Inter 2 Milan 1
After the slip up against Reggina last week, Milan had to win to stay in the race for the Scudetto. Inter, having an 8 point lead over their cousins knew that a win would almost certainly guarantee the title. Jose Mourinho played down the importance of the tie. He also audaciously revealed 8 out of his starting 11 before the game. He faked the injury to Maicon. AC Milan management probably bought his confidence as folly, and were too preoccupied trying to make Beckham a permanent player for the club. Ancelloti was also making some bold statements that he will be an 'intelligent' man on Sunday. This statement gave the fans some assurance because 'intelligence' was an attribute that was missing from Ancelloti's portfolio for quite sometime. Galliani believes Milan are better than Inter. Several players believed that Inter were lucky. All that was going to change over 90 minutes.
AC Milan are a technical team, and have struggled in the past against physical oppositions. Ancelloti is unwilling to learn this fact. Seedorf and Ronaldinho were chosen as attacking mids. Inter attack define what pace is. And here we have Seedorf and Ronaldinho. Flamini put in a world class performance last week, and he was on the bench. Some of these tactical decisions were baffling. In first few minutes, Inter were showing their determination to win the tie. Ibrahimovic, got his header off target from an unmarked position. Inter were dominating the game, Samuel and Adriano getting their first chances of the match. On the 18th minute, the Nerazzuri should have gone up, but a miraculous tackle from Ambrosini kept the scoreline even. Pato was looking the lively player and has been Milan's best player recently. 8 goals in 9 games. Its not something that can be ignored at the Serie A level. Adriano gave his side a deserved lead as he deflected home from a glorious cross from Maicon. 3 Milan defenders in the box with him, and he still scores. Maldini was hugely responsible for the goal as he was just ball watching instead of defending the ball. Following this, Jankulovski, Pato and Seedorf tried to get the game back on even terms but couldn't. After 43 minutes of play, Milan were thrown out of the contest. A long ball by Muntari found Ibrahimovic completely outmuscling Kaladze and dropping a header to an onrushing Stankovic who volleyed in a powerful effort. Abbiati dint even move. Inter deservedly went into the break, leading.
After play resumed, Muntari, one of Inter's unsung heroes, played a wonderful ball to Adriano, leaving Kaladze and Maldini wondering why they play football, but the Brazilian's effort was poor on the finish. Ronaldinho started to up the level of his game, and he was delivering dangerous passes to the attackers but there was no decisive finishing. Inzaghi replaced a dismal Beckham who was just jogging around the park for 55 minutes. Inter continued to push, with Adriano, Ibrahimovic and Muntari having a fair share of chances to increase the lead. Out of nowhere Milan pulled a goal back, as Ronaldinho's trademark defense splitting pass found Jankulovski, who cut a pass into Pato, who stroked the ball into the gaping net. 78 minutes into the game, Inzaghi scored Milan's second. A fantastic left volley, but the goal was ruled out as offside, and rightly so. Chivu brought down Inzaghi right before the referee inside the box, but Milan weren't awarded the penalty. Mourinho decided to go into 'Ultra'-defensive mode, as he brought on Veira, Maxwell and Burdisso. Now, into stoppage time, Inzaghi had a fantastic chance to level the game, but Cesar pulled out a fantastic save to prove why he is Brazil's number one. As the whistle blew, Inter, Moratti and the fans were celebrating like they had won the Champions League. It was a professional demolition. They ripped their counterparts into shreds, leaving the scoreline to be largely misleading. It quite easily could have been 6-1.
The gulf in quality was evident. A lot of the world class players that Milan have were proven to be over-rated. Pirlo is a classic example. The way he was displaced in the midfield by Muntari and Cambiasso shows why he should be playing for the reserve team of Brescia. Zambrotta showed a lot of effort, but lacked quality. Seedorf had as many opportunities as Catania might have had all season to score, yet he isn't on the score list. Maldini has taken it upon himself to malign his image and it sure is working. I am losing respect rapidly for this icon. Kaladze should be swinging on trees instead of playing for Milan, i quite can't understand how he lasted for 76 minutes in the game. Pato and Ronaldinho show great promise. After scoring in this game, Pato has made it 9 goals in 10 games. A record that he can be proud of. Ronaldinho proved that he deserved to be called up to play the midweek game against Italy. As for Inter, they are a world class team. Who says Milan have superstars? Those who say so probably haven't looked right across town. The list of world class players that Inter have is enviable. The best target man in the world, the best right back in the world. A world class keeper, a world class defensive midfielder. This squad has abundant quality. Lets not forget that they have, in all probability, the best manager in the world at the moment. Mourinho showed his superiority over Ancelloti. Ancelloti was nowhere near his promised intelligence. The Italian has written off Milan's chances to win the Scudetto. Your own coach 'saying' that you wont win. And that too with 14 games in hand. What inspiration! AC Milan have run out of luck, and what I feared for this club is coming to pass. As for Inter, I still hate them. But I do respect them, now, more than ever before.
Video Highlights - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-7o85kYYYE
Goal scorers -
Inter - Adriano (29'), Stankovic (44')
Milan - Pato (70')
AC Milan are a technical team, and have struggled in the past against physical oppositions. Ancelloti is unwilling to learn this fact. Seedorf and Ronaldinho were chosen as attacking mids. Inter attack define what pace is. And here we have Seedorf and Ronaldinho. Flamini put in a world class performance last week, and he was on the bench. Some of these tactical decisions were baffling. In first few minutes, Inter were showing their determination to win the tie. Ibrahimovic, got his header off target from an unmarked position. Inter were dominating the game, Samuel and Adriano getting their first chances of the match. On the 18th minute, the Nerazzuri should have gone up, but a miraculous tackle from Ambrosini kept the scoreline even. Pato was looking the lively player and has been Milan's best player recently. 8 goals in 9 games. Its not something that can be ignored at the Serie A level. Adriano gave his side a deserved lead as he deflected home from a glorious cross from Maicon. 3 Milan defenders in the box with him, and he still scores. Maldini was hugely responsible for the goal as he was just ball watching instead of defending the ball. Following this, Jankulovski, Pato and Seedorf tried to get the game back on even terms but couldn't. After 43 minutes of play, Milan were thrown out of the contest. A long ball by Muntari found Ibrahimovic completely outmuscling Kaladze and dropping a header to an onrushing Stankovic who volleyed in a powerful effort. Abbiati dint even move. Inter deservedly went into the break, leading.
After play resumed, Muntari, one of Inter's unsung heroes, played a wonderful ball to Adriano, leaving Kaladze and Maldini wondering why they play football, but the Brazilian's effort was poor on the finish. Ronaldinho started to up the level of his game, and he was delivering dangerous passes to the attackers but there was no decisive finishing. Inzaghi replaced a dismal Beckham who was just jogging around the park for 55 minutes. Inter continued to push, with Adriano, Ibrahimovic and Muntari having a fair share of chances to increase the lead. Out of nowhere Milan pulled a goal back, as Ronaldinho's trademark defense splitting pass found Jankulovski, who cut a pass into Pato, who stroked the ball into the gaping net. 78 minutes into the game, Inzaghi scored Milan's second. A fantastic left volley, but the goal was ruled out as offside, and rightly so. Chivu brought down Inzaghi right before the referee inside the box, but Milan weren't awarded the penalty. Mourinho decided to go into 'Ultra'-defensive mode, as he brought on Veira, Maxwell and Burdisso. Now, into stoppage time, Inzaghi had a fantastic chance to level the game, but Cesar pulled out a fantastic save to prove why he is Brazil's number one. As the whistle blew, Inter, Moratti and the fans were celebrating like they had won the Champions League. It was a professional demolition. They ripped their counterparts into shreds, leaving the scoreline to be largely misleading. It quite easily could have been 6-1.
The gulf in quality was evident. A lot of the world class players that Milan have were proven to be over-rated. Pirlo is a classic example. The way he was displaced in the midfield by Muntari and Cambiasso shows why he should be playing for the reserve team of Brescia. Zambrotta showed a lot of effort, but lacked quality. Seedorf had as many opportunities as Catania might have had all season to score, yet he isn't on the score list. Maldini has taken it upon himself to malign his image and it sure is working. I am losing respect rapidly for this icon. Kaladze should be swinging on trees instead of playing for Milan, i quite can't understand how he lasted for 76 minutes in the game. Pato and Ronaldinho show great promise. After scoring in this game, Pato has made it 9 goals in 10 games. A record that he can be proud of. Ronaldinho proved that he deserved to be called up to play the midweek game against Italy. As for Inter, they are a world class team. Who says Milan have superstars? Those who say so probably haven't looked right across town. The list of world class players that Inter have is enviable. The best target man in the world, the best right back in the world. A world class keeper, a world class defensive midfielder. This squad has abundant quality. Lets not forget that they have, in all probability, the best manager in the world at the moment. Mourinho showed his superiority over Ancelloti. Ancelloti was nowhere near his promised intelligence. The Italian has written off Milan's chances to win the Scudetto. Your own coach 'saying' that you wont win. And that too with 14 games in hand. What inspiration! AC Milan have run out of luck, and what I feared for this club is coming to pass. As for Inter, I still hate them. But I do respect them, now, more than ever before.
Video Highlights - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-7o85kYYYE
Goal scorers -
Inter - Adriano (29'), Stankovic (44')
Milan - Pato (70')
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