I love Milan, really I do but...
Sep. 16th, 2003 07:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
diemmeThey really try a girl's patience! It wasn't a convincing match by any means although they did get the win. HAIL DIDA! And HAIL PIPPO, keep taking it up your arse Trap! (Can't tell I'm bitter, can you?)
The pitch at the staduim looked horrible, all yellow green and scrappy in places. I'm awful at match reports so I'll just include one from the folks who get paid to do those things.
Inzaghi's goal and a heroic performance from goalkeeper Dida have given ten-man Milan a hard-fought win over Ajax.
Milan open the defence of their title by replaying the Quarter-Final tie that almost saw them knocked out last season. It took a stoppage-time strike from Pippo Inzaghi, with a final touch from Jon Dahl Tomasson, to eventually see off Ajax 3-2 in this Stadium.
Carlo Ancelotti made a crucial tactical change for this game, introducing Brazilian starlet Kaka' for the off-form Manuel Rui Costa. Paolo Maldini and Billy Costacurta were forced to improvise following injuries to Kakha Kaladze and Giuseppe Pancaro.
Ajax have lost many of their stars over the summer, including Cristian Chivu, Andy van der Meyde and Mido.
The first chance fell to the visitors after 2 minutes, when Dida and Maldini had a misunderstanding, but the Dutch were unable to take advantage.
Ajax had a very aggressive start, but Milan had a great chance on 15 minutes when Andriy Shevchenko failed to keep his shot down on a splendid Andrea Pirlo pass.
Kaka' set up another interesting effort moments later, but Clarence Seedorf's cut-back was inbetween Shevchenko and Inzaghi. The Dutchman was playing against his former club but overall failed to impress.
After a period of early pressure, Ajax were gradually pushed back as Kaka' blasted over the bar following an Inzaghi assist and Pirlo curled over from an impossible angle.
Ajax remained dangerous from set-pieces and Rafael van der Vaart's curling free kick was fingertipped on to the crossbar by Dida.
Trabelsi was a constant danger to Costacurta and dribbled past the defender, only to see Dida close down the angle by the near post.
Perhaps the best chance of the first half was on 30 minutes, Shevchenko cutting back for Inzaghi's deflected volley.
There were more defensive worries for the Rossoneri, as Martin Laursen was forced to replace Costacurta after he picked up a knock. This pushed Maldini out to his old left-back role.
Dida was again called into a splendid flying one-handed save on a Zlatan Ibrahimovic header.
Seconds later Inzaghi controlled a long ball and was crowded out by some desperate Lobont and Julien Escude defending.
There was a great deal of controversy just before the break as Inzaghi saw penalty appeals rejected. The striker had turned past Pasanen when he appeared to flick up a leg to catch Inzaghi, but the referee waved play on.
Milan had a strong start to the second half as Shevchenko and Gennaro Gattuso swept over from good positions and the team poured forward.
Kaka' in particular was enchanting the crowd with a series of strong runs and telling passes, but Ancelotti's men simply couldn't find a way through the organised Ajax defence.
However, the Dutch were dangerous on the break and Dida bravely flung himself at the feet of Pienaar to block a canny back-heel on Ibrahimovic's low centre.
The extremely disappointing Seedorf was replaced by the more attack-minded Serginho on the hour mark.
The deadlock was finally broken by Super Pippo Inzaghi. He had his back to goal and passed to Shevchenko, then pounced on the loose ball as the Ukrainian's effort was parried.
Including internationals, Inzaghi has now scored six goals in his last four games.
Shevchenko is also on fine form and saw his dipping shot punched away by Lobont with some difficulty, while Inzaghi and Sheva failed to get past the goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation.
Taking note of the number of attack-minded players on the field, Ancelotti replaced the tired, but nonetheless irritated, Inzaghi with holding midfielder Massimo Ambrosini. Kaka' pushed up the field to partner Shevchenko.
Ajax poured forward in the final minutes and Alessandro Nesta performed a crucial intervention as Ibrahimovic was shaping up to nod in.
It was end to end stuff as the game drew to a close and Sheva saw another effort well saved before Kaka' somehow managed to hit the near post from the byline despite the goalkeeper standing in front of it.
The tension rose and Gennaro Gattuso saw red in stoppage time for striking out at Ibrahimovic. The midfielder maintained his shirt was being tugged, but he clearly swung out at the giant Swede.
Dida performed nothing short of a miracle in stoppage time with two consecutive point-blank reaction saves on Ibrahimovic and then van der Vaart.
The Brazilian goalkeeper even suffered a thigh injury during that incredible feat, but was forced to stay on for the final seconds and held out for the crucial victory.
Gattuso backhanded that nasty little Zlatan (he hurt our Nesta and made him bleed, we hatessss him)I completely understand the motivation but it was dumb and got him suspended for the next game.
Maldini did some rather exciting runs upfield and provided some service to the strikers. Like a fine wine he improves with age. Didn't see much of Nesta beside one great run upfield, he was quietly doing what he does best for most of the game.
There was a slasy moment caught at the end!!!! Squeee! Nesta was rubbing or patting Maldini's back as they walked off the field together. So cute!
The pitch at the staduim looked horrible, all yellow green and scrappy in places. I'm awful at match reports so I'll just include one from the folks who get paid to do those things.
Inzaghi's goal and a heroic performance from goalkeeper Dida have given ten-man Milan a hard-fought win over Ajax.
Milan open the defence of their title by replaying the Quarter-Final tie that almost saw them knocked out last season. It took a stoppage-time strike from Pippo Inzaghi, with a final touch from Jon Dahl Tomasson, to eventually see off Ajax 3-2 in this Stadium.
Carlo Ancelotti made a crucial tactical change for this game, introducing Brazilian starlet Kaka' for the off-form Manuel Rui Costa. Paolo Maldini and Billy Costacurta were forced to improvise following injuries to Kakha Kaladze and Giuseppe Pancaro.
Ajax have lost many of their stars over the summer, including Cristian Chivu, Andy van der Meyde and Mido.
The first chance fell to the visitors after 2 minutes, when Dida and Maldini had a misunderstanding, but the Dutch were unable to take advantage.
Ajax had a very aggressive start, but Milan had a great chance on 15 minutes when Andriy Shevchenko failed to keep his shot down on a splendid Andrea Pirlo pass.
Kaka' set up another interesting effort moments later, but Clarence Seedorf's cut-back was inbetween Shevchenko and Inzaghi. The Dutchman was playing against his former club but overall failed to impress.
After a period of early pressure, Ajax were gradually pushed back as Kaka' blasted over the bar following an Inzaghi assist and Pirlo curled over from an impossible angle.
Ajax remained dangerous from set-pieces and Rafael van der Vaart's curling free kick was fingertipped on to the crossbar by Dida.
Trabelsi was a constant danger to Costacurta and dribbled past the defender, only to see Dida close down the angle by the near post.
Perhaps the best chance of the first half was on 30 minutes, Shevchenko cutting back for Inzaghi's deflected volley.
There were more defensive worries for the Rossoneri, as Martin Laursen was forced to replace Costacurta after he picked up a knock. This pushed Maldini out to his old left-back role.
Dida was again called into a splendid flying one-handed save on a Zlatan Ibrahimovic header.
Seconds later Inzaghi controlled a long ball and was crowded out by some desperate Lobont and Julien Escude defending.
There was a great deal of controversy just before the break as Inzaghi saw penalty appeals rejected. The striker had turned past Pasanen when he appeared to flick up a leg to catch Inzaghi, but the referee waved play on.
Milan had a strong start to the second half as Shevchenko and Gennaro Gattuso swept over from good positions and the team poured forward.
Kaka' in particular was enchanting the crowd with a series of strong runs and telling passes, but Ancelotti's men simply couldn't find a way through the organised Ajax defence.
However, the Dutch were dangerous on the break and Dida bravely flung himself at the feet of Pienaar to block a canny back-heel on Ibrahimovic's low centre.
The extremely disappointing Seedorf was replaced by the more attack-minded Serginho on the hour mark.
The deadlock was finally broken by Super Pippo Inzaghi. He had his back to goal and passed to Shevchenko, then pounced on the loose ball as the Ukrainian's effort was parried.
Including internationals, Inzaghi has now scored six goals in his last four games.
Shevchenko is also on fine form and saw his dipping shot punched away by Lobont with some difficulty, while Inzaghi and Sheva failed to get past the goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation.
Taking note of the number of attack-minded players on the field, Ancelotti replaced the tired, but nonetheless irritated, Inzaghi with holding midfielder Massimo Ambrosini. Kaka' pushed up the field to partner Shevchenko.
Ajax poured forward in the final minutes and Alessandro Nesta performed a crucial intervention as Ibrahimovic was shaping up to nod in.
It was end to end stuff as the game drew to a close and Sheva saw another effort well saved before Kaka' somehow managed to hit the near post from the byline despite the goalkeeper standing in front of it.
The tension rose and Gennaro Gattuso saw red in stoppage time for striking out at Ibrahimovic. The midfielder maintained his shirt was being tugged, but he clearly swung out at the giant Swede.
Dida performed nothing short of a miracle in stoppage time with two consecutive point-blank reaction saves on Ibrahimovic and then van der Vaart.
The Brazilian goalkeeper even suffered a thigh injury during that incredible feat, but was forced to stay on for the final seconds and held out for the crucial victory.
Gattuso backhanded that nasty little Zlatan (he hurt our Nesta and made him bleed, we hatessss him)I completely understand the motivation but it was dumb and got him suspended for the next game.
Maldini did some rather exciting runs upfield and provided some service to the strikers. Like a fine wine he improves with age. Didn't see much of Nesta beside one great run upfield, he was quietly doing what he does best for most of the game.
There was a slasy moment caught at the end!!!! Squeee! Nesta was rubbing or patting Maldini's back as they walked off the field together. So cute!
