Lecce 1-1 Milan
Milan came from behind to grab a 1-1 draw away to Lecce after suffering under the home side's pressure, especially in the first half. The Rossoneri, who were looking to bounce back after the Italian Cup demolition at the hands of Lazio, struggled to block the quick counter-attacks from Ernesto Chevanton and Valeri Bojinov, with the former giving his side the lead through a superb curling free-kick from just outside the area. At the restart, however, the visitors looked more positive and levelled thanks to Andriy Shevchenko who got his 17th league goal of the season in what was a special game for him, as the Ukrainian star was making his two hundred appearance for the club. It was a pity the goal did not earn Milan all three points, but following Roma's goalless draw at Ancona, the Rossoneri remained five points clear of the Giallorossi at the top of the table. Next weekend sees the San Siro derby against Inter. Paolo Maldini will miss it, after being booked in the closing stages of the match.
Without the injured Pippo Inzaghi, Carlo Ancelotti opted for a lone striker, with Shevchenko supported by creative playmakers Manuel Rui Costa and Brazilian Kaka. The midfield included Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf while Kahka Kaladze returned to his place as left-back in the absence of the suspended Pippo Pancaro. On the other side, Delio Rossi fielded his stars Bojinov and Chevanton in attack, with a midfield including Marco Cassetti, Bolaño, Cristian Ledesma, Daniele Franceschini and a four-man defence with Sebastiano Siviglia, Cesare Bovo, Lorenzo Stovini and Max Tonetto.
After a minute's silence to honour the passing away of Italian cyclist and great Milan fan Marco Pantani, the game began at a remarkably quick pace. Lecce put pressure on immediately, although the first shot of the game came after nine minutes from Clarence Seedorf who after a rapid break sent his effort just wide. Moments later, however, it was Bojinov who created problems down the Rossoneri left flank on the counter-attack but as he attempted to shoot, Maldini recovered well. In the 14th minute Franceschini sent in a good cross once again from the left flank and Chevanton put his header just over the angle of the bar and post to Dida's left. The visitors found it difficult to keep possession and find a way through, with the Puglia side looked more aggressive in midfield and grew in confidence as the game worn on. From a corner the ball came out to Chevanton whose shot from the edge of the area was saved by Dida but the rebound ran to Tonetto who put his powerful effort high. The home side's efforts was rewarded in the 19th minute, as they took the lead following an excellent curling free-kick from just outside the area by Chevanton. Milan tried to react but did not produce any clear chances until the 35th minute, when Sheva headed a Pirlo corner from the right straight into the arms of Lecce goalkeeper Vincenzo Sicignano. With two minutes left before the break, Seedorf tried a right-footed shot from the edge of the area which the home goalkeeper gathered easily. Lecce had the last assault before the half-time whistle, as Chevanton broke down the left but his weak shot found its way into the arms of Dida.
Ancelotti made a change at the restart, as Jon Dahl Tomasson replaced Rui Costa, and Milan came more into the match. Eight minutes into the second half Sheva found the equalizer with a shot from outside the area after his Danish strike-partner won an excellent long ball from Maldini. The hosts, however, did not crumble and in the 61st minute Chevanton broke into the area after a great piece of skill and dribbling to force Nesta into a superb clearance to send the ball out for a corner. The Rossoneri put everyone behind the ball and created two clear chances in two minutes, but both Kaka and Cafu were unable to finish them off. In the 82nd minute Chevanton was forced off due to a muscular problem, with Mirko Vucinic replacing him. Lecce, however, tired in the closing stages, but the visitors failed to make the most of this situation. Serginho came off for a quiet Kaka but it was Nesta who could have given his side the three points in injury time, if his header in the area had not been cleared off the line by Bolano.
LECCE: Sicignano; Siviglia, Bovo; Stovini, Tonetto; Cassetti, Bolaño, Ledesma, Franceschini (80' Abruzzese); Chevanton (82' Vucinic), Bojinov (56' Konan).
MILAN: Dida; Cafu, Nesta, Maldini, Kaladze; Gattuso (69' Brocchi) Pirlo, Seedorf; Rui Costa (46' Tomasson), Kaka (87' Serginho), Shevchenko.
GOALS: 1-0 Chevanton, 19'; 1-1 Shevchenko, 53'
Source: acmilan.it
