Milan 4-1 Lazio

Kaka and Gianluca Zambrotta both scored stunning long-range goals as Milan got off the mark in Serie A with a crushing 4-1 win over Lazio at San Siro.

Team News

Milan came into this game knowing that they simply had to win otherwise they would fall six points or more behind Scudetto rivals Inter and Juventus. The Rossoneri, who were on zero points, were without the injured Alessandro Nesta, Pippo Inzaghi, Tabare Viudez, Andrea Pirlo, and Philippe Senderos. Coach Carlo Ancelotti employed a 4-1-3-2 formation with Kaha supporting front pairing Alexandre Pato and Marco Borriello. Rino Gattuso returned in midfield following his recent injury layoff.

Visitors Lazio had been top-of-the-table, with six points out of six, until they were overtaken by Inter and Juve this afternoon. The Biancocelesti also had a few injuries, with Fabio Firmani, Simone Del Nero, Tommaso Rocchi and Ousmane Dabo sidelined. Coach Delio Rossi made just one change to the team who beat Sampdoria 2-0 with Matuzalem coming in for Mourad Meghni in midfield.

First Half

Lazio had a penalty shout within the first 20 seconds as Stefano Mauri went down under pressure from Gianluca Zambrotta, following a weak back pass by the latter, but the referee waved away the appeals. It was a fiery start and down the other end Massimo Ambrosini failed to get enough onto his header at the back post from Clarence Seedorf's cross.

On five minutes Milan put together a neat team move and Kaka crossed low for Borriello's flick-through-the-legs, but Juan Pablo Carrizo was well placed.

This was a warning of things to come as 90 seconds later Milan were ahead. There was a bit of luck involved as Seedorf tried to play a one-two on the edge of the area, and his pass rebounded off Cristian Ledesma to put him through on goal. The Dutchman's finish was emphatic as he thumped the ball past Carrizo and into the roof of the net.

Lazio tried to hit back and Goran Pandev got away from Kakha Kaladze, but Paolo Maldini made a crucial block on Mauro Zarate's snap-shot inside the area. Mauri then tested Abbiati from 25 yards as Lazio started to work their way into the game.

The capital side were looking more and more threatening, and on 25 minutes they silenced the San Siro with an equaliser. Inevitably it was Zarate who got the goal, as he beat the offside the trap on Pandev's pass and rifled home a clinical left footed finish past Abbiati.

It was an entertaining game and Milan immediately threatened to regain their lead as Pato cut inside his man from the right, and brought out a smart stop from Carrizo. Kaka then floated an inviting ball to the back post, and Borriello was close to getting his head to the ball.

Kaka burst into life on 31 minutes with a superb solo run past a number of defenders, but he couldn't find the finish and sliced the ball wide from the left angle.

A few minutes later Milan were back ahead courtesy of a contender for goal of the season. Zambrotta bombed forward and let fly from way out on the right, at least 35 yards, and the ball arrowed into the far top corner like a ballistic missile. It was a simply incredible strike from the Italy international.

Milan now went looking for the third, and on 40 minutes Kaka exchanged passed with Borriello before thrashing the ball a couple of feet over from the edge of the area.

Lazio had been quiet ever since Zarate's temporary equaliser, with Aleksandar Kolarov's two off-target free kicks the away side's only two remaining efforts as Milan went into the break 2-1 ahead.

Second Half

Into the second half and Lazio started strongly. Mauri was almost through on goal immediately, but he miscontrolled the ball and the danger passed. Zarate then curled a free kick over the bar.

However, it was Milan who extended their lead on 49 minutes. Jankulovski crossed from the left, and Pato darted in front of Rozenhal at the near post to head home.

Lazio refused to get downhearted, and Mauri asked for a penalty after clashing with Zambrotta in the box, but again the referee didn't want to know.

On 56 minutes Milan put together a fantastic move, and Kaka curled a beautiful effort towards the far post, but Carrizo flew across goal to push the ball away.

Moments later Kaka did indeed get his goal, and it was well worth waiting for. The Brazilian picked the ball up 30 yards out and fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Milan were now turning on the style!

The home side continued to push forward, and could have grabbed a fifth on 74 minutes as Borriello raced through on goal, but Carrizo pulled off a fine save.

Down the other end Lazio had a great chance to pull a goal back as Pandev held off Ambrosini, but Abbiati produced a smart reaction stop.

Kaka had been electrifying all night long, and he went on another slalom run, only to see his finish deflected off target. Down the other end, Foggia shot weakly at Abbiati from 25 yards, as the game moved into the final few minutes.

In injury time Milan twice went close to a fifth as substitute Ronaldinho rattled the crossbar with a deflected effort, before Borriello headed inches wide.

It had been emphatic win for Milan, who answered their critics in the prefect way, and grabbed their first three points of the Serie A season at the third attempt.

Teams

Milan: Abbiati, Zambrotta, Kaladze, Maldini, Jankulovski, Gattuso (Emerson 78), Seedorf (Flamini 63), Ambrosini, Kaka, Pato (Ronaldinho 70), Borriello

Lazio: Carrizo, Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Rozenhal, Kolarov, Matuzalem (Meghni 69), Ledesma, Brocchi (De Silvestri 78), Mauri (Foggia 62), Pandev, Zarate

Anthony Sormani

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Milan vice president Adriano Galliani is so annoyed with the club’s poor start to the season, he has called an emergency meeting with Carlo Ancelotti and co to discuss the situation according to Il Corriere Dello Sport.

The Rossoneri got their Serie A campaign off to the worst possible start after they lost 2-1 at home to Bologna on Sunday.

Galliani is furious with the result and he has called in the coach and his staff in order to discuss the problems and get back on track.

It’s not the first time the chief has punched the table, he recently held a meeting with Ancelotti during pre-season after a number of poor performances.

It seems as if patience is running out at the top and the coach will need to be careful as he could soon be sent marching. Reports in Italy this morning have already claimed that Ancelotti may join Roma in 2009 and, should the poor results continue, it may even be sooner.

The Scudetto is the club’s number one objective this term and any further failures on the pitch could see Galliani tear up the coach’s contract.

Meanwhile, good news on the injury front as Kaka, Alessandro Nesta, Marco Borriello and Philippe Senderos are all making quick recoveries from various injuries.

Salvatore Landolina

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Kakha Kalaze has issued a heartfelt thank you to Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi, and has sensationally revealed that it was the Italian Prime Minister who was responsible for stopping the recent war between Georgia and Russia.

The conflict began last month on August 7 when Georgia launched a large-scale attack on South Ossetia.

Russian troops responded the next day by steamrolling across the border with hundreds of tanks and armoured vehicles, and the fighting led to numerous casualties, with thousands of Georgians displaced from their homes and towns.

Eventually a ceasefire was agreed, and talks are now ongoing among European Union leaders for a permanent solution.

Milan defender Kaladze, a Georgian who personally asked Italian PM Berlusconi to help, has revealed that it was the Rossoneri owner who was responsible for stopping the war.

"The world does not know it, but it was Silvio Berlusconi who stopped the war in Georgia. For this reason I thank him," Kaladze revealed to ANSA.

"Berlusconi has always been very close to the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

"The two of them are very good friends. It was his intervention to stop the war between Georgia and Russia. I know that the Italiam premier spent over five hours on the phone with Putin to try to stop this delicate situation.

“Even during this occasion, President Berlusconi proved to be a sensible and capable person in the diplomatic relationships, a real ambassador of peace who I will never stop thanking."

Roberto Rossi

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Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi believes the Rossoneri have the best attack in the world and he is aiming high this term as he looks to lift the Scudetto and UEFA Cup.

The former Juventus man is confident of his side’s chances of success in the Scudetto race this term and he is hoping to fire his team towards their 19th title.

Inzaghi knows it will not be easy but he has warned the rest of Serie A to pay close attention to Milan’s strike force.

“We will fight for the UEFA Cup as well as the Scudetto because we want them both,” Inzaghi told La Gazzetta Dello Sport.

“I think we are favourites for the Scudetto alongside Inter, Juve and Roma but we have the best attack, no-one has a striking department like ours.

“We will not snub the UEFA Cup as that is a trophy we have never won before, it’s an important competition and we want to win it.”

Inzaghi also had a few words on Andriy Shevchenko, who returned to the club from Chelsea this week.

“It was great seeing Sheva in the changing rooms again,” said Inzaghi.

“I remember all the great moments that we both had, we achieved great things in the past and we will continue to do so now.”

Inzaghi will be hoping his side get off to the perfect start when they clash with Bologna this weekend.

Salvatore Landolina

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Former Milan star Zvonimir Boban has criticised the club for bringing back Andriy Shevchenko, and says that he “does not like soups re-heated.”

Shevchenko rejoined Milan last weekend following a miserable two years at Chelsea, and the wisdom of his signing has split critics.

The Ukrainian striker was among the most exciting players in the world when he arrived in London for an English-record fee of £30million. However, he then slipped into obscurity, managing just nine goals and 47 Premier League appearances.

Many have questioned whether the 31-year-old can recapture the form that saw him named European Footballer of the Year in 2004, with some suggesting he will never recover from his Chelsea ordeal.

"I think Sheva will feel good at Milan,” Boban is quoted as saying by SKY.

“He has always done well at San Siro.

“However, I do not agree with Milan’s purchase. I don’t like soups re-heated."

Boban is well respected at San Siro, following a superb nine years spent there from 1992 to 2001, when he won four Scudetti, a Champions League, a European Supercup, and three Supercoppa Italiana’s. The Croatian played with Shevchenko during the latter stages of his career.

Roberto Rossi

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According to the Corriere dello Sport, Milan have tabled a bid to sign Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos, and it is likely that the transfer will go through.

With just over a week to go until the closure of the transfer window, things are becoming desperate for Milan in their search for a centre back.

With key man Alessandro Nesta out injured, and with Dario Simic and Digao having recently been offloaded, the Rossoneri are terribly thin at the back going into the new season.

Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic had seemed certain to join the club on loan, but the transfer fell through when the Londoners refused to insert an option.

The Corriere now claims that Milan have turned their attentions to another Premiership based player, in the form of Arsenal centre back Philippe Senderos.

Milan have made an offer to sign the Swiss international on a one-year loan, with the option to make the move permanent next year for €7-8m.

Senderos is down the pecking order at the Emirates following an error-prone season last term, and Arsene Wenger is prepared to let him leave, having just signed a replacement in the form of Manchester United’s Mickael Silvestre.

The 23-year-old Senderos has made 74 Premiership appearances, scoring four goals, since signing for Arsenal from Servette in December 2002.

Anthony Sormani

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