Champions League: Son of a Whore

By: Martha | April 24th, 2007

God dammit. It’s the first Bayern game all over again — too much sitting back, possibly a lack of fitness and, WHAM! suddenly you’re in a crappy position going into the return leg.

There’s such a fine line between packing it in and defending your away goals and sitting so deep that you entirely sacrifice all possession to a very dangerous team. Tonight, obviously, Milan ended up on the wrong side of that equation. And it was so close to ending otherwise, too — in about the 56th minute, I was thinking how Milan-like they were finally looking, building slowing and confidently, and working the ball around like they could keep it all day. (I could be crazy, but I think Gila actually had a touch around that time.) And then, just a few minutes later? The game was tied and Man U just took over. Gah!

For much of the half, it seemed Dida had sorted himself out — he had some solid saves, and did a good job organizing thing on those endless, dangerous free kicks. The last goal, though, was dire. As Tommy Smyth said, Rooney’s strike was a great one, but what was Dida doing practically on his right-hand post? This is Wayne Rooney we’re talking about, for the love of God — he’s not going to miss that much of the goal.

What’s distressing, in addition to the result, is how shaky everything looked for Milan. Granted, there were impressive stretches but in general, they did nothing to give hoped for a win during the home leg. Don’t get me wrong, now — I’m not giving up, but I’m not exactly prepared to bet the house on a Milan appearance in the final, either. Sigh.

Category: AC Milan, Champions League, Results, Serie A

Tags: AC Milan, Champions League, Dida, Manchester United, Results, Serie A, Wayne Rooney

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• Riccardo |  April 24th, 2007 at 1:12 pm

  
  
  

  Gilardino looked awful. The few touches he had were horrible, if he starts next game I’ll be very surprised. Milan started looking really bad when Gattuso went out of the game, hopefully he’s fit for the return leg.

  Posted from United States

  

• patcook |  April 24th, 2007 at 1:37 pm

  
  
  

  keep the faith

  Posted from Australia

  

• RT |  April 24th, 2007 at 1:44 pm

  
  
  

  After seeing ManUtd’s 7-1 triumph, I think Milan might have accepted 3-2 if offered before tonight’s match. Two away goals heading into the second leg isn’t so bad at all. The problem is that Milan at times showed they were more than capable of handling ManUtd, and wouldn’t have been undeserving of an outright victory. Oh just imagine if they had had a capable striker! Gilardino really was a waste, he didn’t even run much or close down the United defense.

  Milan are professional enough to get their goal in Milano, which would turn the side upside down again and put all the pressure on ManUtd. But whether or not they will play solidly for an entire 90 minutes remains to be seen.

  Posted from United States

  

• RT |  April 24th, 2007 at 1:45 pm

  
  
  

  Oh yeah, too bad Maldini and Gattuso had to exit the match. Hopefully (for Milan’s sake) it’s nothing too serious? I think their influence was missed the most.

  Posted from United States

  

• mele419 |  April 24th, 2007 at 1:48 pm

  
  
  

  And yet again, my pick was right. Man.Utd. by 1 goal.
  Genius? Yeah, I think I am.
  Now, I’m not happy about this, I’m seething with rage, actually. But if this was like the first game V. Bayern (which it was) that means on the second leg, win win =P Hopefully we can pull this together at the San Siro and grind out a win, and keep Man.Utd. from scoring more than 1 away goal…

  Posted from United States

  

• ana |  April 24th, 2007 at 1:54 pm

  
  
  

  I think Maldini came out as a caution. He was on a yellow and could have missed the return leg. I hope Gattuso can recover in a week. The up and down of watching that game exausted me. I have a bad feeling that in 8 days time I will be sad :( . But you’re right patcook, Keep the faith!

  Posted from United States

  

• Ruby |  April 24th, 2007 at 11:22 pm

  
  
  

  Oh. I had just about managed to pull myself together, and then I read this and I am falling apart again *sniffles*

  I am worrying about God’s knee, I am worrying about courageous, battling Rino, I am worrying most about poor, lost, floundering Gila.

  And now I have to teach today. At least I warned them yesterday that I may not be in the best of moods today…

  *goes off in search of tissues*

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• Soze |  April 25th, 2007 at 5:59 am

  
  
  

  Dida sucks ass. I’ve been saying that for the better part of this season.

  Posted from United States

  

• patcook |  April 26th, 2007 at 2:52 am

  
  
  

  Hey Soze, if you only realised this season that Dida is dodgy your a bit slow.
  Since saving three penalties at Old Trafford in 2003 he has progressively deteriorated

  Posted from Australia

  

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