The win sent AEK into second place and tantalisingly close to a place in the knockout stages -- AC Milan qualified after Anderlecht held Lille 2-2.

AEK coach Lorenzo Ferrer said it was virtually impossible to assess how important the win was for the club.

"Above all, it was a great night for Greek football and especially for the fans of AEK. This is the type of matches that make a team grow. We knew we had to win the match to stay in contention," said Ferrer.

For his AC Milan counterpart Carlos Ancelotti it was a case of bemoaning the missed chances and left scratching his head as to why they were having such a bad patch -- which has seen them winning just four of their 12 Serie A matches leaving them close to the relegation zone.

I cannot remember any other period with such bad luck. It has cost us a lot," said Ancelotti.

"AEK had a little bit more luck than us, nothing more. The continuous bad performances certainly has us thinking. The consolation is that tonight we played well and that we have guaranteed first place in the group," added the Italian.

Cesar scored with a free kick in the 32nd minute after striker Nikos Liberopoulos was brought down just outside the penalty area.

The left-footed Cesar lifted the ball just above the Milan wall and into the left corner of the goalmouth with Brazilian 'keeper Dida moving in the wrong direction.

It was Milan who had applied all the pressure just before the goal and could have easily socred four times had it not been for the outstanding Sorrentino.

For the first half hour of play the visitors bombarded Sorrentino as they completely controlled the action.

Just two minutes into the contest and Milan's Dutch international midfielder Clarence Seedorf had his fierce effort booted away by AEK's Italian defender Bruno Cirillo.

Four minutes later a blast from just outside the penalty box by striker Ricardo Oliveira was punched away by Sorrentino.

Milan's veteran striker Filippo Inzaghi was in on a one-on-one with Sorrentino in the 10th minute but another great save by the AEK goalie kept the match scoreless.

It was then the turn of Brazilian midfielder Kaka to have his chances of scoring for Milan, first missing a header just beyond the left post in the 11th minute and then in the 15th minute he broke through one-on-one with Sorrentino only to have his attempt foiled by the goalie's excellent dive.

Two minutes later, Inzaghi again found himself face-to-face with Sorrentino after a dreadful error by AEK defender Stavros Tziortziopoulos gave him free passage, only for Sorrentino once again to snuff out the attempt.

One more excellent chance to score for Milan came in the 28th minute when Inzaghi found himself in front of Sorrentino after a nifty cross from Daniele Bonera.

But once again Sorrentino denied them as his outstretched hand enabled AEK to escape once more.

In the second half came Milan's closest opportunity to score when Inzaghi chipped the ball in past Sorrentino only to have the ball hit the post eight minutes after the break.

However AEK did not let Milan take control as it did in the first half and nearly came away with another goal from Cesar when in the 62nd minute he took a perfect cross from Tziortziopoulos and cleverly nipped the ball towards the net, but Dida made an outstanding save tipping the ball away with his hand.

However Dida paid for that by injuring his knee and was later replaced by former Australian international goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac.