New Delhi: Roma and Milan drew 2-2 at the Stadio Olimpico, as David Beckham made his official debut with the Rossoneri.
Pre-Match And Team News
With Juventus getting the better of Siena 1-0 earlier in the day, Sunday night’s match in Rome was absolutely crucial for the Rossoneri, as they needed a win to maintain the pace with the Bianconeri, and Inter, who are clear atop of the table. On the other hand however, the home side tonight were determined to get back on the winners list, following their disappointing 3-2 defeat at Catania to end 2008.
All of the team news in regards to this match concerns two players, Francesco Totti of Roma, and Milan’s recent signing David Beckham. Totti is out injured, and will be sidelined for the next six to eight weeks, whilst it was expected that Beckham would make his official debut in Milan colours this evening.
As anticipated, the Giallorossi have elected to start Julio Baptista and Mirko Vucinic in attack, whilst the Rossoneri have incredibly included Beckham, to play alongside Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf in a three man midfield.
First Half
The Rossoneri got the play underway at the Stadio Olimpico earlier tonight, and they started absolutely brilliantly, as they denied their opponents a single touch on the ball in the opening two minutes of play, with some glorious passing through the midfield.
Just five minutes in, and the visitors won their first free kick in a dangerous shooting position, after Marco Cassetti fouled Alexandre Pato some 25 yards out from goal. As expected, there was some debate over who would take the shot, as Kaka, Andrea Pirlo, David Beckham, and Ronaldinho were all in line. The latter eventually stepped up, only to see his effort hit the wall unfortunately for Milan’s sake.
The first ten minutes proved to be an extremely tight battle, as both side’s had, to this point, failed to break down the other at the back. With no genuine opportunities at this stage, it was clear from the onset that goals would be hard to come by tonight.
On 15 minutes, Roma went close to having a shot on target, when De Rossi’s long chipping free kick was almost met by Philippe Mexes at the back post; however Gianluca Zambrotta’s world class block was enough to prevent the central defender from getting a shot away.
The match continued in similar fashion over the next five minutes or so, until the 21 minute mark, when Vucinic was played through by De Rossi, and after some havoc in the area he eventually put the ball past Christian Abbiati, to give his side the lead, or so he thought. The linesman flagged for offside, and the goal did not stand.
Just one minute later Vucinic was involved again, as his brilliant first touch, following a decent ball in by John Arne Riise, and powerful shot at goal was enough to beat Abbiati once again, and this time the goal stood, as Roma took the lead. The Giallorossi took the lead following the first genuine effort on goal in the match.
Kaka had a brilliant chance to equalize on the half hour mark, as Beckham’s ball in was parried away by Doni, only as far as the Brazilian however, whose weak effort was not good enough to beat the Roma defence, and his national compatriot in goals.
Milan dominated the possession over the next ten minutes, as Beckham and Pirlo both began to work themselves into the contest. Still though, the Rossoneri struggled to break the well organized Roma defence down, and so it looked unlikely that any change would be made to the score line in the final minutes of play in the first half.
The first half neared an end, as the Rossoneri continued to press, but still they had failed to truly test Doni to this point. The fourth official indicated that there would be two minutes of additional time, giving both sides little time to make any significant changes to the score line.
Vucinic had an opportunity late on to double his side’s advantage, as he and Baptista headed a promising Roman counter attack, however his shot was sent wide, bringing an end to a fairly quiet opening half in Rome.
Second Half
Neither coach made a change at the half time interval, as the second half got underway. The Giallorossi certainly started the better, as they moved forward with real purpose early, and it was the stand-in captain De Rossi who tested his luck first, however his shot from distance was wide of the target.
Totally against the run of play however, Milan managed to find an equalizer through Pato, as Kaka easily worked his way past Cassetti, to then slip a ball across the face of goal, where the young Brazilian stood to easily tap in the equalizer with minimal pressure.
Milan lifted in confidence following the goal, and Ronaldinho had the opportunity to give his side the lead after 51 minutes, when his well timed volley off a Beckham corner narrowly missed the target.
Incredibly Pato grabbed his second in a matter of minutes, following a glorious chip from an acute angle to beat Doni once again. Mexes was no match for the pace of the youngest player on the pitch, and Roma’s Brazilian keeper did all he could to prevent the goal, however it wasn’t enough as Pato netted his eighth of the season.
The Romans were absolutely stunned following their opponents dominant start to the second half, as they failed to create anything for the next ten minutes of play. It was all Milan, as they continued to press and go in search of a third goal, which would most likely see off the capital club.
Luciano Spalletti made the first change of the match, as Rodrigo Taddei was replaced by David Pizarro in an attacking position after 64 minutes of play. Despite this however, the home side continued to struggle against their star studded opponents, as Milan looked in cruise control midway through the second half.
The Giallorossi began to maintain some possession, and after 72 minutes of play, they managed to find a fortunate equalizer through Vucinic after some chaos in the area. Baptista’s turn in the area somehow found the feet of Matteo Brighi, who shot at goal, only to see his shot deflected wide of the target to Vucinic, whose diving header sent Abbiati the wrong way once again.
Kaka had the chance to grab a third for Milan on 80 minutes, after a wonderful ball over the top of the Roma defenders by Seedorf. The Brazilian’s delicate chip however was brilliantly dealt with by Doni in goals, leaving the scores tied heading into the final ten minutes of play.
Alberto Aquilani made a welcomed return from injury in the closing stages, as he replaced Brighi in the Roman midfield, and he almost made an immediate impact from long range, as his curling effort was just wide of the target after 88 minutes.
There were four minutes of additional time in the second half, and Vucinic had the chance to score at the death, however his reaction time let him down, as the ball deflected off him following a Cicinho shot from distance.
Incredibly Milan responded immediately after, and it was Seedorf who had a huge opportunity to grab one for the Rossoneri late on, following a lovely ball in by Kaka, however his header was high and wide of the target.
It was too little too late for both sides however, as the referee’s whistle brought the entertaining match to an end, as it finished 2-2 in the Italian capital.
TEAMS
Roma (4-3-2-1): Doni; Cassetti (Cicinho 82’), Juan, Mexes, Riise; Perrotta, De Rossi, Brighi (Aquilani 84’); Taddei (Pizarro 66’), Baptista; Vucinic
Milan (4-3-2-1): Abbiati; Zambrotta, Maldini, Favalli, Jankulovski; Seedorf, Pirlo, Beckham (Flamini 89’); Kaka, Ronaldinho (Ambrosini 72’); Pato
GOALS
22’ Vucinic (Roma)
48’ Pato (Milan)
53’ Pato (Milan)
72’ Vucinic (Roma)
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