Milan snatch late win
Monday, April 06, 2009
Injury-time goals from Ronaldinho and Filippo Inzaghi gave Milan a 2-0 Serie A win over Lecce at the San Siro.
Ronaldinho, on as a second-half substitute, inadvertently directed fellow sub Philippe Senderos's header past Francesco Benussi in the 91st minute after it seemed like Lecce had held on for a point.
Inzaghi sealed the win with a far-post header two minutes later, after he was set up by a cross from another sub - Andriy Shevchenko - who had been played in by a delightful Ronaldinho backheel.
Milan had over 70 per cent of the possession, but they struggled to create clear-cut chances as Kaka looked a touch off the pace.
Their best early opportunity came on six minutes but Inzaghi could only put over from close range after Alexandre Pato nodded an Andrea Pirlo cross into his path.
Pato sent a swerving shot inches wide and then later, after a scintillating solo run, he shot wide when he should have squared the ball to an unmarked Inzaghi.
It was goalless at the break and the pattern continued, so Carlo Ancelotti brought Ronaldinho into the play.
Fellow Brazilian Pato missed a gilt-edged chance to open the scoring when, just before the hour mark, he was found unmarked by a Gianluca Zambrotta cross but could only head wide.
The Rossoneri continued to run the game and started creating opportunities that they were just not able to take.
Manager Ancelotti said last week that his Milan team are two signings short of greatness, with the priority being a goal-scoring striker, and it was easy to see what he meant.
Pato was impressive with his running and close control but he could not match excellent build-up play with a finish, although he was denied on one occasion by a smart low save from Benussi.
Inzaghi was also struggling to find his normal finishing prowess, missing the ball when Kaka fed him from the left, while later he headed a Pirlo corner into the ground from close range and allowed Benussi to save.
Kaka went close on one occasion but hit the side netting after a mazy dribble and, with time running out, Ancelotti brought on Shevchenko, whose confidence was buoyed by a goal for Ukraine against England in the midweek.
The visitors almost snatched a late winner when Simone Tiribocchi's header was deflected wide but it was Milan who snatched all three points.
First Pirlo sent an out-swinging corner that on-loan Arsenal defender Senderos - who came on in the first half for the injured Paolo Maldini - powered towards goal.
It was goal-bound but took a deflection off Ronaldinho en route to beat poor Benussi, who was left distraught by the time and manner of conceding.
In a futile attempt to push for a leveller, the previously well-organised Lecce left wide open spaces at the back that Milan exploited two minutes later, with Inzaghi on hand to add a gloss to the win.
The win cut second-placed Juventus' lead over Milan to five points, although are still 14 points shy of leaders Internazionale.
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