leaving it late, again

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