07/12/2002

INZAGHI DECIDING AGAINST ROMA

MILAN - Once again Filippo Inzaghi was deciding. His long-awaited goal (the first in about a month) broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute to give Milan the victory against Roma and the top of the Serie A. But the Rossoneri could celebrate this success also thanks to a Batistuta's mistake, who wasted Roma equalizer few minutes later.
With Giallorosso captain Totti and Rivaldo missing, the first half was rather boring and both keepers were quite unemployed. But Milan had shown the best start, creating two chances within five minutes: first with a wonderful heel-kick by Serginho which skimmed Roma's bar and then with a Shevchenko header easily saved by Antonioli.
In the rest of the time, before the break, there were no other shots on goal on both sides, although the Rossoneri dominated, as Roma defence were good at preventing them from creating any shadows of chance.
At the restart the leit motiv was the same, at least for the first quarter. Then in the 62nd minute Ancelotti sent in Inzaghi for Serginho to play off Shevchenko and the move made soon the expected effects. With 17 minutes to go, the Italian International, released by Shevchenko, got in the Roma area and beat an outrushing Antonioli to take all three points. Roma reacted but wasted their best chance with Batistuta who shot wide despite being all alone in front of Abbiati.
However, Milan were close to their second with Shevchenko, whose excellent header needed the best Antonioli to be saved. In the closing stage Fernando Redondo made his Serie A debut for Milan and was welcomed by a standing ovation at the San Siro.

MILAN 1-0 ROMA (0-0)
Scorers: 73' Inzaghi
MILAN (4-3-2-1): Abbiati; Simic, Nesta, Maldini, Chamot (79' Costacurta); Ambrosini, Pirlo, Seedorf; Rui Costa, Serginho (62’ Inzaghi); Shevchenko (84’ Redondo). Coach: Ancelotti
Subs not used: Fiori, Helveg, Dalla Bona, Tomasson
ROMA (4-4-2): Antonioli; Zebina, Dellas, Samuel, Panucci (30’ Sartor); Cafu, Emerson, Lima, Bombardini (93’ Tomic); Cassano (60’ Batistuta), Montella Coach: Capello
Subs not used: Pelizzoli, Cufré, Guigou, Guardiola
Referee: Collina from Viareggio
Booked: Nesta (M), Sartor (R)
Added time: fh 1’, sh 5’
Audience: 67,786 with gate receipts totalling € 1,085,427,18

[ACMilan.com]