The keeper's ill-judged dash from goal allowed Pato to round him, and as he struggled to regain his ground Gomes was relieved to see Gallas clear Robinho's deflected shot off the line.

BBC: Tottenham 0-0 AC Milan (agg 1-0)

The hosts improved after the break but it was still Milan who provided the threat, with Mathieu Flamini and Pato coming desperately close to forcing extra time as the home fans watched the clock counting down with increasing anxiety.

BBC: Tottenham 0-0 AC Milan (agg 1-0)

Coach Massimiliano Allegri, knowing the Italians needed a goal, made no concessions to conservatism as Pato, Robinho and Ibrahimovic all started and exerted influence on a first 45 minutes dominated by the Rossoneri.

BBC: Tottenham 0-0 AC Milan (agg 1-0)

In other Olympic action, Brazil beat Belarus 3-1 at Old Trafford, thanks to goals from Alexandre Pato, Neymar and Oscar.

WSJ: Menu

The 2008 Beijing Games provided the latest disappointments, with a men's team sporting the likes of two-time world player of the year Ronaldinho and future AC Milan star Alexandre Pato crashing out in the semifinals to Argentina, losing 3-0 and ending up with the bronze medal.

CNN: Golden goal: Can boys from Brazil achieve Olympic dream?

However, an injury to Marco Borriello, Alexandre Pato's stuttering form for Brazil at the Olympics and Filippo Inzaghi turning 35 have made the signing of another striker necessary.

BBC: Shevchenko completes Milan move

Rafael van der Vaart almost made the visitors pay the price for their ambition with a dipping free-kick that landed on top of the net before Gomes was called into action again to save low down from Pato after he was played in by Ibrahimovic.

BBC: Tottenham 0-0 AC Milan (agg 1-0)

Milan lost their star forward Kaka to Madrid earlier this summer, and will add Huntelaar to an attacking pool of Brazilians Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato plus veteran Italian Filippo Inzaghi and Marco Borriello.

CNN: Huntelaar signs four-year AC Milan contract

With his contract uncertainty behind him, Beckham seemed to have a new lease of life and he was even given a free role behind forwards Inzaghi and Pato by Ancelotti.

CNN: Inzaghi hat-trick upstages Beckham deal