13/09/2003

INZAGHI CAPS OFF MEMORABLE WEEK

Milan were made to sweat before an 85th minute strike from Filippo Inzaghi handed them a 2-1 win at home to a resilient Bologna side.

Androy Shevchenko had earlier put the Rossoneri ahead, only for Carlo Nervo to equalise with a spectacular strike.

After a stuttering start, Milan took the lead on 10 minutes when Shevchenko got above Sam Dalla Bona to head Andrea Pirlo's free-kick into Gianluca Pagliuca's bottom corner.

On 24 minutes Pirlo picked out Inzaghi with another fine ball, but the striker, who netted four goals for Italy this week, headed wide.

Milan were the dominant force, but on 32 minutes the Rossoblu were level when Nervo celebrated his 200th game with a super strike from the edge of the box. He smashed Clarence Seedorf's clearance past Dida, although the Brazilian got a hand to it and may have done better.

An Inzaghi shot was deflected wide at the other end after the former Juventus man picked up Manuel Rui Costa's long ball.

A couple of minutes later Shevchenko headed another superb ball from Pirlo straight at Pagliuca. A fine chance.

The dawn of the second-half saw Dida paw a Dalla Bona shot to safety, before Shevchenko headed an Alessandro Costacurta cross wide. Another more than presentable opportunity.

Inzaghi was the next to threaten but shot into the side-netting from the left side of the penalty area.

Seriginho was introduced into the action, and on 77 minutes his cross bounced onto the top of the bar. More and more it looked like being one of those days for the Rossoneri.

A Shevchenko header was tipped over by Pagliuca, as Bologna continued to defend resolutely.

But on 85, the breakthrough arrived when Inzaghi wriggled free in the area after taking several touches of the ball. He then proceeded to bury the ball past Pagliuca who had no chance.

It was almost 3-1 on 88 minutes. Pagliuca saved a low effort from Shevchenko, and Inzaghi narrowly failed to convert the rebound.

It was a majestic defensive display from the visitors, but for the pressure Milan applied, they surely deserved the three points which they duly got thanks to inzaghi's fifth goal in a week.

[SoccerAge.com]