Football United

Andriy Shevchenko scored his 150th goal for Milan as the Rossoneri ran out 2-0 winners at Treviso. The Ukrainian star opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 42 minutes after Alberto Gilardino had been fouled. Shevchenko’s strike-partner then added a second, with a diving header on 78 minutes to secure the points and get the side back to winning ways away from home.

With one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League tie at Schalke 04 in mind, Carlo Ancelotti made a number of changes to the starting line-up, with Jaap Stam at right-back and Serginho at left-back. Alessandro Nest continued in the centre of defence alongside Paolo Maldini. Andrea Pirlo had Rino Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf alongside him in midfield, leaving Kakà in the advanced role behind Shevchenko and Gilardino. In very warm conditions in Padova, Milan dominated early possession and Pirlo sent in a stinging shot from 25 metres which goalkeeper Adriano Zancope did well to parry away while at the other end Reginaldo almost got on the end of a low cross. The home side started to grow in confidence and Stam had to get across to block a Dino Fava shot. Milan came back through Seedorf who fired a drive across the area and only the covering of Marcello Cottafava denied Kakà a certain goal. It was a moment of class between Shevchenko and Kakà that led to the opener on 44 minutes as the pair exchanged one-touch passes on the edge of the area and the Brazilian played in Gilardino who was upended in the area by Zancope. Shevchenko stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and celebrate drawing level with Jose Altafini in the Rossoneri goalscoring charts.

The second half saw Milan sit back in the early stages and once again Reginaldo came close as the striker sprinted on to a ball over the top of the defence but Dida raced from his line and although the ball was heading goalwards, Stam got back to clear. Ancelotti replaced the Dutch defender with Marcos Cafu soon after to give the side more attacking options down the right flank but it was Gattuso who went close with a snap-shot from the edge of the area. Kakà then played in Gilardino again, but the Italy international dragged his effort wide of the post. However, Gilardino made up for his error on 72 minutes as he dived full-stretch to head home a Gattuso header across the face of the goal. Rui Costa then came on for Shevchenko and almost immediately released Gilardino but once again the shot finished wide. Then in the final moments, Kakà combined with Rui Costa and Gilardino but after rounding the keeper could only fire into the side-netting.

TREVISO: Zancopè; Galeoto, Viali, Lorenzi, Cottafava; Giuliatto, E Filippini (Muntasser, 85'), Gallo; A Filippini (Parravicini, 75'); Reginaldo (Pinga, 67'), Fava

MILAN: Dida; Stam (Cafu, 53'), Nesta, Maldini, Serginho; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf (Kaladze, 71'); Kakà; Shevchenko (Rui Costa, 75'), Gilardino

GOALS: 0-1, Shevchenko (44', pen); 0-1, Gilardino (72')

SERIE A

Pos. Team Pld Pts
1. Juventus 5 15
2. Inter 5 12
3. Livorno 5 11
4. Milan 5 10
5. Fiorentina 5 10

Source: acmilan.it