AC Milan are going up in the world, a duck on the books and a first
home win was only marginally derailed by a loss to Atalanta. Today they faced a tough Genoa side and looked distinctly average but;
quack quack; Pato scored two to sour the day for the Rossoblu.
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza was
tentative and expectant, the high of wins against Palermo and Udinese and the midweek loss to
Atalanta has the Milan Tifosi unsure of what they’ll see on the pitch. They always draw good support at home though
and the stadium had a respectable level of noise.
Ancelotti needs to make changes
with suspensions and injuries hampering his squad. Kalac must keep goal behind a decent back
four of Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze and Maldini.
Gattuso, Pirlo and Ambrosini sit deep in the middle with Seedorf and
Kaka sitting behind Pato. The formation
is classic Milan Christmas Tree, with fluidity.
Gasperini went with an defensive
3 4 3. Rubinho keeps goal behind Santos, Bovo and
Danilo. A midfield quartet of Konko,
Milanetto, Juric and Fabiano have defensive duties whilst Rossi and Sculli
patrol wide and the front man is Borriello.
The game starts evenly with
Borriello getting an early sniff although he’s let down by a poor first
touch. Konko shows his mettle with some
astute and pacy defending against Pato.
Genoa
appear confident whilst Milan
are more measured. The quick Konko pass
down the right frees Sculli but his cross in is poor. Pirlo puts in a terrible free kick and
Italian and Dutch veterans combine as Maldini work the ball into Seedorf in the
area, with time and space the Dutchman’s first touch hands Genoa a goal kick. Genoa
play the ball forward on the break but Nesta shrugs off Borriello to stifle the
threat.
Pirlo puts in two more awful
balls in quick succession then Gattuso’s lunge can’t stop the fluid Genoa counter, only a
poor Milanetto cross can do that.
Milan aren’t working well, the Rossoneri seem
lacking in confidence or guile in the early going. They have the better of the possession but Genoa are more incisive
with their attacks although the Rossoblu can’t put in that final ball.
Gattuso gets away with a nasty
challenge and Milanetto ends another neat Genoa
move with a poor choice of cross.
Pato is full of running and
eagerness but his first touch is erratic and his finishing isn’t great,
although Rubinho does have to make a smart close range save to stop the young
Brazilian.
This energizes Milan who start to play with more precision
in the final third; Pirlo sees the space and without much challenge puts the
ball narrowly over the bar.
Genoa get their best chance soon
after, Nesta’s attempt at a backheel is stolen by Borriello who gallops
forward, pushed wide his shot still troubles the Australian keeper. Soon after Genoa get forward again and some neat
interplay and a good cross sees Sculli with a shooting opportunity, he scuffs
his shot and the danger is cleared.
The Milan Tifosi are unhappy with
their team and whistle them in at the half.
Straight away the Rossoblu attack
and only a poor advantage call holds the move back.
Seedorf gets more involved in the
attacks and pokes a shot over.
The Rossublu see their best
chance evaporate when Borriello beats the Milan defence and finds himself one
on one with the ‘keeper, he makes it easy for Kalac by firing the ball straight
at him, surely harder than scoring.
Milan
start to keep and use possession and Genoa
are pegged back but hold firm. Kaka
fires straight at Rubinho and replays show that maybe Konko actually did get
away with a handball in the area.
The game is much more open as
both sides seek the opener, Borriello gets a chance off a corner but fires
over, and Danilo gets away with a cheeky handball to deny the excellent run of
Oddo. Kaka’s delightful through ball
finds Ambrosini but on his weaker foot he shanks it.
Maldini, roving forward and
effortlessly defying the years puts in a ball which Genoa don’t clear; Pato is free at the back
post and nods past Rubinho for the opener.
Hardly a classic goal but they all count.
Soon after the Rossoblu; pushing
forward to grab the equalizer; are caught out on a soft throw in, Ambrosini
wins the loose ball and fires in a long ball which splits the Genoa centrebacks
and see the pace of Pato take him clear with only Rubinho to beat, the ‘keeper
comes way out of his box and Pato’s neat chip is handled by Rubinho. He gets a red and thankfully the substitute
‘keeper’s first task isn’t to pick the ball out of the net, he’s lucky to see
Pirlo’s free kick go just wide.
Milan apply pressure and the
numerical advantage allows them to hold Genoa under the cosh, this doesn’t
entirely hold Genoa down as Borriello has a glorious chance to play a killer
ball to the unmarked Figueroa, he chooses to shoot and the chance at an
equalizer disappears.
Ambrosini plays a long ball up
for Pato to chase and Scarpi does well to stop the ball but his parry falls
into the path of the Brazilian who excitedly walks the ball into the empty
net.
Milan round out the game professionally and
grab three points.
Gasperini’s men created their
chances but poor finishing left the door open for an average Milan to get the points. They are doing well this season and can look
to a chance at a UEFA Cup spot. Better
finishing would have seen them grab the points.
Ancellotti’s charges weren’t
great, Pato looks so talented and so raw, Seedorf and Pirlo hardly set the San
Siro alight and the defence allowed Genoa
too many chances. There are no style
points in football and Pato bagged two (although it should have been
more). His star is on the ascendancy but
Milan’s has yet
to convince. Two games in hand have to
be won for them to climb above Udinese in the table.
Does Gattuso get his first
hacking, ankle breaking challenge for free without any yellow attached? When Kaladze falls over whilst hauling on the
shirt of Borriello why does the referee not allow the Genoa
front man to run into the acres of space down the Milan
left or cut inside through a static and flustered Milan defence? Only he will know why he neglected to play a
super obvious advantage instead of calling play back and allowing Milan time to get
themselves organized. The game was 0-0
at this point and a Genoa
goal would have livened up the Rossoneri no end. Really really poor tonight ref, hang your
head in shame. Rubinho did have to go
though.
AC Milan has a trio of Brazilian talent up front. The Rossoneri grab their first home win of
the season. The Stadio Meazza is full to
bursting. Seven goals go in and a Hero
Arrives!
Sunday at the San Siro, the
magnificent stadium is chock full; and that includes a sizeable away
contingent; the first game of 2008 for the Rossoneri is a tough one, Napoli are
ahead of them in the table and have their share of quality and steel. All eyes are on a duck, kind a like a day out
at Disney!
Ancelotti thrusts his newish
acquisition into the limelight; creating a formidable front three of Ronaldo,
Kaka and Pato, behind them sit Pirlo, Ambrosini and Seedorf with the back four
of Maldini, Kaladze, Nesta and Bonera protecting Dida. The formation is more or less 4 3 2 1 until
forward players drift wide or drop deep and midfielders get forward, that
fluidity; a Milan
trait; has been missing for much of the season.
Reja sticks with a fairly settled
and battle tested 3 5 2. Iezzo gets the
nod in goal, with a back three of Cupi; he’s not normally first choice though;
Cannavarro and Domizzi, strung across the middle is Garics, Bogliacino,
Gargano, Savini and Hamsik with Sosa and Lavezzi up front. Plenty of guile from the Argentine
attack.
The game starts off at a leisurely
pace. This suits Milan, an older team who likes to keep
possession and attack in bursts.
The relaxed tempo also suits Napoli who are adept at playing counter attacking
football.
Maldini breaking forward provides
the first real Milan
impetus.
This game was one of goals, seven
of them and all good in their own way.
Milan opened the scoring with a Ronaldo shot
that Iezzo managed to get a foot to but Cupi couldn’t track back fast enough to
prevent the ball crossing the line.
Kaka was the instigator, breaking
up a Napoli attack with a determined challenge he brought the ball forward using
Seedorf as a foil, after the one-two the Brazilian plays in Pirlo who finds
Ronaldo, a one two on the edge of the Napoli area with Pato is broken up but only
as far as Pirlo, this time the ball in is almost perfect for Ronaldo.
The second was pure counter
attacking genius. Bogliacino broke up a
Milan thrust and plays an intelligent ball to the back post, Lavezzi has the
pace to get there first and volleys his cross across the six yard box, Sosa is
a poacher and arrives with prefect timing and a deft touch with the outside of
his left boot to even up the score.
SOSA WATCHES HIS SHOT OVER THE LINE!
Next up is a Dutch Master. Milan pounce on a poor ball from Lavezzi and
attack, Pirlo, Ronaldo and Seedorf bring it forward with a sweet one-two, Il
Fenomeno finds Pato in the area and the youngster shoots, Iezzo saves the first
effort which comes out to Ronaldo, his cross finds Pato again and yet again
Iezzo saves, Seedorf had stayed forward and comes crashing in to slam the ball
up into the roof of the net, he wheels away with a big grin and heads for the
corner flag.
More counter attacking leads to
the second Napoli equalizer. Domizzi steps in front of Pato to break up an
sloppy Bonera pass; his ball forward allows the pace of Lavezzi to trouble
Kaladze, contact is made in the area and the diminutive Argentinean instantly
finds the lush San Siro grass. Earlier
Lavezzi had used his strength to shrug Kaladze and Nesta off the ball, the
youngster knows how to cheat though and went down easy, much too easy. The referee buys his poor acting and Domizzi
steps up to calmly convert the spot kick.
DOMIZZI BAGS A PENALTY!
Two two at the half, Milan are clearly having
more of the ball but the game is finely balanced.
Pato has shown well enough
without a goal, some of his touches are neat and accurate; others are ineffective,
particularly when he tries to beat Napoli on
his own.
Ancelotti freshens things up at
the half he withdraws a thirty nine year old and brings on a thirty six year
old. They must put something in the
water at Milan.
Normal goal service was resumed
before Napoli had time to do pretty much
anything.
Seedorf; who today had a great
game; turns Hamsik inside out then fires the perfect cross in for Ronaldo, the
Brazilian gets in front of his marker and glances the ball past Iezzo for his
second of the afternoon.
Goal number six is again heavily
Dutch influenced, Seedorf; seemingly running into trouble deep on the Napoli right; back heels the ball to Favalli, the pass
inside finds Kaka who shimmies and turns his man then unleashes a wonderful
strike to beat Iezzo at his near post.
Stunning display of skill.
The final goal is a headline writer’s
wet dream. Favalli is the provider with
a hoof upfield, Pato’s first touch is excellent and allows him to burst past
Domizzi, his finishing is top drawer and his tears just added to the
moment.
THREE BRAZILIANS AND A DUTCHMAN!
Reja’s Napoli
played well but lacked any sort of extra gear or tactical change to get back in
the game in the second half. They have
plenty of quality but sitting back and defending a 3-2 deficit or counter
attacking just didn’t work. The
frustration was obvious as the game wore on with Gargano getting his second
yellow. This leaves Napoli
in eighth place with a home game to Lazio next week. They do have just half the points of Internaz
ionale though.
Ancelotti’s problems from 2007
melted away with the introduction of an attacking Brazilian triumvirate. The first half of the season saw them score
only three times at the San Siro, this changed dramatically today. The team seemed full of confidence, Seedorf
was particularly vibrant. Ronaldo and
Pato made good starts and each contributed immensely to the Rossoneri. At times the defence did look easily pulled
out of position but held firm for most of the game. This result can supercharge the AC Milan
season with games in hand against Atalanta, Livorno
and Reggina eminently winnable. They
still lie in twelfth place (this could be as high as sixth) but look in good
shape to face Arsenal in the Champions League and a difficult trip to Udine next week.
Rossetti had a decent game, soft
penalty decision; especially as he was practically miles away at the time.
AC Milan:-
Dida
Bonera
Nesta
Kaladze
Maldini (Favalli 46)
Seedorf
Pirlo (Gourcuff 80)
Ambrosini
Kaka
Pato
Ronaldo (Emerson 69)
Goals:-
Ronaldo 16
Seedorf 31
Ronaldo’s Hair 46
Kaka 68
Pato 74
Napoli:-
Iezzo
Cupi
Cannavarro
Domizzi
Garics
Bogliancino
Gargano
Savini (Capparella 70)
Hamsik (Dalla Bona 78)
Lavezzi
Sosa
Goals:-
Sosa 28
Domizzi 38 (P)
Referee:-
Rossetti
AN ASIDE - AC Milan are tracking the results of Arsenal on their webpages.
Nerrazzuri play hard, physical football with some wonderful touches of
skill and touch to come from behind in the Derby della Madonnina. AC Milan has passages of lovely attacking
play but a refereeing lapse and some awful play from the defenders and ‘keeper
hand Cambiaso the winner.
Sunday at the San Siro, the
magnificent stadium is this week the home of Inter#### onale with AC Milan as
the away team. The Christmas break looms
and a win is more vital for Ancellotti’s side; who are faltering in Serie A. Mancini’s team wants the win to increase
their Serie A lead. The contest is a
historic and hard fought affair.
Mancini manages to pick a world
class side despite his injuries. None of
the starting eleven are Italian. Cesar keeps
goal with a South American back four of Maicon, Samuel, Cordoba and Maxwell, the midfield is mostly
South American with a touch of Romanian class, Zanetti, Chivu, Cambiaso and
Jiminez form a rotating midfield diamond.
Up front Ibrahimovic and Cruz form a potent strike threat; nine goals apiece
in Serie A; the 4 4 2 is more attacking for the home game.
Ancelotti; tired from a long but
fruitful World Club Championship victory in Japan; plays his first Serie A game
since early December. His team has
starts with Italians but has a definite international flair. Dida keeps goal with a back four of Oddo,
Nesta, Kaladze and Maldini. The
Christmas Tree formation sees Gattuso, Pirlo and Ambrosini as the deeper
midfielders, Kaka and Seedorf adding width and Inzaghi providing the goal
threat.
The first Milan thrust forward is a long ball up to
Inzaghi, meat and drink for Samuel.
Seedorf attacks down the left but his cross is sliced awry, then Oddo’s
cross is safely claimed by Cesar.
The game is played at pace, Inter
attacks the flanks switching play almost effortlessly. Maldini shows that experience will often beat
skill, strength and pace as he marshalls
Ibrahimovic and dispossesses him.
The initial tackles are fierce
with Gattuso educating Jiminez as to the intensity of a Milan Derby. Jiminez accepts the lesson then attacks,
initiating a move which see an unmarked Ibrahimovic at the back post show great
technique and poor aim as his powerful volley sails high.
Jiminez is working hard and shows
some nice touches with Ibrahimovic and Maxwell on the left then he combines
with Chivu on the same side.
Milan is being forced on the back foot but
keep trying to play their own possession football in the middle of the
park. This almost works when a good
Seedorf ball over the top almost finds Inzaghi who had beaten Cordoba.
Samuel defends the run of Kaka
well but the Brazilian has yet to get into the game.
Milan is starting to win the midfield battle despite
the tightness and tough harrying football Inter are employing. Another neat through ball bisects Inter,
forcing Samuel to haul down Inzaghi on the edge of the area. From twenty yards out Pirlo is very good and
with Ambrosini bossing the wall finds the top corner with Cesar rooted to the
spot.
PIRLO - DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST!
Ibrahimovic intercepts a poor
Kaladze forward pass and plays in Cruz on the left, the cross dips in to the
box and Dida gets a hand to it to take it away from Chivu, Jiminez is free at
the back post and his fierce shot comes off the face of the crossbar. The Chilean slips when under pressure from
Pirlo in the Milan
area, Morganti isn’t interested.
The game is tight and combative
with Inter exploding into action when they break forward. Milan’s
game is less frenetic and more subtle.
Gattuso gets an almost inevitable
yellow. The free kick is deep on the
Inter right and is well delivered forcing Seedorf to concede the corner,
Maldini clears another good Inter delivery then the next ball is well met by
Milan, the Rossonerri break but Zanetti has the pace and skill to track back and
deny Kaka with a good, well timed challenge.
The tough tackling and harrying
continues from both sides as the play spends more time in the congested
midfield. Inter get a good chance with a
central free kick which Chivu manages to get over the wall, Dida is well placed
for an easy catch.
Jiminez is denied a killer
through ball to Cruz by a great Ambrosini block, Milan comes away with the ball
and Kaka has time and space to run at Samuel, the defender is turned inside out
so much by the pace and trickery of the Brazilian that he gets injured, a last
ditch interception by Cambiaso sees Kaka flop over in the box, Morganti
probably gets the decision right as he waves play on.
Inter reshuffle a little while
Samuel gets treatment. They are a team
driven and well organized and Ibrahimovic evades the attention of three Milan
defenders to poke the ball to Cambiaso on the right the Argentinean cuts the
ball across for his countryman Cruz who brushes aside the Milan challenges to
fire in a near post shot, Dida gets a hand to it but can’t stop the shot,
pretty poor to be beaten that easily at the near post.
The equalizer comes whilst Inter
were down to ten men, Materazzi comes on as a substitute to make eleven.
Jiminez continues to cause
trouble and Kaladze gets away with a handball to end a Chilean inspired
attack. The Nerrazzurri are turning up
the pace of the game once more.
YOUNG CHILEAN TALENT!
The ex Blue, Materazzi hasn’t
found the pace of the game and of his first three tackles on Kaka two are
fouls, one earning the big defender a card.
The Inter pressure is patient and
they spread the play from left to right before coming inside and finding Zanetti,
the veteran’s shot is wide. Jiminez is
caught by Ambrosini whilst pulling the trigger and Ibrahimovic’s daisy cutter
free kick doesn’t beat Dida.
Ancelotti freshens things up at
the half with the introduction of the receding Emerson and his last fit
striker, Gilardino. Gattuso and Inzaghi
retire tired and hurt.
Inter start as they left off,
fast and furiously. Milan keeps playing their way and gets the
first of the second half chances.
Maldini is at the end of a flowing passage of play with a great near
post cross, Gilardino’s stooping header finds the ball but it flies wide.
Milan create a good opportunity
again, Kaka’s play starting the move, the Brazilian cuts a perfectly weighted
ball inside and Pirlo decides to do a fancy stepover instead of a netbusting
shot, with no one behind him; Emerson having pulled to the back post the chance
goes begging and Inter clear.
Kaka is seeing more ball in the
game and that is helping Milan
threaten their cross city rivals.
The pressure is relived with some
effort, skill and good Inter possession which ends with poor Chivu shot to
allow Milan to
come out again.
Serginho comes on for a disappointed
Seedorf and his impact is instant, he takes advantage of the tiredness of
Maicon on the Inter right, twice he gets forward on the flanks and delivers
good, telling crosses.
Milan possession is broken up with a Cambiaso
tug on Pirlo’s shorts, the Argentinean pushes forward and finds Cruz on the
left, his countryman cuts the ball back across the area and Maldini is in
position to make an easy clearance. The
veteran’s header is weak and poor and Cambiaso takes advantage with a shot,
Dida is flummoxed and let’s the shot through his legs.
HOW TO CELBRATE A WINNING GOAL!
SO GOOD TODAY HIS HAIR FELL OUT!
From then on in Inter
dominate. The game gets stretched at
times but never had the cut and thrust of the early exchanges with scrappiness
creeping in from both sides.
Gilardino and Ambrosini can’t
combine to beat Cesar in the six yard box.
Nesta shows his skill with a
wonderful marshalling of Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic moves well for a big
man with a delightful cut back but his shot goes wide.
Cordoba beats Gilardino to a good Oddo cross
from deep.
Emerson dallies, is robbed by
Pele but the attempted lob is overcooked.
Cesar parries one wide from a
fierce Kaka shot; Maicon’s clearance to his countryman was tired.
Serginho delivers a succulent
ball into the six yard box and with the Inter defence beaten Ambrosini scuffs
it woefully wide.
Mancini’s team are deceptively
good, they showed strength to come back from behind but looked ragged at
times. They have an ability to dominate
sides and showed this today. A restful
Christmas will; perhaps; sort out a few knocks and leave the team fresh and
looking for more wins.
Ancelotti’s problems mount with a
performance littered with some shoddy play and only fitfully excellent. With the lead Milan should be at their best but they were
unmanned by the pace, power and application of Inter. A bitter derby defeat which leaves the
Rossoneri pretty much out of the Scudetto race.
Not picked as the Italian
refereeing representative for Euro 08 the experienced man in the middle showed
his credentials in a hotly contested game.
He officiated tough early on and
set the tone with a ‘play on’ type mentality.
He brooked no dissent or shirt pulling and was maybe unsighted for the
blatant tug that led to the second Inter goal.
Stern yet fair but maybe his legs gave the Euro spot to Rossetti, twice
Morganti needed treatment.
AC Milan v AS Roma. Another home
loss and poor performance for Anchelotti’s Rossoneri. Totti – less Giallorossi take home three
points for a delighted Spalletti.
A packed San Siro welcomed AS
Roma, both sets of Tifosi eager and anxious.
Milan
winless at home needed to carry on their winning ways from the Champions League
and a free scoring Roma needed to solidify their back line. Three points would carry Milan up the table and three points for Roma
would take them above Juventus.
Anchelotti plays his usual
formation 4 3 2 1 but used different personnel from midweek. Gilardino gets the nod up front, Kaka sits
deeper with Seedorf, Gattuso, Pirlo and Ambrosini sit deeper still, Cafu slots
into the right back position; playing against his former team; with Kaladze and
Nesta inside him and Maldini on the left.
.
Spalletti is without Totti so
Vucinic gets the nod up front. A five
man midfield with De Rossi and Pizarro deep and Tonetto, Perrotta and Mancini
further forward. The back four is
Cicinho, Mexes, Juan and Cassetti.
A tentative start sees no team
getting into any rhythm. Roma apply the
first pressure with their own brand of midfield play, Milan takes a while to clear their lines
properly and give themselves space to come out.
Ambrosini has a long range shot
deflected wide for a corner, Roma clear and break through Mancini but an awful
refereeing decision halts the move.
Cafu hasn’t quite got the pace to
keep a great Pirlo ball in play. The
pace isn’t high but the game is starting to flow with chances coming at both
ends. Kaka gets free on the left, Mexes
tracks back well but when he looses the ball he hauls back the Brazilian, the
free kick is well cleared by Roma.
Milan; prone to giving the ball away; look
laboured at times and Roma are missing Totti’s spark.
Pizarro gets the ball up to
Vucinic but Kaladze has enough strength to hold up the striker, giving Dida
enough time to come out and clear.
Mancini and Cicinho combine on the right but Gattuso clears the cross. The clearance only comes out to Mancini who
gets a corner, that ball comes in and is well claimed by Dida.
Mancini robs Pirlo and has a lash
only to see the ball go high.
De Rossi holds up Kaka just
enough for Doni to claim the ball. Pirlo
picks out Kaka whose turn on the edge of the area allows him space to shoot;
Doni is beaten but the ball flashes wide.
Cassetti puts in a great cross to
no one. Cicinho cuts inside but his dink
over Dida doesn’t come off. Cassetti
picks up the ball from a Milan
mistake finds Pizarro who cuts it inside for Cicinho, the shot brings out a
good save from Dida for a corner.
Seedorf finds Kaka on the right
and De Rossi reaches the cross ahead of Gilardino. The Roma midfielder has a go from range which
sees Dida turn the ball around the post.
The delivery finds Cicinho at the back post but his shot is blocked
behind and the third corner is just poor.
Roma’s pressure makes way for a spot of home pressure then Roma break, Mancini
gets the ball wide right and lays the ball inside perfectly for Vucinic, the
striker’s aim is woeful.
Cafu crosses for Seedorf in the
D, the Dutchman brings it down beautifully but his shot is just wide with Doni
beaten. Ambrosini’s cross is cleared out
only to Pirlo, he lays it wide for Cafu who lashes it wildly behind. Juan’s pressure on Gilardino in the area
forces a goal kick.
Milan’s play isn’t smooth and they are
relying on the long ball to Kaka or Gilardino.
They still keep giving the ball away.
Roma are playing the slicker game without much quality in the final
third, especially considering the apparent fragility of Dida.
Pirlo’s free kick finds Seedorf
but De Rossi’s tackle is excellent. Cafu
lashes wildly (again) as the ball comes out from the corner. Seedorf’s strong run through the middle makes
space for Kaka, shot is woefully wide but he gets a lucky corner kick. Roma break from the corner with Mancini who
finds Vucinic, Cafu defends well and comes away with the ball.
Gattuso’s mistake allows De Rossi
to play a ball forward to Vucinic, Kaladze is able to out pace the striker and
clear the ball.
Milan increases the persistence of their
attack in the last ten minutes of the half, Roma look to soak up the pressure
and break quickly.
Mancini’s shot comes off Kaladze
for a corner. Tonetto gets an
opportunity but tries a shot with two team mates in the area.
Kaka plays a ball up to Gilardino
but Doni is quick off his line. Seedorf
and Kaka work the ball in the left channel but the Dutchman’s shot is well
blocked by Mexes.
Neither manager makes any changes
at half time.
Milan came out stronger in the second half and
the manager’s half time talk removed some of their sloppy passing.
Pirlo’s ball into the area is
well controlled and brought down by Gattuso but his left foot shot is weak and
easy for Doni. The Roma ‘keeper claims
well from Gilardino as the game is mostly played in midfield. A Kaka back heel just evades Gilardino. Gattuso robs Cicinho finds Kaka who plays in
Pirlo but Doni comes and claims. A
Maldini cross is well met by Gilardino but the header flies wide.
Neither side seems totally up for
the game, Roma are content to sit and defend whilst Milan lack any kind of urgency; surprising
for the home team.
Roma come forward with Cicinho,
he worked the ball to Vucinic who back heels a return, and Cicinho’s low shot
is wide. Cassetti fires one at
Dida. Roma’s pressure is more dangerous
than Milan’s. Tonetto and Vucinic can’t combine but Roma
recycle the clearance and Cicinho gets free on the right, his near post cross
is met by Vucinic; who gets in front of Nesta; the ball completely bewilders
Dida who flaps like an old woman as the ball sails through his arms.
Ambrosini crosses well from the
right, Kaka heads back at the back post and Gilardino lashes high. A Serginho cross from the left is cut out by
Juan and Doni ahead of Gilardino as Milan
finally up their game.
Roma win a corner from a long
ball and the ball comes in from Cicinho, De Rossi’s near post header is wide
but the referee spots a blatant tug at the Roma midfielder’s shirt by
Ambrosini. He gets his second yellow and
is out of the game. De Rossi tries to
chip the ‘keeper and put the ball over the crossbar.
Milan sense an equalizer but their quality is
suspect. Cafu’s cross is just over Gilardino. A second cross form the Brazilian is claimed
by Doni. Nesta gets forward and plays in
Serginho, the cross is good but Juan cuts the ball out and Roma break but
Vucinic shoots high. Mexes clears a Milan free kick. A Serginho cross is met by Gilardino but his
aim is off again.
Roma doe their best to kill off
the game with possession football and even have a couple of chances. Vucinic fires wide and Giuly’s shot is saved
by Dida.
Looked like the game in midweek
was still in the legs of AC Milan, they were sloppy in possession and lacked
much creativity. They had chances to
score but Gilardino couldn’t find the net.
Another home loss is disastrous for Anchelotti.
Spalletti’s side weren’t at their
best but the played well both in attack and defence. They took one of their chances and were able
to hold off the late threat from Milan. A well earned three points.
The referee was awful, he threw
yellow cards around like confetti in yet didn’t hand one out for a terrible
Gattuso tackle. He was inconsistent;
sometime letting things go and other times giving a yellow card. The game wasn’t dirty yet many cards were for
dissent. This referee likes the
limelight.
Nerrazzuri dominate first half, Napoli fight back in second half but
lack the quality to trouble Champions; 2-1 at the San Siro.
Saturday at the San Siro, away
fans have been banned but some have mad the trip and sit in the home section. The Stadio Guiseppe Meazza hosted a Napoli for the first time since the 01/02 season. Napoli was
resting in midweek as Internaz ionale thumped PSV so tired legs may be a factor
for Mancini’s side.
Mancini really hasn’t had his
full squad to pick from, no Maicon, Dacourt, Viera or Materazzi; the eleven he
fields is still packed with quality; Cesar in goal with a back four of Samuel
and Cordoba in the middle, Zanetti on the right and Chivu on the left; Cambiaso
anchors the midfield with Stankovic alongside him, Cesar and Figo provide
width, up front Ibrahimovic and Cruz form a potent strike threat, the 4 4 2 is
more attacking for the home game.
Reja goes with Iezzo in goal,
coming back after missing three games; a back three of Cannavaro; no his
younger brother!; Contini and Domizzi; a middle five has Grava and Bogliacino
on the flanks with Gargano sitting in, Savini supporting the attack and Hamsik
playing box to box; veteran and youngster provide no mean strike threat as
Zalyeta and Lavezzi already have four goals between them this season.
Inter are strong from the start;
poor Napoli defending barely manages to protect Iezzo when Figo and Ibrahimovic
push forward; Cambiaso and Chivu also cause trouble from the left; Napoli’s first attack ends up with Samuel blocking
Hamsik’s shot.
The break is on for Napoli, hard work from Lavezzi allows him to drop a great
ball into the danger area, Samuel flails but the ball won’t sit for Zalyeta,
Samuel recovers in time to clear the ball; Zanetti and Figo create problems at
the other end.
Samuels picks up a yellow.
Cruz is offside on a Figo through
ball; then the Argentinean gets onto a loose ball in the middle and plays in
Ibrahimovic, the Swede draws in four defenders and still manages to stab the
ball into the path of the onrushing Cruz for Inter’s first goal.
Napoli don’t collapse; they have
to work hard to defend the Champions but always look to attack on the break;
Inter want the second goal and dominate midfield with good passing and great
tackling.
Hamsik fires in from the edge of
the area but Cesar easily covers; Cesar delivers a great back post cross to
Ibrahimovic but Domizzi heads clear; Figo find Ibrahimovic but the shot goes
wide; Stankovic plays a through ball from the middle, Ibrahimovic flicks it on
but Iezzo is equal to Cruz; Samuel hacks down a flying Lavezzi, astonishingly
he doesn’t see a second yellow; Hamsik delivers a good free kick which no one
can get a touch on; Gargano tries to find Lavezzi with a deep ball but it skids
to far on the slick surface; Zalyeta crosses to the back post but the ball is a
touch too long; Stankovic plays a simple ball over the top, Cruz beats the
offside and with great skills chests it down and smashes it past Iezzo with his
left foot.
Stankovic gets a yellow as Lavezzi
is fouled again; then the young Argentinean is clearly obstructed by Cambiaso
but play is allowed to continue; Stankovic plays another sweet ball from the
middle, Ibrahimovic finds Cruz and the forward puts his easiest chance wide;
Cannavaro gets a yellow card which the referee comes fifty yards to present;
Cesar puts a ball in for Ibrahimovic, the Swede is thwarted with a great
reaction stop from Iezzo; Napoli’s last two moves end with poor finishes;
Hamsik with a woeful free kick and Savini shooting wildly.
Chivu comes off for Maxwell at
the half for the only change.
Inter, seemingly confident in
their prowess, hold back on the attacking surges in the second half, their
defending remains stout; with numbers up Napoli are limited to a long range Gargano
shot; Hamsik surges forward and wins a corner, from the rebound Lavezzi shoots
poorly; more good build up play and the chance falls to Zalyeta, he chooses to
chip Cesar instead of a pass or ball across the face of goal, Cesar claims
easily; the Brazilian punches well clear at the end of the net, patient attack
from the visitors; Garics, on for Grava, works the ball on the right, the
position is promising and he has support, the ball into the area is a good one
but the play almost immediately falls apart, Napoli finding it tough to find
quality in the area and Napoli working really hard.
The traffic is heavy for Napoli but not all one way, Ibrahimovic gets a in on
goals and fires a shot just wide.
Domizzi gets to take a 35 yard
free kick and misses by only a yard with a well taken screamer; Zanetti gets
forward and crosses for Cruz who is inches away from heading in his hat trick;
Cesar claims the ball from Lavezzi’s cross, Napoli flounder at the back in
uncharacteristic fashion and Cruz almost gets a third; crosses come in from
Napoli but they are either cleared or Cesar’s; Suazo gets a chance at the
expense of a less than happy Cruz; the Argentinean is doubly annoyed as the
Honduran fluffs a chance wide from eight yards after great play and a cross from
Figo on the right. Tails up Internaz
ionale mount some attacking moves; a five man thing of beauty has a good Figo
cross on the end of it but Garics is the re to head behind; substitute Burdiso
head the ball in narrowly wide; buoyant and still working hard the Napoli team
continues to mount attacks on Inter, Lavezzi, tired but giving it up for the
team again is at the heart of good things for Napoli, he works the ball on the
right and gets to the byline, a pulled back cross arrives at the back post to meet
the perfectly timed run and leap of substitute Sosa; the attacker leaps
imperiously above Maxwell and connects, sending the ball back across goal and
in at the far post; Reja immediately brings on another striker, Calaio for
Hamzic to show his attacking intent; but the final few minutes of the game don’t
really allow for any goal chances from either team.
Mancini’s team were awesome in
the first half, defensively strong, hard working all over the pitch and with
enough attacking options and flair to trouble any defenders, and this is largely Internaz ionale’s B
Team. Second half they stopped attacking
and just defended for most of the 45, they still looked solid and worked well
as a team, never really being overly troubled, and when the decided to attack
they almost got a goal. Complete
football, good to watch, tough to beat.
Reja’s, a manager known for his
defensive prowess; team looked all at sea in the first five minutes, a team
made up of Serie B players with a few additions managed to find their feet and
worked hard against the current Serie A Champions; they didn’t just sit back
with men behind the ball but looked to attack whenever they could. Two behind at half time wasn’t an
insurmountable lead; the away side attacked in the second half and had the
bulk of possession, the last ball in was
generally poor and they really didn’t trouble Cesar, they took their chance and
still attacked but Inter were too strong for the Southern side.
The referee gave out a lot of
yellows in a game that wasn’t nasty, but they were; for the most part
warranted, Cannavaro’s yellow was too harsh, the referee was all of fifty yards
away at the time; a very authoritarian style which mostly worked, Samuel’s
second challenge on Lavezzi was worst than his first and should have seen the
Argentinean sent off and Cambiaso clearly stepped in front of his compatriot to
break up a run but went unpunished. You’d
have to say a c+ for the man in the middle.
Under strength Nerrazzuri thrash under strength Blucherratti; 3-0 at the San Siro.
San Siro on a wet Wednesday. The Stadio Guiseppe Meazza hosted a tenth place Sampdoria with Inter Milan looking to go top of Serie a with a win and other result going their way; not a large crowd but they were pretty vocal.
Mancini; without Maicon; suspended; picked an attacking side; Cesar stayed in goal with a South American back four of Zanetti, Samuel, Cordoba and Cesar; Figo and Cambiaso played wide with Dacourt and Maxwell in the middle, goal machine, Ibrahimovic partnered Crespo up front.
Matzarri, without Volpe and Montella still didn’t start Cassano; Mirante; ex Juve ‘keeper was protected by a back three of Campagnaro, Sala and Lucchini, a midfield five of Zenoni and Ziegler on the flanks with Palombo and Franceschini in the middle, Sammarco played a more forward role; up front Carracciolo partnered Bellucci.
A scrappy first twenty minutes saw neither team really dominate, Inter were solid at the back but couldn’t quite find their rhythm, Sampdoria had no final ball and could barely make it out of midfield; Figo was the brightest of the home team and Campagnaro had a chance at one end and played solidly at the other.
The best chance of the first part of the game fell to Sampdoria, an Inter free kick was cleared up field quickly, Carracciolo gets onto it on the left and Cesar comes out only to rethink his decision and back pedal towards his goal as the ball gets put into the danger area, no one from the visitors is in a position to capitalize on the empty goal.
In the words of the commentator; “JULIO CESAR, SOME QUESTION MARKS ON HIS KEEPING, HE WENT CHASING BUTTERFLIES ON THAT OCCASION, JUST COMPLETELY FOUND HIMSELF OUT OF POSITION”
The scare must have shocked Inter, they start to dominate the game, keeping the ball in midfield and looking for good balls on the flanks or through the middle; Zenoni has a good cross cleared; Figo feeds Zanetti who forces a corner; Ziegler, Palombo combine to set up Sammarco but his shot is a yard wide; Maxwell and Cesar carve open Sampdoria on the left; then comes the break through, Maxwell lets a ball from Crespo cross his body and the big Swede drives towards goal and cuts the ball back across Mirante for a great finish and the lead.
Cambiaso plays a ball into Crespo, almost a goal made in Argentina but the forwards back heel is too soft and Mirante claims; Cesar again combines with Maxwell and the ball is fired into the near post, Crespo is onto it but Mirante saves well; despite pressure from Crespo and the flying feet of Campagnaro.
Towards the end of the half Inter turn the screw, keeping possession and defended well from a lacklustre Sampdoria side.
Ibrahimovic drifts wide and plays the ball back inside for Dacourt, he delivers a great ball for Cesar who shots across Mirante, it flies past the far post; Mirante picks a ball destined for Crespo out of the air and Zanetti waste the chance to deliver a good cross into the box.
Ibrahimovic is a class act and alongside Samuel has been Inter’s best player, all of the home side has turned up tonight though.
No half time changes.
A bright start for both teams but Inter have the class and talent to pull it off; Crespo playing in Cesar in the area and almost getting a cheeky back heel in return; Sammarco can’t get to a back post cross.
The rain doesn’t really seem to be affecting play too much, the odd slip here and there but nothing major.
Ibrahimovic shows his control and finishing as he gets the ball on the edge of the D; he out muscles Palombo then cuts through two more defenders and rifles a left foot shot past Mirante for his second of the night.
For a whole the Sampdoria back line is all sixes and sevens; Inter don’t manage to take advantage.
Cassano finally comes on in and has an immediate impact; drawing a foul from his good buddy Dacourt; the youngster gives Sampdoria options when going forward.
Samuel; excellent all night; stops Carracciolo dead with a great tackle.
Maxwell plays in Crespo with a telling ball from the right; the Argentinean side foots it his Portuguese team mate who fires one past a flailing Mirante; the defence was poor as was the keeping but the finish was still on target.
As the game wound down Inter dominated, Sampdoria wee mostly toothless up front and Cesar didn’t have a save to make all night; although he can thank the post for keeping Campagnaro’s header out.
Without Ibrahimovic Inter didn’t look quite as good.
A well needed result for Mancini against his former team; the side took a while to get going but once they did they easily handled a lacklustre Sampdoria side. Figo showed he still has some great balls despite losing a little pace, Cambiaso, Maxwell and Dacourt were great both ways in midfield, Crespo worked hard and did a lot of useful running; Cesar and Zanetti worked well on the flanks and Samuel was excellent alongside the mistake free Cordoba, Cesar had one terrible error, but got away with it and had practically nothing to do all night.
Sampdoria were under strength but they still got it handed to them. Cassano was obviously classier than most of his team mates when he came on, Ziegler did well despite a frustrating night against the veteran Argentinean and Campagnaro was good at the back.
The referee had a pretty good one tonight, his two cards were reasonable and he let the game flow, sometimes almost too much as he had a bad spot towards the end of the second half where he made a few bloopers, nothing major though.
Inter####onale:-
Cesar
Zanetti
Cordoba
Samuel
Cesar
Figo (Suazo 83)
Dacourt
Maxwell
Cambiaso
Crespo (Pele 75)
Ibrahimovic (Adriano 63)
Tough and rumble at the San Siro, a skillful and physical game decided
by a simple tap in miss; all this against a backdrop of woeful refereeing;
Fiorentina get a point with a 1-1 draw in Milan.
San Siro, a majestic stadium but
not filled up due to the Monday kick off; Milan
having won the European Super Cup on Friday.
The first big crunch match of the season, two teams with valid Scudetto
aspirations meeting.
Anchelotti fielded a strong side
after the Friday win against Sevilla, the Viola one of this years fancied
teams; Dida stayed in goal with a back four of Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze and
Jankulovski; the experienced deep midfield of Gattuso, Pirlo and Ambrosini
supported Kaka and Seedorf who play further forward with Gilardino at the point
of attack.
Prandelli fielded a strong side
also, Frey; likely to get his France call up; in goal; the back four was
Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Gamberini and Pasqual; two lines of three started with
Donadel, Liverani; creating attacks; and Gobbi then Santana, Pazzini and Mutu.
Fiorentina start brightly, Mutu
being key to pressure applied down the left flank, the Romanian gets on the end
of a Pasqual cross but heads weakly at Dida.
Milan’s first attack yields a
poor Pirlo free kick, the ‘DaVinci of football’ gets a better second ball in
but Fiorentina clear and break quickly; Mutu finding the run of Santana but the
Argentinean runs into the staunch Georgian defender Kaladze.
La Viola pressure early; Santana
firing high and wide; Liverani firing a free kick at the Rossoneri wall and
Mutu seeing his attempted pass to Pazzini cut out by Dida.
Milan; starting to overpower the
midfield get forward but Gilardino‘s touch is poor and Fiore clear, the next
attack is much better; Ambrosini brings it from the halfway line finds Seedorf
who sees the overlapping run of Jankulovski, his cross from the left is headed
on by Ambrosini and Kaka fires the ball back into the danger area, Gilardino
turns and scoops the ball goal wards but a diving Frey tips the ball with his
left hand then scoops it clear with his right.
Fiorentina are put under
pressure, Dianelli looking poor against Gilardino. The visitors respond with attacks from
Pazzini, Liverani and Mutu; then a Milan
break sees a great ball from Seedorf slip past Gilardino.
The ball is flying around as are
the tackles; Milan’s
Snarling Dog has Mutu’s number and has fouled him half a dozen times so
far.
Pirlo shows his class with a neat
ball forward, Kaladze crosses for Ambrosini but he is tripped by Dainelli in
the area; Kaka converts the penalty kick for his third goal of the season.
Mutu gets a nice dig back at
Gattuso and the referee has words.
Kaka fires wide off Pirlo and
Gilardino; Oddo combines with Seedorf on the right but delivers a poor cross;
Pazzini is offside after good work from Mutu and Santana; then both Gilardino
and Pazzini can’t convert chances; Pirlo finds Kaka at the far post, the ball
back is a nice height for Seedorf but the Dutchman fires well wide; Ambrosini
steals the ball from Liverani and plays in Gilardino, his first touch is poor
and he loses possession.
Half time sees no changes for
either side.
The second half starts with
leftovers from the first, Gattuso fouling Mutu for a seventh time.
Milan have taken their foot of
the juice, content to dominate and hold the midfield they look to stifle
Fiorentina, the visitors look to their skill players; Mutu and Liverani; to
create something but still work hard for the ball.
La Viola’s persistence pays dividends as the hour draws near, Liverani on the
left plays in Pasqual, his cross his poked forward back into danger by
Ambrosini; Santana beats Nesta to the ball and executes a cute trick to gain
half a yard on the veteran defender, he crosses from the byline to an open Mutu
who heads past a flailing Dida at the back stick.
Milan comes out attacking but seems a tad
ponderous; Oddo wins a corner kick and the player who has the final shot is
Gattuso.
Both coaches make changes, Vieri
and Semiolo coming on for Fiorentina and Cafu making an appearance for Milan.
Seedorf, Milan’s most industrious player; wins a
corner kick which Fiorentina scramble clear, eventually. Kaka finds space inside for a shot; he
delivers the ball with pace and power; Frey unsure of his near post touches the
shot even further wide and out for a corner.
Vieri gets on the end of Liverani
pass Fiorentina count ad fires across Dida, just wide.
Vieri wins a header under
pressure from Kaladze but sees the referee indicate a Milan free kick; then Gobbi hacks Pirlo but
play goes on.
Milan’s chance at an equalizer comes and
goes, Ambrosini cuts between two Viola and players an inch perfect ball inside;
Inzaghi is alone, eight yards out with an open goal in front of him and can’t
connect with the ball.
Fiorentina sit back looking for a
valuable away point but for all their possession and endeavour Milan can’t break them down; Cafu fires a
shot high and wide.
Quick breaks threaten a winner
for Fiorentina; a three on two develops and the ball is played wide to Semiolo,
his cross reaches Vieri; through Nesta; at the far post but the shot flies
wide; Gattuso bails out Cafu for a corner kick and Dida palms away the corner
kick and Nesta tackles Vieri well in the area.
A Cafu cross is easily cleared by
Fiorentina, Mutu skins Kaladze and cuts the ball inside for Vieri, no shot from
the veteran but a neat ball out to Semiolo who plays a quick ball back inside
for Kuzmanovic, Dida is statuesque but the ball comes back off the post, after
the ball is played in Kuzmanovic is hewn down by Kaladze; Milan eventually
clear an as it goes up field Kaka, Gattuso, Liverani all get shirty as tempers
flair; Gattuso and Liverani get carded, the Viola for an elbow and the
Rossoneri for mouthing off.
A capricious finish sees a
Semiolo cross cleared; a Pirlo cross taken from the head of Inzaghi by Frey; A
Dida save off Vieri; good defending as Dainelli holds off Inzaghi; a poor Pirlo
free kick and a late howler from the referee to gift Milan a late free
kick.
Frenetic but the score remains
the same.
Great away point, they could have
won but could just have easily lost.
Overcome in midfield but not overawed La Viola fought back for an
equalizer, Santana looks good; Liverani has great vision, Mutu is class; Vieri
an Pazzini both came close, the defence held mostly firm and Frey made two
quality saves.
Should have gotten all three
points, terrible miss from Super Pippo!
The Rossoneri tired late in the game and their substitutions; notably
Cafu and Emerson don’t have the punch they once did. Kaka looked wooden at times but Seedorf looks
good, Pirlo creates problems and they have their Snarling Dog.
Nice to see the English don’t
have a monopoly on poor refereeing.
Farina was cack.
Gattuso kept hacking away at
Mutu; seven times in all; yet didn’t see yellow; Semiolo cleanly tackles Pirlo
and Farina gives Milan a free kick; Ujfalusi wins ball from Seedorf, Milan get
free kick; Kuzmanovic is taken out by Kaladze and doesn’t get a penalty kick;
Gobbi scythes down Pirlo and play goes on; Kaladze shoulder charges Vieri,
doesn’t get any of the ball and the whistle goes for Milan and Inzaghi dives
late on and wins a free kick not a yellow.
Farina did spot the Milan penalty and quickly
dealt with the handbags late on but he let too many fouls go unpunished.
