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Portsmouth 2 Milan 2
Many believed this would be a breeze for Milan. And considering the side that Milan put out, it can be safely assumed, that's pretty much what Milan expected as well. Fratton Park was buzzing with life and according to reports, it had intimidatory effects on Kaka. So Milan's best player was intimidated by Fratton Park after plying his trade in San Siro for 4-5 seasons? Who are these Journo's?
Pompey and Rossoneri were going at each other from the whistle with Portsmouth creating more chances. However it was Inzaghi who was going to be the first one to get a clear cut opportunity, which he used to hit the post. Crouch also got his chance which he misfired, not unusual for someone like Crouch. He missed one again, this time on the volley. Belhadj and Traore were impressing on the flanks and yes that is quite astounding. Pippo had a chance with a misplaced pass from Gattuso, but he lobbed it over the net. Kaka then blasted one into outer space, and thats not the first time he has done that this season. Crouch had another chance and the tall Englishman was creating a nuicanse for the terrible back four.
Kaka continued to struggle as the game progressed, with Glen Johnson firing over. This guy at Pompey seems like a different human being now when compared to the one at Stamford Bridge. The excellent right back put in a delicious ball and Younes Kaboul headed Pompey ahead deservedly. I think teams have now understood the key to score against Milan - aeriel balls into the penalty box. The English wingback was at it again, providing his second assist for the night, sending the home fans into raptures. He got past 2 players with relative ease and crossed in for Kanu, and the former gunner shook off the challenge from Zambrotta to finish cooly sending the home side 2 goals up.Milan then went into combat mode, bringing on Pato, Seedorf and Ronaldinho. All went on to have outstanding games. The results manifested almost instantaneously. Dinho's cross had Inzaghi hitting the bar for the 3rd time in the game. Johnson who was the architect for the goals scored by Portsmouth, made a soft foul. The result of this was a fantastic free kick, one I would term world class. Who else but Ronaldinho! His goal scoring spree continues. The home side kept pressing in, and Zambrotta looped in a good ball into the penalty box, the poacher king was there for the finish. Inzaghi wearing the captain's armband scored, and celebrated like we won the Serie A as he had scored deep into stoppage time.
Player performances are not worth mentioning. Senderos cannot and should not defend, largely responsible for both the goals. Favalli's age could easily spell his pace, and to put him against a team from a league that is known for its pace was as good as suicide. Ancelloti decided to commit suicide. Zambrotta and Antonini were patently average. Shevchenko was anonymous, and a good number of friends think he is finished, I dont disagree.
Everything said and done, this was an excellent performance by Pompey. Never showed signs of intimidation even though they had a virtual second string team out. This one was surely for the fans. Milan however would like to recuperate after what happened, as more dangerous foes await them back home.
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=t-XB9TLhVYE
Goalscorers -
Portsmouth - Younes Kaboul (61'), Kanu (73')
Milan - Ronaldinho (84'), Inzaghi (90+)
Torino 2 Milan 2
I have read several articles about Alessandro Rosina. He is the other Alex from Turin. Why is he wasting his life at Torino? One would never know. Stadio Olimpico di Turin hosted Milan. We were playing Torino. After the Derby di Italia ended in Inter's favor, it was necessary that we picked up maximum points from this game.
With Pirlo back and Favalli out of the squad, Milan looked lethal on paper. This game if contested on paper wouldn't have been a contest. But that's the beauty of football, anything is possible. AC started the game in a prevailing fashion. The Granata's only hope remained in Rosina, who was the best player on the pitch. Long rangers were the call of the day, and dont ask me why. When Torino players see a central defensive pairing of Maldini and Kaladze, why would they go for long range shots? On the 24th minute, Roberto Stellone found the back of the net for the Granata and who else be the architect but Rosina. Ariel balls along with several other challenges of defending have been concerns for our line of 4 in front of the keeper for awhile now. And they dealt with the this arieal threat just as they were expected to, which resulted in a goal. Milan reacted almost immediately, when Gattuso's superb pass found Pato, who controlled the ball beautifully before slotting home with a world class finish. Milan were stating their intent, and on the 34th minute Kaka was bought down at the edge of the area. Ronaldinho curved in a lovely free kick, making it look oh so easy. We were up by a goal now. 7th goal of the season for the Brazilian. Torino defense stayed put to keep the scoreline at 2-1 for the rest of the half
2nd half started as the first half ended. Milan dominating the game. Then the balance shifted with Torino moving ahead bravely in attack. The tempo was high as Toino kept going at Abbiati, and Milan reducing their scoring options to only counter attacks. Pato was sizzling hot today, and Torino were finding him hard to manage. The Rossoneri defense was sprawling and crawling around to get the ball out of the penalty area, and their shambolic defensive display resulted in a penalty. A cartoon named Kaladze decided to play handball with Rosina's pass and the referee wasn't far to be fooled. Rosina dispatched his penalty coolly, a well deserved goal for the Italian. Sheer grit. and an obstinate attitude from Milan kept them from conceding any further as Torino threw everything they had at their guests.
Defense was torrid as ever, and this time it reaped the right results. Maldini's valiant efforts were downsized by the result. And he couldn't cope with having clowns like Bonera and Kaladze beside him. Pirlo was showing shades of return to form. Gattuso has been spectacular this season and he showed no signs of letting go. Kaka has been pretty woeful by his standards, and sometimes I wonder if selling him to Madrid would have been good. His dive actually starled me. Ronaldinho has become a goal machine. Pato was definitely a standout player, a tireless performance from the center forward, also notched up a goal for himself. Fair play to the lad. But the game leaves me with one regret - If only Rosina, If only.
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=-scc8RknG9I&eurl=http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/1793242/
Goalscorers -
Torino - Stellone (24'), Rosina (76')
Milan - Pato (29'), Ronaldinho (34')
Milan 1 Chievo 0
Sometimes I wonder, what should be the scoreline when two clubs, both at the opposite ends of the table, meet? I fathom a fancy number, like a 4-0, 5-0. And then I see a 1-0. Ouch! And the pain turns into a sting when you realize that the 1-0 is actually a destined scoreline and not a well earned one. Milan lost top spot after some atrocious defending against Lecce last weekend. Chievo were sitting pretty at the bottom of the table. One would have thought this would be a total devastation job by Milan, but AC merely saved their face. Unsurprisingly this is not the first time this season that this situation has occurred
'Lucky Milan close the gap' was the headlines on the Serie A section on Soccornet. I wouldn't disagree. Winning ugly is the stuff of champions, but winning lucky, really isn't. What people dont notice is that the teams we have played against so far are mediocre, below average teams, which probably wouldn't even fit into the EPL. The only big names we have beaten are Napoli and Inter, and again there, we were lucky.
In the first half, Milan faced some opposition from Chievo and we were able to deal with the danger. Ronaldinho was playing reasonably well, not only was his passing good, but he showed good strength. The moment of controversy arrived on the 14th minute, when a challenge made outside the box on Kaka was penalised with a penalty. The Brazilian maestro dispatched the penalty with utmost ease. Milan started to press ahead for the 2nd, but the Chievo keeper was up to the task. The partnership between Ronaldinho and Kaka was delightful. They have certainly developed an understanding, which was missing two years ago in Germany. The game began to slow down, and for the rest of the first half, people were only counting the minutes.
Sorrentino, the Chievo keeper was having a hayday between the posts. After the break, he made some neat impressive saves from Ronaldinho and Jankulovski. Penalty decisions were being turned down as the referee probably had realised at the break what an ass he had made of himself. Abbiati was also up to the job. With a patched up defense in front of him, he needed to be the man of the hour. There were some nervy moments for the Diavoli defense, and Ancelloti, sensing that his side would concede sooner or later decided to bring on Pato for Inzaghi. AC then had a host of chances with Pato, Jankulovski and Kaka, but Sorrentino was displaying the reasons as to why Serie A produces the best keepers in the game. With about 10 minutes to go, a move created by members of the Selecao resulted with a save from none other than Sorrentino. He saved twice from Jankulovski, who on another day could have scored a hattrick. And one of these saves was a world class effort from a short range free kick.
If not for Sorrentino, we could have made a meal of the visitors. But I will emphasize the fact that we lack a world class striker in the team, who would make any Sorrentino quiver. But hearing the comments coming from the Milan camp, that a player like Benzema is too expensive for the club, I see us surviving sheerly on fate.
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=STkKVDjfvXU&eurl=http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/1770739/
Goalscorers -
Milan - Kaka (p) (14')
Chievo Verona - none
It simply means welcome David Beckam. I know, I know. This is an article I should have brought out long ago, I am sorry, puhleez.
Now, cutting the crap, Beckam. A name that has been synonymous with football. If you are sharp enough, you would have identified the 2 words 'has been' in the sentence. But isn't AC Milan a squad nearly full of has beens? Well, to a certain extent I may have to agree with that question, one that I have raised for awhile. Revolution is on full swing at the Milanello. And apparently, the squad needed revival as it had come to the end of something people call a cycle. In my opinion, responsible clubs will never find themselves in this situation, but thats a different argument altogether.
Beckam at Milan, and more importantly in Italy, is a boon. He has a lot of star-power attached to him, and he will bring that to the country and the league, which will hopefully help in making it more recognized than it already is. Many have argued that this season, the Serie A is the league to watch. And I dont disagree. The quality that has arrived to the forefront is simply mouthwatering to behold. Beckam is only going to enhance this quality. Now, looking specifically at Milan - is Beckam someone Milan need? There are 2 answers to that question, yes and no.
The club has suffered a monetary blow after failing to qualify for the Champions League. Beckam will bring truckloads of moolah. Something a club of our stature needs to stay up in the elite. 13m euros is what is predicted, an income the club will receive during Beckam's stay at the club. Adidas would be delighted with this deal, English media will be eating their hats, and Milan will not spend an amount as absurd as 18m pounds to grab this veteran. TV rights will be secured, and that will raise revenues for the league. Plus Milan will find creativity in the heart of midfield, in Pirlo's absence. These are good enough reasons to sign this guy in my opinion. Some people say Beckam doesn't have the legs anymore to bomb up and down the flanks. Yes, i think so. Beckam has lost pace. I concur. But the most obvious reasons are being ignored in these statements. The Serie A is a league not known for pace, and Milan don't use wingers. Beckam will sit in front of the defense and dictate play, where he won't be required to move too much. No questions can be raised about his creativity, as it still remains a great asset. His passing is almost as accurate as it used to be. Then why not employ him as deep-lying playmaker? Beckam can play, and even though he wont make Milan the 600m euros he made for Madrid, he will contribute financially.
Now here are the reasons he shouldn't come. Milan have been called a club for the aged. And Beckam's arrival will only cement that arguement. Our midfield is the best in Italy, and possibly the best in world club football. So why a Beckam? We have 2 of the best set-piece experts in world football, then won't Beckam cause complications? Beckam will give Ancelloti more headaches in selecting the midfield. With his arrival, there will be 6-7 established international stars fighting for the 3 man midfield. There were talks about this move being made permanent, which immediately wipes out the return of the red hot Gourcuff from Bordeax. Also with the arrival of Becks, Luca Cigarini/Riccardo Montolivo/Kuzmanovic wont be bought, and these players are natural heirs to the ageing Pirlo. So all these points definitely question the foresightedness of the management.
The pros and cons of the arrival of Beckam remains a debate. The way he fits into the team is the managers headache, but he does make a powerful midfield, even more lethal. Also the commercial reasons are justified. As long as this move is not made permanent, we stand a great chance to benefit from this transfer. So lets put our hands together and say, benvenuto david beckam.
Lecce 1 Milan 1
Via Del Mare. One of the places the Diavoli don't like to visit. They had to visit it this time, and were compelled to continue the string of impressive results. It wasn't going to be easy. Psychological disadvantage and all that. But a good number of players in the playing 11 weren't part of the nightmarish visits previously, so it was a clean slate. That probably explains the reasons why Milan played like champions.
The gulf in quality was evident from the start. Milan distributed the play well, and they dominated possession too. Borrielo had impressed me from the beginning of the season, but his finishing yesterday was awful. He had a handful of chances, but he just refused to take them. We could have put this game to bed by the 20th minute, but our man here was squandering away chances. Lecce started to grow with confidence thereon, and the creaky defense of Bonera and Favalli started showing signs of frustration. Milan were playing the best football they had played all season, but they lacked in the final third. Borrielo was missing chances that a striker of a club of Milan's stature should've been putting away. Borrielo's lack of quality was evident through the first half, and he was absolutely shocking, especially on the chance presented to him on the 36th minute.
53rd minute, Kaka had a great chance when he was one on one with the keeper. But his final touch was a tad bit heavy. Wave after wave of Milanese attack was meted with awful finishing. Ronaldinho and Jankulovski had their share in attack. Lecce were holding onto the game with all they had, and wanted to leave the game with atleast one point. Borrielo was still making the same mistakes inside the box. Ancelloti realised that the current tactics will only make his team look good,and that wasn't enough.. So he brought on Inzaghi and Pato for Borrielo and Flamini. This found immediate effect as the cross from Pato found Ronaldinho, and the Brazilian in his goal scoring form wouldn't miss. And he dint. But that wasn't the end of it. Lecce did manage to tap into one of Milan's many defensive flaws - high balls. A wonderfully flighted free kick found Espesito and he put the ball into the Milan net just moments before the final whistle.
Abbiati would be disappointed to leave the Mare without a cleansheet. Zambrotta was fantastic and has been in good form so far. Gattuso, the way he is currently playing is probably the best holding midfielder on the planet. Kaka is showing signs of being considered by FIFA for World Player of the Year 2009. Ronaldinho was effective to say the least, but his goal scoring mania is all that counts for at the moment.
I would probably be the happiest Milan fan after this result. What a performance by Milan! Exceptional in attack. If not for Borrielo, we would have seen Lecce massacred. Also at the end of the game, seeing Galliani infuriated was a delight. There is great resolve and determination in this team. And despite this result, boy am I happy to see that.
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=DDnkFJMbkYM&eurl=http://www.footytube.com/
Goalscorers -
Lecce - Esposito (93')
Milan - Ronaldinho (80')
Milan 1 Sporting Braga 0
Milan are winning, and all the Rossoneri fans are celebriting. So am I. But with measured proportions. AC are building a wall of victory, and many are turning a blind eye to what I would call 'cracks'. However this result can be taken at face value without too much dissection because of the strategy and tactics that Ancelloti employed from the start of the game. He played 3 strikers upfront in a 4-3-3 formtion. Totally new formation for the team, and emphasis on attack by a defensive minded coach.
Home side's defense was saved by pathetic finishing from visitors. A team that was winning away games with a comfortable 2-0 scoreline would have been expected to put the chances they got on the night to bed, but they simply couldn't finish. Kaladze and Senderos were struggling and were trying to get into the game and would have had a miserable game if not for the lack of decisive finishing on the part of the Braga strikers. Gattuso was solid as ever, and he was putting in a standout performance. He has been in outstanding form recently, and the reason behind this magical form could be the arm-band. Pato was running circles around the Braga defense and he was hard to cope with. Home side dominated possesion, but it seemed without purpose. Shevchenko was playing out of position on the flanks and was giving his best. His movements were nostalgic and a couple of his crosses reminded me of David Bentley. Inzaghi's supposed to have a good head, and he wasn't using it too well. He made a mess of a delightful cross from Sheva.
Braga were showing just how dangerous they were on the flanks but they lacked the finishing touch in the box. The game was heading towards a goal-less stalemate. Ancelloti then brought off Pato and Emerson for Ronaldinho and Seedorf. Both these men got into the game and showed signs of flair and attack from midfield. A certain move from Seedorf left the Portuguese mesmerised. Senderos did get better as the game progressed, but the minutes were taking its toll on his body. Ronaldinho then scored a 'wonder-goal' to seal the game, and it was an assist from Gattuso after winning the ball back from the opposition in the trade-mark Rhino fashion. The ball was hammered into the top left corner from outside the box, twas special to watch. But then I forgot all about the goal at San Siro when I saw what Huddlestone did to score the 3rd goal for Spurs, at White Hart Lane. That woke me up! Now, that's a 'wonder goal'!
AC were very lucky again to escape with 3 points.The reckless challenge by Emerson inside the box and the tackle by Senderos were not punished. If these decisions had gone against us, my article would have looked as different as the scoreline.
Milan go away to Lecce at the weekend, and it would be a tough game by Milan's standards of play. We do have a run of easy games so the string of 1-0's will most probably continue. I dread the day, we play a big team though.
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=09Ib4pvc09I
Goalscorers -
Milan - Ronaldinho 93'
Braga - none
Milan 1 Napoli 0
Four long years, since Milan were on top of the table in Italy. 4 long years. We are there, again. Deservedly, if I may put it. Outclassed and outmatched the young lions of Italy, did the veteran war horses.
The first half started on an attacking note, which took me by surprise. Expected a match of this stature to be more subdued and cagey. But Napoli showed their confidence(or over-confidence) by playing an expansive game. Both teams attacked one another. Borrielo and Lavezzi were bright from the start, but the spark of the Argentine remained through the game. Milan were attacking relentlessly, and somehow Napoli were able to consolidate their defense and prevent conceding a goal. Fabiano Santacrocce was primarily responsible for this consolidated defense. Kaka wasn't going to have the best of nights as he blasted over a shot from a reasonable tough angle, the frustration was evident. Hamsik was injured on the 32' and had to be substituted. He was having a quiet night, and Gattuso should be given credit for that. Maggio was having a torrid time with Jankulovski bombing down his flank. He put in a terrible tackle on the Czech and was sent off, second yellow for the young Italian.
Milan started the second half as they had finished their first half. Ronaldinho was denied by the Napoli keeper, and that seemed like a miraculous save. It wasn't the first time that Lezzo was denying Ronaldinho in the game. This keeper was having the night of his life, and he can be thanked by all the Azzuri fans for not conceding more than 1 goal in the game. On the 54', Santacrocce was injured and thats when the visiting team's defense started showing signs of vulnerability. Pato and Inzaghi were bought on - a radical step by a defensive minded coach. Milan defense could not be breeched as the Napoli attack tried as hard as they could. The Rossoneri defense was impermeable. Kaka hit the post with a beautiful shot, and that wasn't the last time he was going to be denied a goal. He also missed a penalty! It simply wasn't his night. Pato also missed a sitter, and that summed up the game for Milan. But wait! It wasn't over yet.. 5 minutes from time, Ronaldinho whips in a cross from a free kick, and last week's Napoli hero, scores for Milan! German Denis!! Yes yes, it was an own goal, but I can say with much glee that it was a beautiful header.
As for the performances, everyone in defense were solid, special mention must go to Bonera and Jankulovski with the latter being exceptional in attack. He created so many chances, it was a delight to watch. Gattuso was constantly nipping at the heels of the young opponents and Ambrosini did his job with minimum fuss. Seedorf was inconsistent but a few of his passes, the one to Jankulovski in particular was mind blowing. Milan have notched up 10 wins out of 11 games, and seem invincible right now. And let me not forget to mention, this game was won purely on credibility and not luck.
A certain correction has to be made here, as a fellow mate of mine just enlightened me. The goal scored wasn't an own goal. Its apparently Ronaldinho's! FIFA directives on goals/own goals, if a shot is directed at goal, it stands as a goal even if it is deflected of an opponent. This is some handy piece of information. Thanks Prashant. And thank you FIFA.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cf3cmwog_Po&eurl=http://www.footytube.com/
Goalscorers -
Milan - Ronaldinho (87')
Napoli - none
