14h44. O mamma. "command+quit", close screen, turn lights off, take paper and pen, run down the stairs, twist your ankle, find remote under pillows, 'on' button, 741, sit down. There. No wait, I'm thirsty, whatever.
Ok so Milan, 4-3-3: Dida, Favalli-Nesta-Thiago Silva-Abate, Gattuso-Pirlo-Ambrosini, Mancini (traitor)-Huntelaar-Pato; and Udinese, 4-3-3: Handanovic, Isla-Zapata-Coda-Pasquale, Sammarco-Inler-Asamoah, Sanchez-Floro Flores-Di Natale. San Siro half empty. Spanish commentaries. Whistle.
The first five minutes are what we call "observation round": midfielders keep the ball, wingbacks don't cross the halfway line, keepers get a feel for the leather, everyone gets a touch on both sides. Democracy rules. Then Dinho jump starts the game. He forces a corner kick and from that same corner kick fixes two direct opponents on the right side at the edge of the small box with one step over and body feint, gives the ball one of his infamous impossible trajectories, Huntelaar runs in at first post and crucifies Handanovic. In fact not only did that very same dribble paralyze Pasquale and Asamoah, who were les then a foot away, but also Coda and Zapata who remained powerless as they watched the Dutchman head the ball home. 1-0, 7th minute. Ronnie is on fire tonight. Udinese though do not despair and respond with a supersonic counter-attack that reads Sanchez (ADHD) back pass to Isla, his shot is too angled, Di Natale misses the tap in by less than any human measurement. The game is on its way. The midfield battle rages, Gattuso and Asamoah flex their muscles, Huntelaar jumps higher than Coda, Ronaldinho distributes caviar, Nesta tames Floro Flores, Dida almost reiterates one of his exploits on Inler’s shots (I yelled DIDASTRO too soon), Di Natale makes Abate trip on himself, Pirlo plays smart. Too much for Mancini, he leaves the green rectangle because of (shame) a muscle injury. Enter Pato. After 20 minutes, Udinese starts to pick up speed with a high and efficient pressing, ransack the flanks with Sanchez and Di Natale, but midfield errors prevent them from finding the right solution. Milan suffers a bit and play closed defense. Couple of shots, Leonardo yells something in Portuguese. It pays off when on one counter-attack Ronaldinho delivers a one touch “I-have-to-see-that-pass-again” special to a full speed Pato who eats the defenders helplessly trying to catch up. 2-0, 38th. The stadium erupts. Galliani stands up applauding, Sir Ferguson remains impassible. In the meanwhile Thiago Silva gets replaced by Bonera. The game becomes very enjoyable: Ronaldinho continues his imperial rule on technique and vision whilst Udinese deploy all troops to put one in before the two whistles. It happens when Di Natale over on the left side fixes Favalli and Nesta to deliver a perfect left footed (he is right footed) cross to Floro Flores who grills Abate and Gattuso. Dida touches the ball but he is no Buffon. 2-1. Half time.
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The second half is deceptively Udinese’s. Di Natale continues his recital to the expenses of struggling Abate and Gattuso. Asamoah’s domination of the midfield is now total and the black and white allow themselves another couples of missed opportunites. Dinho slowly disappears from the gameplan, Ambrosini is the only one to really keep up with Pato’s and Huntelaar's pace. The match becomes chopped, Milan resorts to tactical (once called “intelligent”) fouls. Spirits heat up and the first yellow cards fall. It’s from an off-centered free kick that Ronaldinho (who else?) sends a curling ball into the box. The Udinese defense is useless, the ball falls back to Huntelaar at the penalty spot, alone, don’t ask more of him. 3-1, 57th. In a moment where Milan were starting to gasp for air, nothing is more convenient. With a confortable lead Milan now rely on a gargantuous Nesta to repel Udinese’s efforts. Di Natale, Sanchez, Floro Flores and Asamoah stretch the defense, pull the midfielders out, resist terrorist tackles. At the 72nd De Biasi throws in his last forces with Pepe (for Sammarco) and Geijo (for Floro Flores). The changes bring a new pace and an excess of players in the Milan half. Mistakes become common, possession changes sides quickly but the ball remains in Milan’s half. Gattuso misses a one on one with Handanovic for what could have been the game killer after receiving a beautiful pass from Ronnie (last sparks).
After one last dangerous header from Pirlo’s corner, saved by Pepe, the brazilian receives his well deserved standing ovation as he gets replaced by Beckham. Udinese is now fully in control of ball possession with 6 offensive players, exposing themselves to cruel counter-attacks. Pepe devours the left hand side, Sanchez the right one, Di Natale defies all the defense, Beckham almost gives Di Natale a made goal before Handanovic performs a miracle on Pato. Finally, at the 86th Di Natale takes advantage of a placement mistake by Favalli (after all those years you thought he would have learned the offside rule) and escapes alone towards Dida. Cool, clinical finish for the capocannoniere. 3-2, 86th. The last minutes could have been much more interesting but the multiple corners will give nothing. Three whistles. The stadium explodes. Pepe is still talking to the referee. I’m so thirsty.
Grades:
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Milan – 7: With a Ronaldinho like that it’s easy to score but the punctual laxism in defense might be fatal against the Red Devils
Dida – 5: The first goal might be his fault, not the second, but that is besides the point: he does not reassure his teammates.
Favalli – 5: Good game overall, great grit but a mistake like that should be unforgivable. 10 for the tackles though.
Nesta – 10: Nothing to say, cold blooded, cool, smart, technical, powerful, charismatic, pretty, what else?
Thiago Silva – 7: As always very performant, is it a coincidence that Udinese scored when he left the field? I don’t think so, he will be missed against Manchester
Abate – 6: Not his natural position, stuck well to orders despite some classic mistakes like standing still on Di Natale’s cross. A promise.
Favalli – 5: Good game overall, great grit but a mistake like that should be unforgivable. 10 for the tackles though.
Nesta – 10: Nothing to say, cold blooded, cool, smart, technical, powerful, charismatic, pretty, what else?
Thiago Silva – 7: As always very performant, is it a coincidence that Udinese scored when he left the field? I don’t think so, he will be missed against Manchester
Abate – 6: Not his natural position, stuck well to orders despite some classic mistakes like standing still on Di Natale’s cross. A promise.
Gattuso – 3 or 7: Very intermittent game for the long time injured Rino, excellent bodyguard when fresh, slow and overdue when tired (see his yellow card for a tackle a minute late)
Ambrosini – 6: Diligent in both attack and defense, Massimo has the gift of having every foul whistled in his favour (it’s true!)
Pirlo – 5: Sure, he will never make a bad pass but how he struggles under the pressure of the opponent! Just watch the World Cup 2006 to see him at his best.
Mancini – 1
Huntelaar -7: If he doesn’t play much he at least he scores when his team needs it (see Catania-Milan), also very effective in keeping ball possession.
Ronaldinho – 11: Omnipresent in the first half, Dinho was just as decisive even though he wasn’t omnipresent in the second, now that’s talent (will he hold 90 minutes in champion’s league?)
Ambrosini – 6: Diligent in both attack and defense, Massimo has the gift of having every foul whistled in his favour (it’s true!)
Pirlo – 5: Sure, he will never make a bad pass but how he struggles under the pressure of the opponent! Just watch the World Cup 2006 to see him at his best.
Mancini – 1
Huntelaar -7: If he doesn’t play much he at least he scores when his team needs it (see Catania-Milan), also very effective in keeping ball possession.
Ronaldinho – 11: Omnipresent in the first half, Dinho was just as decisive even though he wasn’t omnipresent in the second, now that’s talent (will he hold 90 minutes in champion’s league?)
Pato (13th f.h) – 7: Out of shape he is still faster than half the planet and scores. Sign of greatness.
Bonera (40th f.h) – 6: Did what he had to do although a bit genuine on the first goal.
Beckham (32nd s.h) – 3: Not useful in the game, ugly fouls, only one good pass, was Sir Fergie freaking you out much?
Bonera (40th f.h) – 6: Did what he had to do although a bit genuine on the first goal.
Beckham (32nd s.h) – 3: Not useful in the game, ugly fouls, only one good pass, was Sir Fergie freaking you out much?
Udinese – 6: In spite of a performance full of will, mistakes and Ronaldinho killed it tonight.
Handanovic – 7: Abandoned by his defenders more than once (all the goals in particular), made some coud-have-been decisive saves (especially on Gattuso, Pirlo and Pato) if his team had been up to the occasion.
Pasquale – 5: paralyzed in front of Ronaldinho, the left back then pushed forward in hopes of redemption but not tonight Giovanni.
Coda – 2: Guilty on all the goals, messy everywhere else
Zapata – 2: Guilty on all the goals, messy everywhere else
Isla – 6: Good initiatives in the first and second halves was (naturally) more preoccupied by the offense that defense.
Inler – 6: Tried to sound the wake up horn with multiple tentative, his performance was cut short.
Sammarco – 3: Mistake after mistake, the only different aspect of his game was his yellow card. Game to forget
Asamoah – 7: For those who watched the African Cup of Nations, this performance must not surprise you: strong and intelligent, precious player for De Biasi.
Sanchez – 6: Over active, tried everything in his power to bring the ball forward, even rushing it a bit too much.
Floro Flores – 7: At the right time in the right place, what else can we ask from a forward?
Di Natale – 10: Totò showed us everything tonight: controls, shots, dribbles, chesting, passes, anchoring, headers, left and right foot, vision, a clinical goal, charisma and even his tattoos. Un Grande.
Pasquale – 5: paralyzed in front of Ronaldinho, the left back then pushed forward in hopes of redemption but not tonight Giovanni.
Coda – 2: Guilty on all the goals, messy everywhere else
Zapata – 2: Guilty on all the goals, messy everywhere else
Isla – 6: Good initiatives in the first and second halves was (naturally) more preoccupied by the offense that defense.
Inler – 6: Tried to sound the wake up horn with multiple tentative, his performance was cut short.
Sammarco – 3: Mistake after mistake, the only different aspect of his game was his yellow card. Game to forget
Asamoah – 7: For those who watched the African Cup of Nations, this performance must not surprise you: strong and intelligent, precious player for De Biasi.
Sanchez – 6: Over active, tried everything in his power to bring the ball forward, even rushing it a bit too much.
Floro Flores – 7: At the right time in the right place, what else can we ask from a forward?
Di Natale – 10: Totò showed us everything tonight: controls, shots, dribbles, chesting, passes, anchoring, headers, left and right foot, vision, a clinical goal, charisma and even his tattoos. Un Grande.
Lodi (16th s.h) – 6: Tried to push the team forward in the second half, participated well in the collective effort.
Geijo (27th s.h) – 3: Unfortunately, did not see much of the ball.
Pepe (27th s.h) – 7: Obstinately brought the ball up front but was most of the time abandoned by teammates.
Geijo (27th s.h) – 3: Unfortunately, did not see much of the ball.
Pepe (27th s.h) – 7: Obstinately brought the ball up front but was most of the time abandoned by teammates.
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