat in the dying stages with Diego's penalty goal reducing the deficit with four minutes remaining after Emilson Cribari had brought down Hugo Almeida inside the area.

But although Cribari was given his marching orders after the episode, Lazio held on for the victory.

The outcome lifts Lazio to second in Group C, level on five points with Olympiacos, who were held to a goalless draw by Real Madrid.

The result was all the more special as it marked Lazio's first victory in the group stage of Europe's elite club competition since 2003.

Lazio missed two golden opportunities to take an early lead. On 11 minutes, Guglielmo Stendardo latched onto Cristian Ledesma's cross but his central header proved an easy catch for Werder goalkeeper Tim Wiese.

Shortly after, Rocchi served Luciano Zauri, whose angled weak effort was parried by Wiese.

Lazio coach Delio Rossi was forced to make his first substitution on 18 minutes with Lorenzo De Silvestri replacing an injured Zauri.

The hosts wasted another good chance to break the deadlock with an unmarked Mourad Meghni firing high over the crossbar from the edge of the area.

Lazio were unlucky not to take the lead midway through the first half with Stephen Makinwa's bullet strike from the heart of the area being met by a fine save from Wiese.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, Werder midfielder Daniel Jensen replaced Frank Baumann, who had sustained a head wound after a collision with Ledesma.

The Romans could have gone into the break with a 1-0 advantage but Rocchi's powerful volley from Ledesma's corner was cleared by a defender.

Having failed to test goalkeeper Marco Ballotta in the opening half, Bremen looked more lively after the restart and could have taken the lead had Diego's stunning volley not gone just wide of the far post.

But Lazio's prayers were finally answered when Croatian referee Ivan Bebek pointed to the penalty spot after Meghni was brought down inside the area by Petri Pasanen.

Rocchi's right-footed effort was parried away by the keeper but the striker followed up the shot and turned in the loose ball.

Bremen twice had the opportunity to equalise but Almeida's 30-yard strike and Naldo's powerful effort from distance were met by acrobatic saves from Ballotta.

And Bremen's hopes were crashed as Lazio soon doubled their advantage.

Meghni's cross sliced Bremen's defence wide open and left an unmarked Rocchi inside the area to fire past Wiese.

The Germans never gave up hope and Diego's late goal - and the dismissal of Cribari - reopened the game but it was too little too late.

Bremen also ended the game with 10 men, with Diego sent off in injury time for dissent.

PA SPORT

In Italian: Entra Inzaghi e il Milan vola

Come un film visto e rivisto. Entra Filippo Inzaghi e la storia cambia. Il bomber rossonero al 18' della ripresa sostituisce Gilardino e nello spazio di sette minuti piega lo Shakhtar Donetsk. Prima spingendo in rete la verticalizzazione di Pirlo, poi servendo a Kakà, dopo un controllo perfetto in area, la palla del 2-0. Il brasiliano, che sa essere anche altruista, al 93' su un sontuoso contropiede regala il 3-0 a Pippo che segna il gol numero 62 in Europa e mette la firma sulla trionfale serata del Milan. Rossoneri a 9 punti e ottavi vicini. Ma soprattutto la conferma che in trasferta e in Europa sanno offrire il meglio di se stessi. "Lucescu è furbo, puoi fregarlo una volta, ma non due", aveva detto Ancelotti nella vigilia. Frase che, a conti fatti, sottolinea quanto il tecnico di Reggiolo lo sia di gran lunga molto di più.

Rocchi trascina la Lazio: ora è seconda nel girone