gambine
10-01-2000, 10:13 PM
Since I didn't see the game, I'll give the match report according to the official site.
The Rossoneri began the new season at the San Siro against Vicenza, only days after a famous victory at the Nou Camp.
There were a few changes from the team that ran out against Barça, with Christian Abbiati replacing Dida in goal and Leonardo forming a front three alongside Oliver Bierhoff and Andriy Shevchenko.
Massimo Ambrosini, Francesco Coco and Gianni Commandini have all had stretches of time with Vicenza, while Giuseppe Cardone and Fabio Vivani have both played for the Rossoneri, so the two sides certainly needed no introducing.
Rain and cold greeted the teams as they come out onto the turf of the San Siro, but the excitement of the occasion soon raised the temperature.
Milan did well to close down the options for the visitors, with the flanks especially closely guarded, as they sought to prevent the Vicenza captain, Lamberto Zauli, from making the dangerous excursions for which he is known.
In the first half Milan found themselves losing the ball rather too easily thanks to the pressure that the visitors put on the Rossonero midfield.
It was nevertheless the Vicenza captain who was the first to go close to scoring, when a free-kick in the fifth minute just flew wide of Abbiati's right upright.
Six minutes later Milan saw their first glimpse of the opposing goal, when Demetrio Albertini put in a cross that was met by Francesco Coco, but Giorgio Sterchele did well to keep it out.
The Rossoneri finally took the lead after 15 minutes, when a perfectly flighted ball from Gennaro Gattuso saw Sterchele charge out but fail to take the ball before Oliver Bierhoff was able to knock it in.
Vicenza weren't beaten yet though, and they fought back with admirable determination. The home side had Abbiati to thank on more than one occasion as Luca Toni, the 23-year-old striker in his first year with Vicenza, twice failed to grab an equaliser thanks to the timely interventions of the man between the Milan posts.
The young goalkeeper again performed miracles in the 42nd minute, when Zauli got on the end of a cross from Maurizio Rossi, and Abbiati got down fast enough to push it away, before rising in time to pluck the ball from Mohamed Kallon's feet.
The Rossoneri got in the last shot of the half, when Coco - who along with Demetrio Albertini had been the best player on the pitch - whipped a ball in which Sterchele was forced to push out for a corner.
The Second half began with the two most influential players combining once again; Albertini once again placed the ball into the centre of the box onto Coco’s head, but the Vicenza keeper once again proved his agility in pushing the ball out for a corner.
It was at this point that Andriy Shevchenko came alive, as he fired a ball in from distance, which once again the Vicenza keeper did well to keep out, this time with his fists.
The Rossoneri looked less convincing than they had against Barcelona, and they certainly found themselves struggling against Vicenza’s vigorous closing down game, but Abbiati was never troubled in the second half.
Nevertheless, one goal is not always enough, so the home side pressed forward as often as possible in an attempt to get the all-important second goal.
In the 74th minute Bierhoff tried with a diving header, from a Coco cross. He beat the keeper, but failed to hit the target.
The Rossoneri had to wait till the 84th minute to get their two goal cushion when Federico Giunti’s run down the wing resulted in a spectacular cross that was inch-perfect for Shevchenko. His goal proved that the Ukrainian intends to continue this season as he finished last...with a goal.
A good start to the season, but the least we could do was beat Vicenza at home. I was happy to see that Leo got the start. Nice to Bierhoff score, hopefully he can keep it up this season, and Sheva of course scored the other goal.
The Rossoneri began the new season at the San Siro against Vicenza, only days after a famous victory at the Nou Camp.
There were a few changes from the team that ran out against Barça, with Christian Abbiati replacing Dida in goal and Leonardo forming a front three alongside Oliver Bierhoff and Andriy Shevchenko.
Massimo Ambrosini, Francesco Coco and Gianni Commandini have all had stretches of time with Vicenza, while Giuseppe Cardone and Fabio Vivani have both played for the Rossoneri, so the two sides certainly needed no introducing.
Rain and cold greeted the teams as they come out onto the turf of the San Siro, but the excitement of the occasion soon raised the temperature.
Milan did well to close down the options for the visitors, with the flanks especially closely guarded, as they sought to prevent the Vicenza captain, Lamberto Zauli, from making the dangerous excursions for which he is known.
In the first half Milan found themselves losing the ball rather too easily thanks to the pressure that the visitors put on the Rossonero midfield.
It was nevertheless the Vicenza captain who was the first to go close to scoring, when a free-kick in the fifth minute just flew wide of Abbiati's right upright.
Six minutes later Milan saw their first glimpse of the opposing goal, when Demetrio Albertini put in a cross that was met by Francesco Coco, but Giorgio Sterchele did well to keep it out.
The Rossoneri finally took the lead after 15 minutes, when a perfectly flighted ball from Gennaro Gattuso saw Sterchele charge out but fail to take the ball before Oliver Bierhoff was able to knock it in.
Vicenza weren't beaten yet though, and they fought back with admirable determination. The home side had Abbiati to thank on more than one occasion as Luca Toni, the 23-year-old striker in his first year with Vicenza, twice failed to grab an equaliser thanks to the timely interventions of the man between the Milan posts.
The young goalkeeper again performed miracles in the 42nd minute, when Zauli got on the end of a cross from Maurizio Rossi, and Abbiati got down fast enough to push it away, before rising in time to pluck the ball from Mohamed Kallon's feet.
The Rossoneri got in the last shot of the half, when Coco - who along with Demetrio Albertini had been the best player on the pitch - whipped a ball in which Sterchele was forced to push out for a corner.
The Second half began with the two most influential players combining once again; Albertini once again placed the ball into the centre of the box onto Coco’s head, but the Vicenza keeper once again proved his agility in pushing the ball out for a corner.
It was at this point that Andriy Shevchenko came alive, as he fired a ball in from distance, which once again the Vicenza keeper did well to keep out, this time with his fists.
The Rossoneri looked less convincing than they had against Barcelona, and they certainly found themselves struggling against Vicenza’s vigorous closing down game, but Abbiati was never troubled in the second half.
Nevertheless, one goal is not always enough, so the home side pressed forward as often as possible in an attempt to get the all-important second goal.
In the 74th minute Bierhoff tried with a diving header, from a Coco cross. He beat the keeper, but failed to hit the target.
The Rossoneri had to wait till the 84th minute to get their two goal cushion when Federico Giunti’s run down the wing resulted in a spectacular cross that was inch-perfect for Shevchenko. His goal proved that the Ukrainian intends to continue this season as he finished last...with a goal.
A good start to the season, but the least we could do was beat Vicenza at home. I was happy to see that Leo got the start. Nice to Bierhoff score, hopefully he can keep it up this season, and Sheva of course scored the other goal.