evalagoal Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 AC MILAN vs BARCA Semi-finals - 18 April 2006 Giuseppe Meazza - Milan AC MILAN - BARCA (0 - 1, 57' Giuly) AC Milan's record of never having lost a UEFA Champions League semi-final is in grave danger after Ludovic Giuly's fine finish enabled FC Barcelona to leave the San Siro with a 1-0 victory and a sizeable advantage from an entertaining first leg. Breakthrough strikeRecalled following an injury to Henrik Larsson, the French winger took advantage of some Ronaldinho sorcery to score the only goal in the 57th minute. The Brazilian also hit a post along with Alberto Gilardino, who passed up another tremendous opportunity to register his first European goal for the hosts soon after the restart. Milan will have to be more clinical at Camp Nou next Wednesday if they are to advance to a third final in four years. Gattuso influential Having been Milan's most hyperactive player in the warm-up, Gennaro Gattuso went from rousing the 76,883 crowd to orchestrating a confident start from his team with seamless ease. It took barely 30 seconds for the Rossoneri to win their first corner and three minutes to work a half-chance, Jaap Stam flicking a header against the legs of a Barcelona defender. A flurry of fouls and misplaced passes then threatened to stifle the match before Milan switched their point of attack to the left-hand side and twice went close to striking the first blow of the tie. Milan chances With 14 minutes gone, Serginho sent a long throw into the box which Rafael Márquez, beginning his first game since tearing a hamstring against Real Sociedad de Fútbol on 18 March, looked to have under control. The Mexican allowed the ball to bounce free off his chest, however, and Gilardino stole in to drill the ball against the post from an acute angle. As the striker pondered his misfortune in this competition - he is yet to score in Europe since his €24m transfer from Parma FC - Milan regrouped and attacked again. Shevchenko header Clarence Seedorf found space out wide and had time to look up and spot Andriy Shevchenko racing down the opposite flank before curling in a delicious centre to the Ukrainian whose header was smartly touched behind by Víctor Valdés. The opening half-hour had been largely trouble free for the goalkeeper at the opposite end, Dida, with the Brazilian more than equal to the tame low shots that came his way from distance. Giuly then wasted Barça's best opening of the half in the 38th minute when driving low at Dida after instigating a move involving Ronaldinho and Eto'o by cleverly dispossessing Andrea Pirlo. Magical pass Although the Frenchman's time was to come, Gilardino's was not: the forward again failing to hit the target six minutes after the restart when Kaká touched the ball into his path following a delicious reverse chip from Shevchenko. The breakthrough would also come from a magical delivery, as Ronaldinho teased Gattuso 45 metres from goal and flicked a nimble pass that deceived everyone bar Giuly, who took advantage of the space afforded him by Kakha Kaladze to blast in the away goal at Dida's near post. Fine pace Scorer turned provider seven minutes later as Giuly won the ball in his own half and showed fine pace to break forward and free Ronaldinho. The Brazilian would have expected to be closed down but as the home defence held back, he strode onwards before sending a slightly scuffed effort against the post with his countryman Dida grounded. Milan's best chance of an equaliser subsequently fell to substitute Massimo Ambrosini, whose rushed finish in the 81st minute from Kaká's slick pass typified the Rossoneri's night of frustration. *** Bottom line everyone we're watching a "great-one" with Ronaldinho.. He's absolutely amazing and is worth every penny that any team gives him... He was on the left side the whole 1st half and as soon as he brought himself towards the middle BARCA were unstopable with their passing and their control of the match.. ** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dark_horse Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 FORZA BARCELONA! They can do it, they'll go to Paris! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irlandos Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Good luck to Barca in the return leg and the final! They have shown the best football so far (of the teams that are left) and deserve the trophy. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drakos13 Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 its a pity...chances wasted from Milan......this team really needs some depth...the only 2 atttacking players on the bench are Rui Costa (aginggg) and Amorouso (awful) I feel this is a game where Inzaghi would have made the difference, he finds the goals when Milan has strings of possesion and chances like that... But well don Barcelona--they did great, played patient and came at them on the breaks...perfect pass from Ronaldinho and nice finish.... i hope whoever goes through wins... Barcelona is simply a dynasty in the making right now and they deserve this one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dark_horse Posted April 20, 2006 Share Posted April 20, 2006 How about that goal from Giuly? Goalara milame edo! :tup: :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GS1905 Posted April 21, 2006 Share Posted April 21, 2006 First of all, congratulations to Gilardino who is :P frankly :P the best striker in Europe... :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: Other than Kaka and Sheva, this Milan team is TOTAL CRAPHOUSE... 1-0 down at home and bringing in Maldini who is around 67 years old... Ancelotti doesn't deserve to coach such a big organisation like Milan! That has been clearly proven! Barca, by the way, despite their horrible defenders (Oleguer, Marques...etc) once again showed that they can adapt their game to slower ones with this win after the Chelsea games... Ronaldinho is the greatest player this CL Competition has ever seen and is the one making the difference... Too late, DRAKO... Catalonia for Title... :tup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUDE Posted April 21, 2006 Share Posted April 21, 2006 How about that goal from Giuly? Goalara milame edo! :tup: :o LOL! It was basic at best! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUDE Posted April 21, 2006 Share Posted April 21, 2006 Other than Kaka and Sheva, this Milan team is TOTAL CRAPHOUSE... 1-0 down at home and bringing in Maldini who is around 67 years old... Ancelotti doesn't deserve to coach such a big organisation like Milan! That has been clearly proven! The team is crap, Ancelotti is crap, yet last year they were finalists, and this year in the semis. I suppose Galatasary and Fatih Terim are better? :LOL: :LOL: Cafu is still class, Nesta is excellent, Kaladze is good, Pirlo is superb, and Inzaghi is one of the best strikers in the wolrd! No one has better movement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GS1905 Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 etnikistis, what have you been smoking??? who claimed GALA are better??? I'm saying that MILAN was lucky to qualify for final last year against PSV. I'm saying that MILAN was skyhighly lucky to win over LYON in a game they created ABSOLUTE NOTHING... I'm saying that MILAN HAVE NO CHANCE WHATSOEVER AGAINST A WAY TOO SUPERIOR BARCA... INZAGHI is good but ETO'O is better... KAKA is good but RONALDINHO is better... Ok, I accept MILAN have a better defence but when it comes to top class level, MILAN cannot face with guys like ETO'O, GIULY, though injured MESSI and of course JOGA RONALDINHO... See you tomorrow!!! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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