Football United

Two second-half goals from Andriy Shevchenko enabled Milan to fight back from a goal down to defeat Fiorentina. Coach Carlo Ancelotti brought Alessandro Costacurta into the left-back position following the suspensions to Paolo Maldini and Kakha Kaladze, Rui Costa was handed the playmaker role in place of Andrea Pirlo while Serginho came on the left for Clarence Seedorf. Wednesday’s Champions League hero, Jon Dahl Tomasson partnered Shevchenko in attack.

Milan had to do some early defending as Dida watched a Luca Ariatti shot clear the bar while at the other end Kaka put a cross too close to Cejas. Rino Gattuso was shown a yellow card for a challenge on Martin Jorgensen but the midfielder could count himself unfortunate as he seemed to get the ball first. Dida then dealt easily with Fabrizio Miccoli’s free-kick. Milan had a let-off on 18 minutes when Pazzini sent a close-range header against the bar and Alessandro Nesta was on hand to clear. Cafu was then booked for a late tackle on Miccoli as the home side continued to grow in confidence. The Rossoneri did not heed the warning and on 25 minutes Enzo Maresca dived in from close range to head home following a Giorgio Chiellini flick-on from Miccoli’s corner on the right. The goal finally galvinised Milan and the Viola were pegged back in their own half but the defence had to get back quickly to halt a quick counter-attack. Shevchenko summed up Milan’s first-half frustrations as the striker sent a long-range free-kick well over the bar.

The second period got off to the perfect start after just 45 seconds as Shevchenko ghosted in at the far post to meet a Serginho cross from the left to side-foot home the equaliser. Then on 55 minutes, in almost a mirror image of the first goal, the Ukrainian found himself free once again at the back post to head in Serginho’s inswinging right-footed cross. Miccoli had a great chance to draw Fiorentina level, but from close range somehow dragged his shot wide of the post. Rui Costa was replaced by Seedorf on 60 minutes and then Pirlo came on for Tomasson as Milan looked to play on the break. Cafu had a close range effort parried away by Cejas as Ancelotti’s side started to exploit the space on the flanks. However, Costacurta had to make a timely intervention to divert a Pazzini goalbound shot. Serginho made way for Giuseppe Pancaro with five minutes to go. Dida had to be alert at his near post to scoop away a Valeri Bojinov shot for a corner. The game ended with Milan on the attack once again as Pirlo hit a fierce drive that Cejas had to beat away.

FIORENTINA: Cejas; Maggio, Ujfalusi, Viali, Chiellini (Bojinov, 78'); Ariatti, Maresca, Donadel, Jorgensen; Miccoli, Pazzini

MILAN: Dida; Cafu, Nesta, Stam, Costacurta; Kakà, Gattuso, Rui Costa (Seedorf, 60'), Serginho (Pancaro, 84'); Shevchenko, Tomasson (Pirlo, 69')

GOALS: 1-0, Maresca (25'); 1-1, Schevchenko (46'); 1-2, Schevchenko (55')

SERIE A

Pos. Team Pld Pts
1. Milan 34 76
2. Juventus 33 76
3. Internazionale 33 59
4. Sampdoria 33 55
5. Udinese 33 53

Source: acmilan.it