Game 7, Serie A
Friday, September 9, 2011
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
Milan Lazio 2-2
A thrilling draw despite Lazio going two nil up with Klose and Cissé
Lazio had already played two official games. The Europa League preliminary round against Rabotnički from North Macedonia. Lazio had strolled to a 9-1 aggregate win.
Today was officially the second Serie A fixture of the season despite it being the first game. The opening fixture list on August 28 had been postponed to December 21 due to a players' strike over collective contractual issues.
Milan were reigning champions. They had already lifted a trophy this season. On August 6, in Beijing, the "Diavolo" had defeated city rivals Inter 2-1 to win the Italian Supercoppa.
The match
A hot, Friday evening game brought about 50,000 to the old San Siro stadium.
Milan had Philippe Mexès, Clarence Seedorf, Stephan El Shaarawy and Robinho unavailable while Lazio were without keeper Federico Marchetti and Stefan Radu.
The game started brightly with chances for both sides. Cristian Ledesma tried his luck from the long range and Kevin Boateng sliced his effort after being set up by Antonio Cassano. In the 8th minute Alberto Aquilani combined well with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and had only Albano Bizzarri to beat but the Argentine keeper narrowed the angle well and blocked the shot with his body. A few minutes later Stefano Mauri put in a dangerous low cross but no Laziali were close enough for the potential tap-in. The game was open, fast and entertaining.
In the 12th minute Lazio took the lead. Mauri crossed in from the right, Miro Klose brought it down beautifully, kneed it past Alessandro Nesta and fired in a low left foot past Christian Abbiati. A wonderful goal by the German, three flying touches all in one movement and Milan 0 Lazio 1.
Milan messed up in defence as Rino Gattuso and Nesta clattered into each other on the left edge of the area and gave Djibril Cissé a free run on goal but his shot did not turn enough and Abbiati parried and then Klose was just anticipated on the rebound.
Gattuso had the worst of the clash and had to go off in the 20th minute, replaced by Marco Van Bommel.
In the 21st minute Lazio doubled their lead. Mauri again crossed in from the right and Cissé anticipated a hesitant Nesta and with an imperious header beat Abbiati. He then celebrated with an equally impressive somersault. Milan 0 Lazio 2. A dream start for the Biancocelesti.
Milan however pulled one back eight minutes later. From the edge of the box Aquilani flicked the ball into the area on the right, Luciano Zauri missed it and it reached Cassano who squared a low ball for the simplest of tap-ins for Ibrahimovic. There was a strong suspicion of Cassano being offside but the flag stayed down. Milan 1 Lazio 2 and the Champions were back in it.
Milan continued to attack and Bizzarri did well to get down low and save a powerful Boateng long range shot into corner
Only four minutes after Ibra's goal, Milan equalised. From an Aquilani corner from the right Cassano was lost by Zauri and headed past a not impeccable Bizzarri. Milan 2 Lazio 2. Things were not looking good for the Romans.
Lazio however almost took back the lead when Abdoulay Konko charged into the area on the right and squared low to Hernanes but the Brazilian's low left foot went just wide. Milan re-launched with Van Bommel shot just over the bar. Half time Milan 2 Lazio 2. A great first 45 minutes of the 2011-12 season.
It would be difficult for the second half to live up to the first and in fact it did not. It was, however, still reasonably lively.
In the 47th minute Milan almost took the lead immediately. Ibrahimovic teed up Cassano in front of goal but the "Barese's" curling low shot from the left shaved the far post. A few minutes later Boateng dived acrobatically but could not make contact with a header in front of goal.
Milan attacked more but Lazio always looked as if they could punish the devil on the break.
It was Milan however who were still more dangerous. In the 63rd minute Ibra set up Cassano again who this time hit the post. A minute later Bizzarri palmed away a Boateng effort.
Lazio as mentioned preyed on the counterattack and in the 66th minute Nesta saved the day for Milan when he blocked Cissé just before he was about to fire home after going past the keeper.
The teams started to tire and both made several substitutions. In the 68th minute Lazio buttoned up a bit more by replacing forward Klose with midfielder Álvaro Gonzalez. In the 80th minute an unknown Senad Lulic came on for Mauri. He looked awful but first impressions are sometimes deceiving…
Milan tried harder to get a winner and almost managed in the 85th minute courtesy of the deadly Ibra-Cassano duo again. A great assist by "Fantantonio" set up the big Swede but Bizzarri saved the day for Lazio.
The last chance was for Alexandre Pato but his effort almost arrived at the third upper tier of the stands. Final score Milan 2 Lazio 2.
An entertaining game which considering the heat and fitness levels inevitably slowed down in the second half. Both sets of fans applauded their players off the field.
Milan and Lazio could both be reasonably satisfied albeit with some regrets. Milan had the whole second half to get a winner and went close but had looked down and out after 20 minutes. Lazio had not managed to protect the two-goal lead but an away point to reigning champions was not to be snubbed.
Who played for Milan
Abbiati, Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Antonini, Gattuso (20' Van Bommel), Aquilani (68' Nocerino), Ambrosini, Boateng (75' Pato), Cassano, Ibrahimovic
Substitutes: Amelia, Bonera, Yepes, Emanuelson
Manager: Allegri
Who played for Lazio
Bizzarri, Konko, Biava, Dias, Zauri, Ledesma, Brocchi, Mauri (80' Lulic), Hernanes (85' Matuzalém), Cissé, Klose (68' Gonzalez)
Manager: Reja
Referee: Rocchi
Goals: 12' Klose, 21' Cissé, 29' Ibrahimovic, 33' Cassano
Sources
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