AC Milan Ends Early Season Gloom

Marco Borriello, back from loan, is ready to make an impact.

AC Milan has ended their horrible early season form with three consecutive wins, starting with Lazio(4-1) and continuing with the reigning champions, Inter. Milan has utilized their Brazilian connection to their fullest extent, along with Marco Borrielo. The deadly combination of Borrielo and Alexandre Pato has also proven to be effective. Ronaldinho, who has been heavily criticized during this stage in his career, has also been in good form. He just scored his first goal for AC Milan against Inter, which turned out to be the only goal of the match. Currently, AC Milan are just three points from being in the top spot, which is currently held by Lazio. The other big clubs, excluding Inter (ahead by one point) , are either tied (Juventus) or behind (Roma, Fiorentina) AC Milan. For complete standings, go to http://soccernet.espn.go.com/league?id=ita.1&cc=5901.

                                                     -Anthony-

Serie A Kick Off!!!

The Italian Serie A kicked off with some good matches earlier this week on Sunday. One match that I’m sure surprised us all was the Bologna-AC Milan match. Bologna’s Marco Di Vaio got the match going with a goal in the 18th minute. It took Milan some time to respond when Massimo Ambrosini headed in a cross by Ronaldinho during the 41st minute.  Then later on in the 79th minute Francesco Valiani scored a beautiful goal from outside the box that found the upper left corner. Another match was Juventus vs Fiorentina. Last time these two teams faced each other it ended up with Juventus losing 3-2. This match was a different story, although neither side would come away with all three points. Both sides brought good lineups even with Fiorentina’s Adrian Mutu missing. Juventus scored first with a goal by Pavel Nedved in the 39th minute. The match appeared to be going Juve’s way when Felipe Melo was sent off in the 83rd minute. But when all seemed lost for Fiorentina ex-Milan player Alberto Gilardino scored in the 89th minute to tie up the match. Other scores: Inter Milan 1-1 Sampdoria; Cagliari 1-4 Lazio; Chievo Verona 2-1 Reggina; Torino 3-0 Lecce; Roma 1-1 Napoli; Catania Calcio 1-0 Genoa; Atalanta 1-0 Siena; Udinese 3-1 Palermo.

                                                                   -Alexander-

Ac Milan Struggle

Ac Milan’s hopes for a Champion’s League were stalled yet again with a loss to Atalanta. There only grain of hope remains in the fact that Udinese beat Fiorentina, 3-1. The first half started off with Atalanta dominating. Floccari kept on penetrating Milan’s defense. Milan had horrible marking in that first half. Floccari’s pressure finally paid off when in the thirty-second minute he scored. Ten minutes later, Langella scored a beauty. Langella ran flicked the ball over the sliding tackle of a surprised Nesta, ran on to the flick and buried it past Zeljko Kalac. The half ended two to nothing. The second half started off with a bang. Atalanta had alot of chances to score and widen their lead. Ac Milan suddenly awoke and struck back with a goal from Massimo Ambrosini. Unfortunately, the goal did not count. The rest of the half was all Ac Milan. Paolo Maldini latched onto a cross with his head and scored a beautiful header. Ac Milan was fired up and ready to go. They suddenly recieved the best of chances: a penalty. As Pirlo stepped back, I thought, I hope this goes in. I had no doubt that Pirlo could bury it with ease. Pirlo then fired the one shot that will haunt me for the days to come. Pirlo shot right and Copolla cannoned right. I couln’t believe it! Yet I had to. Nesta was red carded towards the end of the match. The final score was 2-1.

                                                               -Anthony-

Ac Milan beats Empoli

Ac Milan is getting closer and closer to their Champion’s League spot. Rising star, Alexandre Pato, put the visitors in front with an early goal in the 11 minute. Empoli bounced right back, with Antonio Busce, slotting it past Zeljko Kalac. The game went on, the score line unchanging, until the 85 minute. The Rossoneri broke down Empoli’s resistance, all thanks to Kaka. First, the Brazilian playmaker crossed it to Massimo Ambrosini, who headed the ball in. Next Kaka sealed the deal himself, thanks to the efforts of Alberto Paloschi.

                                           -Anthony-

Sad Day in San Siro

Ac Milan was defeated at home today. Arsenal became the first English team to beat Milan at home, in the San Siro. The score was 2-0. Both goals were very late. This left Ac Milan no chance of striking back. Fabregras scored in the 84 minute. Adebayour scored in the 92. Eduardo was injured and could not play.

                                                -Anthony-

Ac Milan Grabs Champions League Spot

Ac Milan grabbed a spot in the Champions League with a dramatic match that saw Filippo Inzaghi scoring a late diving header. Palermo took advantage of their early forward drive with Mark Bresciano scoring in the minute nine. Massimo Ambrosini slipped a shot in between the post and Alberto Fontana to level the scores. Massimo Oddo gave him a beautiful cross. Soon after, Andrea Pirlo fired a wonderful freekick, but it was parried away by Fontana. Inzaghi, a.k.a. Pippo, scored a beautiful header connecting with a cross, staying just onsides. It was his first goal of the season.

                                           -Anthony-

AC Milan – Arsenal

Ac Milan looked for a win with Alexandre Pato coming back. The game was a dead-locked battle, neither team earning the win. Kaka, the FIFA World Player of the year made a limited impact as The Gunners pretty much shut him down. Pato made very little impact as he was Yellow-carded, taken out,  and replaced by Gilardino. Milan looked pretty calm in the first half but lacked offensively. Arsenal dominated offensively with Adebayour and Eboue penetrating constantly. Milan had very few chances, but there was one that Kaka wasted. He had in the box. Kaka did a nice move or two. Then he did something that I still don’t or never will understand. He passed it. Frankly, he should have taken the shot instead of giving the ball away like that. During the second half, Arsenal slowed it down a bit.

                                            Man of the Match: Paolo Maldini

Maldini was the ……… Glue for Ac Milan. Him and Jankulovski kept Arsenal out of the box. That’s why Zeljko Kalac hardly had to work. Not that Adebayour didn’t get past him now and then, but Maldini connected the defense.

                                                     

Ac Milan 0-0 Parma

I have to say I was disappointed. I thought the game would at least have either team emerging with three points. Both will have to settle for one. Ac Milan dominated the offense, though Parma had a couple of good offensive flurries. The game was pretty much even. When Andrea Pirlo went in, Milan seemed the stronger team, with Pirlo taking a free kick that was parried away by Bucci. Emerson had an open shot in the dying minutes, but sent it flying over the goal. The man of the match, in my opinion, is Luca Bucci. He blocked shots left and right. He kept Parma’s heart beating. He kept the scores even and kept Parma out of relegation.

                                           -Anthony-