Clarence Seedorf rounded off a glorious team goal to sink struggling Chievo 1-0 and strengthen AC Milan's bid for Champions League qualification.
The veteran Dutchman guided the ball past Stefano Sorrentino early in the second half after Marek Jankulovski and Filippo Inzaghi had both turned down shooting chances to set him up.
Milan did not have it all their own way, though, and boss Carlo Ancelotti had to watch most of the game from the stands after protesting too much over a first-half free-kick.
And he was forced to endure a nervous finish, Sergio Pellissier seeing what would have been an equaliser ruled out for offside and Dida brilliantly saving from Giuseppe Colucci.
Chievo started brightly and Philippe Senderos had to be alert to cut out Giampiero Pinzi's pass before it found Pellissier closing in on goal after just four minutes.
At the other end Inzaghi reacted quickest after Andrea Pirlo's free-kick deflected off the wall, but his header was off target.
Dida made his first crucial contribution to push Pinzi's header from Pellissier's cross over the bar before Ancelotti was sent from the touchline in the 37th minute.
He almost saw his side go ahead six minutes later when Sorrentino dropped Gianluca Zambrotta's cross amid a crowd of players, Santiago Morero hacking the ball away for a corner.
Milan were starting to find their rhythm and fine play from Kaka earned them a free-kick five minutes after the break.
Pirlo took the set-piece and forced an excellent low save from Sorrentino.
The Chievo goalkeeper was powerless to prevent a picture-book Milan opener in the 53rd minute, though.
Alexandre Pato raced down the left wing before passing to Jankulovski, who decided against shooting and passed to Inzaghi at the far post.
The evergreen frontman also opted not to pull the trigger, instead pulling the ball back to Seedorf on the edge of the area whose precise shot beat Sorrentino.
Chievo showed real spirit in their attempts to get back on level terms and Giuseppe Favalli had to clear hurriedly after Dida had spilt a Colucci shot.
Pellissier then found the net from a free-kick in the 66th minute, but the effort was disallowed as both Santiago Morero and Erjon Bogdani were in offside positions.
Andrea Mantovani kept Chievo in the contest when he cut out Kaka's cross, heading the ball narrowly over his own crossbar with Sorrentino nowhere.
And that intervention might have proved crucial were it not for a splendid late save from Dida.
Four minutes after Pellissier had fired a left-footed shot just over his crossbar, the Brazilian did superbly to deny Colucci after the Chievo man had found himself in space on the edge of the area.
But that chance with 12 minutes remaining was Chievo's last of the game as Milan closed out the win and strengthened their grip on third place.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
SEEDORF'S STUNNER
Posted by Rokku at 2:26 AM
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6 comments:
hehe sorry for the long absence. but im currently on vacation and i don't really go web surfing during vacations. While Seedorf's goal was worth praise, i think the man of the match was Dida. WOW! he was at his best. this is the Dida of the past and the real #1 that has been missing of late. if he keeps up this form then we can be confident on goal. Ambrossini was also impressive. hehe. i'm not really a fan of his but i have to admit he played very well. i still think he should become a defender though. he'd sure be better than Senderos in my opinion.
shame to see that Kaka was struggling and that Sheva only got a few minutes to play. I think with more gameplay Sheva can rebound just like Dida did. I think Ronnie can rebound also..but he needs to train harder.
After late Goal @ previous match, now we won 1-0, another 'slight' win,,, but the good thing is we did not suffer any goal.
Juve lost, maybe we can get 2nd position at the end of seasons?? However the result of this season is not enough, hope we can win some title next seasons.
vit....hahaha....
nice vacation huh?? why u dont invite me to go along?hahaha....
Agree with vit here,Dida make some unbelieveble saves and honestly looking very compose.
Seedorf is at his last season for me,please seek somebody else to play his role otherwise the midfield penetration power will never be restore.
We need to start the process of selecting and buying the right players according to Carletto's formation and strategy right now.
Im sooo dissapointed with us.
This season is not resemble what milan really are.
Just get rid of the useless and bring back the youth like Aubemayang,Poloschi..etc
If we really want the title or any siverware next season,Berlu must make a drastic change or we'll end up even lower than this year post
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