Madferret
4-26-05, 6:16 PM
The Sports Network
4/26/2005
Milan, Italy (Sports Network) - AC Milan's success is built on an almost impenetrable defense. That was blatantly evident again Tuesday night at the San Siro. The Rossoneri received a goal by Andriy Shevchenko just before halftime and a strike by Jon Dahl Tomasson in extra time to post a 2-0 victory in their first-leg Champions League semifinal match against PSV Eindhoven.
The Italian giants have now gone seven straight Champions League matches without surrendering a goal. They did it Tuesday without center back Alessandro Nesta, who was serving a one-match suspension. But Paolo Maldini, Jaap Stam, Kakha Kaladze and Cafu used their combined 129 years of age and experience to keep PSV off the scoreboard. The Rossoneri last allowed a goal in the competition during a 2-1 loss to Barcelona in group play back in November.
AC Milan dominated the first half, limiting PSV to just two feeble attempts on goal. The Rossoneri, meanwhile, were attacking the PSV net constantly, with Shevchenko and Kaka leading the charge. Only some solid goalkeeping by Brazilian Heurelho Gomes kept the home side from taking charge of the contest. But Kaka and Shevchenko's hard work eventually paid off in the 42nd minute. Kaka sent a nifty pass between two players to send Shevchenko into a footrace with Wilfred Bouma. Shevchenko won the battle and slotted his shot past a charging Gomes for the game's first goal.
Bouma grimaced with back pain following the goal and needed to be substituted at the start of the second half. Still, the newly crowned Dutch champions came out with a newfound aggressiveness in the second half. The hard work helped create several quality scoring chances. AC Milan, however, kept PSV without a goal thanks to some strong goalkeeping from Gomes' Brazilian counterpart Dida, and some last-second saves by the experienced defensive unit. Then, the Rossoneri delivered the devastating blow with Tomasson's goal. The Danish striker scored his first goal of the competition when he corralled a loose ball and fired past Gomes. The loose ball came after Kaka had his shot blocked, before caroming right to the feet of the substitute.
PSV, which is making its first-ever appearance in the semifinals of the competition, now faces a huge deficit heading to Eindhoven and Phillips Stadium for the second leg next week. AC Milan, on the other hand, is on the verge of advancing to its second Champions League final in the last three years. It won the 2002/03 installment of the competition by defeating Juventus in the final.
http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20050426/milan_62512.jpg
4/26/2005
Milan, Italy (Sports Network) - AC Milan's success is built on an almost impenetrable defense. That was blatantly evident again Tuesday night at the San Siro. The Rossoneri received a goal by Andriy Shevchenko just before halftime and a strike by Jon Dahl Tomasson in extra time to post a 2-0 victory in their first-leg Champions League semifinal match against PSV Eindhoven.
The Italian giants have now gone seven straight Champions League matches without surrendering a goal. They did it Tuesday without center back Alessandro Nesta, who was serving a one-match suspension. But Paolo Maldini, Jaap Stam, Kakha Kaladze and Cafu used their combined 129 years of age and experience to keep PSV off the scoreboard. The Rossoneri last allowed a goal in the competition during a 2-1 loss to Barcelona in group play back in November.
AC Milan dominated the first half, limiting PSV to just two feeble attempts on goal. The Rossoneri, meanwhile, were attacking the PSV net constantly, with Shevchenko and Kaka leading the charge. Only some solid goalkeeping by Brazilian Heurelho Gomes kept the home side from taking charge of the contest. But Kaka and Shevchenko's hard work eventually paid off in the 42nd minute. Kaka sent a nifty pass between two players to send Shevchenko into a footrace with Wilfred Bouma. Shevchenko won the battle and slotted his shot past a charging Gomes for the game's first goal.
Bouma grimaced with back pain following the goal and needed to be substituted at the start of the second half. Still, the newly crowned Dutch champions came out with a newfound aggressiveness in the second half. The hard work helped create several quality scoring chances. AC Milan, however, kept PSV without a goal thanks to some strong goalkeeping from Gomes' Brazilian counterpart Dida, and some last-second saves by the experienced defensive unit. Then, the Rossoneri delivered the devastating blow with Tomasson's goal. The Danish striker scored his first goal of the competition when he corralled a loose ball and fired past Gomes. The loose ball came after Kaka had his shot blocked, before caroming right to the feet of the substitute.
PSV, which is making its first-ever appearance in the semifinals of the competition, now faces a huge deficit heading to Eindhoven and Phillips Stadium for the second leg next week. AC Milan, on the other hand, is on the verge of advancing to its second Champions League final in the last three years. It won the 2002/03 installment of the competition by defeating Juventus in the final.
http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20050426/milan_62512.jpg