Football United

Milan turned on the late show yet again to grab an incredible victory at Atalanta. With the game well into stoppage time and the score at one-all, Andrea Pirlo popped-up to fire in from close range. Massimo Ambrosini had earlier put the Rossoneri ahead on 71 minutes, only for Stephen Makinwa to equalise a minute later.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti made a number of changes to his starting line-up, with Jaap Stam and Alessandro Costacurta coming into the defence alongside the central pairing of Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta, while Cristian Brocchi and Vikash Dhorasoo offered support to Pirlo in midfield. Jon Dahl Tomasson partnered Hernan Crespo in attack, with Kaka playing in the free role behind the front two.

The first clear-cut chance fell to Milan on six minutes when a corner from the right was met on the half-volley by Crespo but the ball spun off the striker’s foot and was headed away. Kaka then made a trademark run to the edge of the Atalanta area only to be held back but Pirlo hit his free-kick against the wall. Then at the other end, a curling Antonio Bernardini free-kick from the left evaded everyone in the area, but fortunately the ball came back off the base of the far post. Maldini almost ghosted on to a Kaka through-ball, but goalkeeper Alex Calderoni did well to close down the space and block the captain’s close-range effort. The uneven pitch was not helping Milan’s passing game and when they did find a shooting opportunity, Crespo and Stam fired over. Just before the break, Costacurta followed Dhorasoo into the referee’s book for a late challenge on Motta.

Ancelotti made no changes during the break and in an even opening to the second period, Dida was called into action as the Brazilian got down to his left to gather a Makinwa snap-shot. Nesta was then adjudged not to have held back Makinwa on the edge of the area and on 59 minutes Serginho replaced Dhorasoo in midfield and was soon followed by Massimo Ambrosini who came on for Brocchi. Milan tried working the ball through the middle, but Tomasson was crowded out as he received a pass with his back to goal.

The game really came to life on 71 minutes when Ambrosini broke the deadlock with a well-placed header from almost on the penalty-spot following a Pirlo free-kick, but just 60 seconds later the home side equalised in almost a mirror image as Makinwa rose in the area to meet a free-kick and head home. Dida then kept the sides level as he stood firm to deny Lazzari from almost in front of goal. Filippo Inzaghi came on for Crespo and as the game continued to flow from end to end, Ambrosini drilled a shot wide of the post. However, Makinwa was a constant threat and the Nigerian somehow put a free header wide of the goal while Inzaghi nearly bounced on a loose ball in the area, but the goalkeeper cleared with difficulty. Then in the dying moments, Tomasson controlled the ball on his chest in the area only to hit an overhead volley into the keeper’s body.

The three added minutes were just about up when Milan launched another foray and as the ball was pushed out by Calderoni following an Inzaghi header, Pirlo was there to drive in the winner from close range to seal another last-gasp victory.

ATALANTA: Calderoni; Rivalta, Natali, Capelli; Motta, Montolivo, Bernardini, Marcolini (Innocenti 86), Bellini; Lazzari, Makinwa (Sinigaglia 91)

MILAN: Dida; Stam, Nesta, Maldini, Costacurta; Brocchi (Ambrosini 61), Pirlo, Dhorasoo (Serginho 60); Kakà; Crespo (Inzaghi 77), Tomasson

GOALS: 0-1, Ambrosini (72'); 1-1, Makinwa (73'); 1-2, Pirlo (94')

Source: acmilan.it

SERIE A

Pos. Team Pld Pts
1. Milan 27 60
2. Juventus 27 60
3. Sampdoria 27 47
4. Internazionale 27 46
5. Udinese 27 42