AC Milan move into Champions League quarters after 11 years

Players of AC Milan celebrate after the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan in London, Britain, on March 8, 2023. (Xinhua)

AC Milan progressed to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals for the first time since 2011-2012 after a 0-0 draw with 10-man Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, eliminating the Premier League side 1-0 on aggregate.

Milan had won the first leg at the San Siro thanks to an early strike from Brahim Diaz, and both sides were coming off a domestic defeat last week.

AC Milan's Brahim Diaz (Front, R) vies with Tottenham Hotspur's Clement Lenglet during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan in London, Britain, on March 8, 2023. (Xinhua)

The two teams strung together a run of plays after kick-off as Junior Messias saw his attempt go wide of the post, while Harry Kane's deflected strike was saved by Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

As the time wore on, Tottenham went down to ten men in the 77th minute when Cristian Romero received his second yellow card after an awful tackle on Theo Hernandez.

The game culminated in stoppage time as Kane's header forced a stunning save out of Maignan, while on the resulting counter, Divock Origi struck the upright.

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane (1st L) competes during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan in London, Britain, on March 8, 2023. (Xinhua)

The Rossoneri became the first Serie A side to progress into the Champions League quarterfinals this season, while Napoli and Inter Milan have their second leg ties next week.