Alberto Gilardino and Milan broke their droughts in spectacular
fashion, demolishing Lazio 5-1 at the Olimpico.
These sides finished in the top four last term, but bad starts
meant they were battling in mid-table. The pressure was poured on
to the Rossoneri after four points from their previous five games
in Serie A and the midweek Champions League loss at Celtic. Lazio
at least took comfort from their spectacular 2-2 draw with Real
Madrid.
Injuries have been key for both teams this season as the absentee
list included Ronaldo, Paolo Maldini, Kakha Kaladze, Serginho,
Marek Jankulovski, Sebastiano Siviglia, Mobido Diakhite' and Fabio
Firmani.
Tommaso Rocchi was able to start despite a sprained ankle and had
the first shot on goal after 90 seconds. Goran Pandev turned
between two midfielders and sprinted forward for Rocchi, but his
pass was somewhere between Pandev and Stefano Mauri, so Nelson Dida
grabbed hold of the ball.
Milan should have taken the lead on eight minutes as Massimo
Ambrosini redirected a corner kick, but Daniele Bonera incredibly
turned wide from a yard. Alberto Gilardino hit the back of the net
while offside.
On 13 minutes Muslera rushed out to close down Gilardino, but got
the player's leg rather than the ball and the referee pointed to
the spot. However, after consulting with the linesman he changed
his mind and gave a corner kick, but there are strong doubts over
this incident.
The goal was only postponed by a couple of minutes, as Ambrosini
unleashed an extraordinary strike from 30 metres that slotted into
the far top corner past Muslera's hand. The midfielder looked as if
he was making a cross, but Mulsera was off his line and it swept
straight past the stunned shot-stopper.
Clarence Seedorf went on a marauding run to smash his shot against
the side-netting, then Kaka went on a run from his own half to
blast over.
But it was Lazio who equalised with a fast-paced move. De Silvestri
ran down the right flank and cut back low for Mauri to turn into
the far bottom corner with the inside of his left foot, leaving
Dida stranded. That was the first goal the Biancocelesti have
scored in the first half this season.
De Silvestri had another great assist for Rocchi's header that Dida
plucked out from under the bar and then Seedorf blasted a free kick
over from a promising position.
Muslera tackled Gilardino again and this time the referee pointed
to the spot for the penalty. Mauri slipped and Gila pounced on the
loose ball as the goalkeeper came sliding into the back of his
ankle. Kaka drilled to Muslera's left to restore Milan's
advantage.
After the break Muslera parried a Gilardino shot from Andrea
Pirlo's inspired pass, but the former Parma man handled the
ball.
The Rossoneri went 3-1 up with Kaka's classy finish. Seedorf's
cross from the left was put back in by Pirlo for Kaka to shake off
Guglielmo Stendardo and nutmeg the goalkeeper at the near
post.
Gilardino ran on to a Pirlo through ball and Cribari came sliding
in on the edge of the area, but the referee perhaps harshly booked
the Milan striker for simulation.
Mauri curled a free kick over and Kaka went on a slalom in the
area, but Cribari blocked the ball with his hip and elbow in a
sliding tackle.
Gilardino finally scored his first goal of the season in all
competition, ending a drought that had weighed heavy on his
shoulders. Kaka picked up the ball in midfield and went towards the
centre, but placed a slide-rule pass in for Gilardino's angled
drive. The entire squad went to hug Gila and celebrate this
important goal for the striker - his first since April in Serie
A.
It was almost five moments later, as Seedorf sprung the offside
trap by combining with Kaka and Muslera got a hand to it, enough to
allow Luciano Zauri to clear off the line.
Gilardino nearly got his second as well with a similar move created
by Ambrosini's cross-field pass, but the lob took a deflection off
Muslera's arm to whistle wide.
Soon after, Gilardino proved his confidence is most definitely back
with a cracking goal. Seedorf chipped the ball over the defence for
Ambrosini's headed assist and Gila's powerful right-foot volley
under the bar silenced the Olimpico.
Lazio tried to make the scoreline a little more dignified, but Dida
controlled Igli Tare and Pandev headers, while De Silvestri struck
the side-netting.
