Football United

Hernan Crespo scored a last-gasp winner to give Milan a 2-1 win over Lazio and close the gap at the top of the table to just two points.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti started Jaap Stam at right-back, with Marcos Cafu on the bench while Jon Dahl Tomasson and Crespo led the attack as Andriy Shevchenko was not risked from the start. Lazio came to defend from deep and Milan had plenty of the early possession although the first clear-cut chance did not come until 26 minutes when a fierce Clarence Seedorf shot from the edge of the area was punched away by goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi. Stam almost headed in an Andrea Pirlo corner but the visitors were dangerous on the break, with Massimo Oddo sending in a low cross which just went beyond the advancing Tommaso Rocchi. Kakha Kaladze got down the left flank to send in a difficult centre which was just cleared and on the stroke of half-time, Tomasson turned a bicycle-kick over the bar from a Crespo knock-down.

The game really came to life on 56 minutes as Lazio took a shock lead when Fabio Liverani played a through-ball over the top of the defence for Rocchi who was clipped on the chest inside the area by Stam’s out-stretched foot and the referee pointed to the spot. Oddo stepped up and although Dida got down to his left, the keeper could not keep the ball out. Ancelotti then introduced Shevchenko, Serginho and Cafu as the Rossoneri became encamped in the Lazio third of the pitch. Shevchenko hit a low volley across the face of the goal from the right side of the area but Crespo could not slide the ball into the empty net. However, the Ukrainian turned the game around on 76 minutes when he crashed home an unstoppable swerving free-kick from 30 metres which left Peruzzi totally stranded.

Milan continued to search for the winner and Cafu blazed a shot just over while Crespo almost reached a header from the Brazilian which travelled back across the area. As the game went deep into added-time, Kaka found space on the edge of the area and fired a low drive against the right-hand post but Crespo reacted quickly to side-foot home off the opposite upright and into the empty goal.

MILAN: Dida; Stam, Nesta, Maldini, Kaladze (Serginho, 59'); Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf (Cafu, 62'); Kakà; Tomasson (Shevchenko, 57'), Crespo.

LAZIO: Peruzzi; Siviglia, Giannichedda, Couto; Oddo, A Filippini, Dabo, E Filippini, Cesar (Liverani, 32') (Seric, 59'); Pandev (Di Canio, 76'), Rocchi.

GOALS: 0-1, Oddo (56'. pen); 1-1, Shevchenko, (72'); 2-1, Crespo (94')

SERIE A

Pos. Team Pld Pts
1. Juventus 23 50
2. AC Milan 23 48
3. Udinese 23 40
4. Internazionale 23 39
5. Sampdoria 23 38

Source: acmilan.com