Super Milan champions of Europe
Friday 31 August, 2007 | Channel4.com
Milan have won the European Super Cup 3-1 over Sevilla on an emotional night
in Monaco, including Marek Jankulovski's stunning strike.
Both clubs have been here before, but this was a game like no other. Tragedy
hung over the 2007 European Super Cup after the death of 22-year-old Sevilla
player Antonio Puerta this week from multiple cardiac arrests.
UEFA and Sevilla insisted the tie go ahead "as a tribute to Puerta" and all
the team shirts had 'Puerta' written on them under the squad numbers. The
minute's absolute silence and black armbands also marked the deceased
player.
Sevilla were hoping to win this trophy for the second consecutive year,
while Champions League holders Milan aimed for a record fifth triumph.
Ronaldo and Paolo Maldini were injured, but Nelson Dida recovered to start
and Emerson had his first spot on the bench. Christian Poulsen surprisingly
played central defence for the Spaniards.
In the first three minutes a woeful Massimo Oddo clearance was struck wide
by Renato, but Milan went even closer moments later.
Pippo Inzaghi sprung the offside trap on Clarence Seedorf's through ball and
cut back past Poulsen, but Kaka pounced and thumped the upright from six
yards. The Brazilian top scorer in last year's Champions League and this
week voted Player of the Tournament should perhaps have left it to
Inzaghi.
Rino Gattuso was first into the book for a late tackle on Jesus Navas, while
Oddo's first touch let him down on an inspired Andrea Pirlo pass over the
defence.
It was Sevilla who took the lead against the run of play. Marek Jankulovski
gave away a needless corner and from that kick Dida was stuck in no man's
land, allowing Renato to prod it over the line from point-blank range. The
entire Sevilla side came together in a circle and pointed at the sky,
honouring their fallen teammate.
The Rossoneri defence was struggling with several misplaced passes and Duda
just failed to get on the end of a Freddie Kanoute' assist. There was
absolute chaos on 23 minutes when a couple of defensive errors left Kanoute'
clear on goal and cut back for Renato, but Alessandro Nesta performed a
decisive goalline clearance to keep the score at 1-0.
Kaka sparked a move that Poulsen intercepted before Gattuso could set up
Inzaghi. Incredibly, a corner kick was touched on by Nesta and Seedorf's
diving free header was over from six yards.
Jankulovski wasted a golden opportunity from Massimo Ambrosini's left-flank
low cross, but Kanoute' was given far too much space to turn and smash a
right-foot shot wide.
Poulsen's sliding tackle saved a certain goal on the stroke of half-time, as
Pirlo's slide-rule pass had sent Ambrosini clear, but the Dane plucked the
ball off his foot as he pulled the trigger. Palop rushed out to block
another fine Pirlo assist for Inzaghi.
Super Pippo hit the back of the net in first half stoppages from a Seedorf
through ball, but it was disallowed for a tight offside decision. In a
beautiful gesture during the break, a Milan banner hailing Puerta was passed
along to the Sevilla end of the Stade Louis II in Monaco.
Seedorf went for glory rather than passing to Inzaghi and Ambrosini's
long-range effort was deflected out. From the resulting corner, Pirlo's
backheel sent Gattuso down the right and his cross found Inzaghi's precise
free header at the back post.
Sevilla had been under pressure since the restart, but Kanoute's cross was
just too powerful for Duda. Gattuso needed to be patched up after an
accidental elbow from Keita left him with a deep cut over his eye. He
insisted on carrying on even with a huge bandage covering the top of his
face and it later emerged he required four or five stitches.
Milan were in control now and took the lead on the hour mark with a stunning
goal from Jankulovski. The left-back clipped a brilliant low volley from
Pirlo's inspired long cross-field ball, at a precise angle into the far
bottom corner. It was the Czech's first ever European club goal.
Sevilla threw on forward Kerzhakov, but only a brilliant Poulsen tackle
stopped Kaka running end to end. Gattuso was finally convinced to leave the
field due to his head injury and gave Emerson his debut.
Enzo Maresca replaced Duda and took a central role for the final push, but
Keita nodded a corner kick over from six yards. Substitute Luis Fabiano also
failed to make the most of a promising opportunity.
However, another divine Pirlo crossfield pass found Kaka and Dragutinovic
mistimed his tackle to snap at the Brazilian's ankle. Kaka took the penalty
himself and it was saved by Palop, but the ball ricocheted off his face and
back on to the Milan man's head. The goal was scored under the Sevilla end
and Kaka celebrated by pointing to the 'Puerta' name on the back of his
shirt.
Seedorf went off as a substitute and also held up the shirt with only
Puerta's name showing to the entire crowd. Milan had suggested postponing
this European Super Cup, but agreed to go ahead only if Sevilla wanted it.
It was nearly 3-2 in stoppages as Kerzhakov nodded the ball across the face
of goal where Maresca hit the post from point-blank range.
Milan 3-1 Sevilla
Scorers: Renato 15 (S), Inzaghi 56 (M), Jankulovski 62 (M), Kaka 87 (M)
Missed penalty: Kaka 87 (M)
Milan: Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze, Jankulovski; Gattuso (Emerson 73), Pirlo,
Ambrosini; Kakà, Seedorf (Brocchi 89); Inzaghi (Gilardino 88). Coach : Carlo
Ancelotti
Sevilla: Palop; Daniel Alves, Escudè (Luis Fabiano 82), Marti (Kerzhakov
65), Dragutinovic; Jesus Navas, Poulsen, Keita, Duda (Maresca 74); Renato,
Kanoutè. Coach : Juande Ramos
Ref: Plautz (Aus)
--
Cavaliere
AC Milan atau tidak sama sekal!
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Piala Dunia.
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