AC Milan win away from home

Italian giant AC Milan at the weekend continued their excellent form of late, with a 2-0 win at Palermo where Andriy Shevchenko slotted away a penalty to add to Inzaghi’s opener to keep the Rossoneri in second place in the table.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti made a number of changes following the midweek Champions League draw at Bayern Munich. Injured Nelson Dida was replaced by Zeljko Kalac between the posts.

The centre of the Milan defence once again had a new partnership as Alessandro Costacurta came in to play alongside Alessandro Nesta. Jaap Stam continued at right-back, with Serginho at left-back. Johann Vogel came in for Clarence Seedorf midfield alongside Andrea Pirlo and Rino Gattuso, leaving Kakà to offer support to the front-two of Andriy Shevchenko and Filippo Inzaghi.

The early stages of the match were played out exclusively in midfield, but it was Inzaghi who first tested goalkeeper Mariano Andujar on ten minutes with a header from Gattuso’s cross. The striker then dragged a first-time volley wide of the upright as Milan started to dominate proceedings although Stam had to react quickly to dispossess Andrea Caracciolo inside the area.

The Dutchman did find time to join the attack and had Andujar diving to tip away a stinging drive. Shevchenko must have thought he had given Milan the lead on 30 minutes but just as the striker was about to blast the ball into an empty net, Cristian Zaccardo somehow managed to block from almost on the line. Just before the break, only Kalac’s lightening reflexes kept out David Di Michele who had been left free one-on-one against the Australian keeper.

Milan had the home side under pressure from the restart and Shevchenko hit a free-kick over the bar and then pulled a low effort wide from a promising position after a neat interchange between Kakà and Stam. Kakà again showed his sublime skill in a tight situation, with a back-heel that almost released Inzaghi free on goal.

The young Brazilian then won a free-kick on the edge of the area but Pirlo’s deadball effort hit the wall.

The breakthrough finally came on 72 minutes when Vogel’s cross from the left was met by Inzaghi’s precise header which looped over the stranded Andujar. Seedorf then came on for the injured Gattuso and Marek Jankulovski was soon introduced in place of Pirlo, with Vogel moving into the centre of midfield.

Shevchenko made the game safe seven minutes from time from the penalty spot after the Ukrainian’s quick break through the home defence was ended by Andujar’s foul.

Milan were reduced to ten men when Stam received his second yellow card for a late challenge.