Red And Black Devils Triumph In OT
2/23/2005 10:55:00 PM
A late strike by Premiership reject Hernan Crespo handed AC Milan a historic and extremely important victory over Manchester United in Old Trafford.
It was a deserved win for the Rossoneri, who after suffering throughout a large portion of the first half, took control of the pitch in the second, and created a flurry of chances in the final minutes of the game.
The match’s intensity reached peak levels immediately after kick-off as both teams played the football we all love, attacking style.
Rui Costa was the first to test the hearts of the Old Trafford faithful as his low cross aimed at the far post was slightly too powerful for Argentina striker Crespo to reach it.
Then Seedorf hit the crossbar off a freekick with Manchester United keeper Roy Carroll terribly placed on the Dutchman’s execution.
The first real chance for the Red Devils fell on Paul Scholes’s feet following a precise Fortune cross, however the former England midfielder shot wide with the goal at his mercy and Milan keeper Dida on the ground.
Things slowed down for a bit in the middle of the half, but then got extremely exciting again towards the end of it when Quinton Fortune presented himself all alone in-front of Dida.
The Brazilian keeper was terribly placed leaving the entire net at the far post clear to hit, but luck was not on the South African player’s side as the ball rolled just wide of the empty goal.
The second half started in the same manner the first began, but neither side was able to create anything to write about until the 61st minute, when Sir Alex Ferguson decided to replace Cristiano Ronaldo with Ruud Van Nistelrooy. The Dutchman had been missing from the green carpets for almost three months.
Six minutes after RVN's return to action Seedorf passed to Crespo who was able to shoot from close range, however his national team companion Heinze deflected the effort wide of the net.
Crespo was once again the protagonist fifteen minutes from time after he magnificently connected with a Kakà pass and dribbled past Ferdinand, but his powerful close range drive went just above the bar.
Milan’s goal was in the air and it finally arrived when Carroll failed to hold onto a Seedorf long-range blast. Crespo was there to pick the rebound up, and this time he didn’t miss as he tapped home from short-range.
Galvanized by the lead, Ancelotti’s boys continued to create dangers in-front of the Manchester goal. Kakà twice tried to hit the net from long range, but in both instances the ball sailed just wide of it.
On the stroke of the final whistle Van Nistelrooy tried to grab the so-important equalizer after a nice cross from the right side, but the United hero failed to direct his close range header in between the pipes.
The return leg will be played in two weeks time. Entertainment guaranteed.
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