Michezo magazetini leo...

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

Dundee United's David Goodwillie deals sucker punch to ragged Rangers

Comments (12)

Scottish Premier

Rangers 2

Jelavic 19,
Naismith 52

Dundee United 3

Robertson, D 45,
Russell 77,
Goodwillie 89

Ewan Murray at Ibrox
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 2 April 2011 17.42 BST <li class="history">Article history

Rangers' El Hadji Diouf, foreground, and Dundee United's David Robertson compete for the ball during the match at Ibrox. Photograph: Lynne Cameron/PA For 90 minutes, followers of Rangers indulged in things fans should concern themselves with: berate a referee – there was plenty of that; whinge about misplaced passes – no shortage there either; and celebrate goals. Yet the overwhelming emotion inside Ibrox at full-time was shock, after David Goodwillie's 90th-minute strike claimed an astonishing victory for Dundee United by the odd goal in five.
In these warped times, balance sheets and buyouts relating to Rangers feature more in column inches than anything else. More pressing to the majority of punters flooding out of Ibrox was the loss of three points and the passing up of a chance to return to the top of the Scottish Premier League with Celtic inactive. United are due immense credit for twice recovering from being a goal behind, but Rangers were punished for sluggishness.
A larger crowd than the Glasgow club might have anticipated for such a fixture, and a noisier welcome, awaited the home side before kick-off. Such matters resonate in part because this was Rangers' first outing since defeating Celtic to claim the League Cup. Walter Smith retained the 4–4–2 approach that succeeded against Rangers's rivals. The home support was therefore afforded a rare glimpse of El Hadji Diouf and Nikica Jelavic as a forward partnership.
Unfortunately for Smith, the rest of his team virtually picked itself. Lee McCulloch, Madjid Bougherra and Vladimir Weiss were among a clutch of first-team regulars unavailable to Rangers because of injury. With Smith only having a tight squad at his disposal to start with, that has led to a meaningful strain on resources. As if to prove that, Rangers could only name five substitutes here.
United had enjoyed a fine run of form before crumbling at Motherwell on Scottish Cup business on Wednesday night. They opened in promising fashion at Ibrox, before being undone by inexcusable defensive generosity. Given Jelavic is clearly Rangers's best attacker, and by a considerable distance, it would seem logical that United mark him at a set-play. Instead, the Croat was left all alone to head home Diouf's free-kick. United had questioned the award for a foul on Jelavic in the first place, with their manager Peter Houston rightly diverting his anger towards his own backline thereafter.
It seemed inevitable that Rangers's makeshift central defensive partnership of Steven Whittaker and David Weir would suffer. Such sentiment was endorsed by the willingness of Rangers to let United enjoy so much first-half possession. An equaliser duly arrived seconds before the interval. Danny Swanson skipped past Weir, then Whittaker, before playing in David Robertson. The midfielder's angled finish matched Swanson's build-up work.
Another set-piece edged Rangers back in front. United were again lax in not properly clearing Diouf's corner, with Steven Naismith on hand to drill home a half-volley. United's restoration of parity for a second time owed plenty to a wonderful cross from the left touchline, supplied by Paul Dixon, which Johnny Russell powerfully headed past Allan McGregor.
Whittaker had clipped the United crossbar with a header moments before the goal that won the game. From that Rangers corner, the visitors broke rapidly upfield. Morgaro Gomis played in Goodwillie, the one player Rangers did not want in this position, with the talented young striker running 60 yards in isolation before offering a cool finish.

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

Dundee United's David Goodwillie deals sucker punch to ragged Rangers

Comments (12)

Scottish Premier

Rangers 2

Jelavic 19,
Naismith 52

Dundee United 3

Robertson, D 45,
Russell 77,
Goodwillie 89

Ewan Murray at Ibrox
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 2 April 2011 17.42 BST <li class="history">Article history

Rangers' El Hadji Diouf, foreground, and Dundee United's David Robertson compete for the ball during the match at Ibrox. Photograph: Lynne Cameron/PA For 90 minutes, followers of Rangers indulged in things fans should concern themselves with: berate a referee there was plenty of that; whinge about misplaced passes no shortage there either; and celebrate goals. Yet the overwhelming emotion inside Ibrox at full-time was shock, after David Goodwillie's 90th-minute strike claimed an astonishing victory for Dundee United by the odd goal in five.
In these warped times, balance sheets and buyouts relating to Rangers feature more in column inches than anything else. More pressing to the majority of punters flooding out of Ibrox was the loss of three points and the passing up of a chance to return to the top of the Scottish Premier League with Celtic inactive. United are due immense credit for twice recovering from being a goal behind, but Rangers were punished for sluggishness.
A larger crowd than the Glasgow club might have anticipated for such a fixture, and a noisier welcome, awaited the home side before kick-off. Such matters resonate in part because this was Rangers' first outing since defeating Celtic to claim the League Cup. Walter Smith retained the 442 approach that succeeded against Rangers's rivals. The home support was therefore afforded a rare glimpse of El Hadji Diouf and Nikica Jelavic as a forward partnership.
Unfortunately for Smith, the rest of his team virtually picked itself. Lee McCulloch, Madjid Bougherra and Vladimir Weiss were among a clutch of first-team regulars unavailable to Rangers because of injury. With Smith only having a tight squad at his disposal to start with, that has led to a meaningful strain on resources. As if to prove that, Rangers could only name five substitutes here.
United had enjoyed a fine run of form before crumbling at Motherwell on Scottish Cup business on Wednesday night. They opened in promising fashion at Ibrox, before being undone by inexcusable defensive generosity. Given Jelavic is clearly Rangers's best attacker, and by a considerable distance, it would seem logical that United mark him at a set-play. Instead, the Croat was left all alone to head home Diouf's free-kick. United had questioned the award for a foul on Jelavic in the first place, with their manager Peter Houston rightly diverting his anger towards his own backline thereafter.
It seemed inevitable that Rangers's makeshift central defensive partnership of Steven Whittaker and David Weir would suffer. Such sentiment was endorsed by the willingness of Rangers to let United enjoy so much first-half possession. An equaliser duly arrived seconds before the interval. Danny Swanson skipped past Weir, then Whittaker, before playing in David Robertson. The midfielder's angled finish matched Swanson's build-up work.
Another set-piece edged Rangers back in front. United were again lax in not properly clearing Diouf's corner, with Steven Naismith on hand to drill home a half-volley. United's restoration of parity for a second time owed plenty to a wonderful cross from the left touchline, supplied by Paul Dixon, which Johnny Russell powerfully headed past Allan McGregor.
Whittaker had clipped the United crossbar with a header moments before the goal that won the game. From that Rangers corner, the visitors broke rapidly upfield. Morgaro Gomis played in Goodwillie, the one player Rangers did not want in this position, with the talented young striker running 60 yards in isolation before offering a cool finish.

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

Craig Whyte waits in wings while Rangers peer through grey areas

Takeover saga of the Glasgow club seems to be nearing an end but how it pans out is still unclear.

Ewan Murray
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 2 April 2011 16.21 BST <li class="history">Article history

Craig Whyte's buy-out plan is yet to be formally proposed to Murray International Holdings. Photograph: Dave M Benett/Getty Images The first question posed by Alastair Johnston, the Rangers chairman, to Craig Whyte remains the most salient one. "What are you doing here?" Johnston asked Rangers' prospective new owner when the pair met before the end of last year. Johnston spoke only partly in jest.
The good news for those who have grown weary of both the Rangers ownership saga and that relating to Whyte is that matters seem to be hurtling towards a conclusion. Nobody can yet fully ascertain what that finale will mean for any of the parties involved.
Aside from the generally troublesome economic conditions attached to Scottish football, the complexities surrounding Rangers's financial situation render the motivations of anybody willing to step in and purchase David Murray's majority stake worthy of scrutiny. By the chairman's admission, the playing staff at Ibrox has been run down to such an extent that it needs a radical overhaul in the summer. Even if Rangers secured the Scottish Premier League title for a third season in succession, finance from Champions League football is not guaranteed next season.
Such matters are a step beyond Whyte's purchase, of course, which is yet to be formally proposed to Murray International Holdings. If reports of Murray seeking £6m for his shares are correct, that figure added to a £20m deal with the Lloyds Banking Group gives a snapshot of the kind of funding Whyte must deploy, and briskly, before he even contemplates football transfer dealings.
A recurring but pertinent point relates to how the 39-year-old businessman plans to see any of such monies again. Tycoons such as Whyte have not earned small fortunes through charity projects, or those that have no provision for capital return. The reality will be that Whyte has a plan; the rest of us are simply yet to hear it, which in a way is credit to Whyte's buy-out bid, given the lack of publicity-seeking surrounding it.
On Friday, Johnston seemed cautiously optimistic about Whyte's hopes of ending the Murray years within days. Supporters are also understandably keen that Lloyds's tight grip on the club –which would see at least £1m shaved from the player wage bill before next season if Whyte's bid collapses – is loosened.
Contrary to reports that the bank could prevent a Whyte takeover, Lloyds would clearly welcome the instant repayment of debt. Removing one further part of the Murray Group, whose heavy indebtedness triggered the bank's involvement at Ibrox in the first place, from their equation would also obviously appeal to them.
However, beyond that and when it ceases to be their direct concern, Lloyds will have little care or interest as to how Whyte plans to run Rangers. For that reason alone, Johnston is anxious to have detail of a long-term funding commitment from Whyte inserted as part of any agreement. Given that the buyout is between Whyte and Murray, with Rangers merely the commodity, how much Johnston and his fellow board members can actually press for therein is open to debate.
The spectre of an investigation by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs into offshore, employee benefit trust payments to players looms larger than anything over Rangers. Johnston and the club have, publicly at least, been relaxed over that affair, which could drag into the latter part of this year before resolution is found. The chairman insisted, moreover, that the matter will not directly prove prohibitive to Whyte's aspirations of gaining control.
Doubters would suggest the case hands Whyte the perfect excuse to walk away before committing to taking Rangers over. Others merely wonder why he would walk into a business that could be hit with a bill for an unknown amount of money and at an unknown point in time.
The most widely held notion is that Murray will indemnify Rangers in the event of any penalty, itself not a straightforward matter. Taking scaremongering – which of course goes on – out of the equation, the reality is nobody knows what will transpire.
The same goes for so many aspects of Rangers. The next 48 hours, at least, should reveal a lot more.

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

SPL round-up: St Mirren's Michael Higdon's hat-trick defeats Hamilton

• Chris Humphrey inspires Motherwell to win
• Kenny Shiels starts Kilmarnock career with draw

Nial Briggs
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 2 April 2011 18.44 BST <li class="history">Article history

Craig Brown's Aberdeen lost against his former club, Motherwell. Photograph: Craig Halkett/PA Archive/Press Association Images Police confirmed they were making inquiries into an incident involving the Motherwell chairman John Boyle and Aberdeen manager Craig Brown following the end of the Lanarkshire side's 2-1 victory at Fir Park.
The former Motherwell manager Brown, 70, spoke to police after the clash at the mouth of the tunnel and the match commander, Superintendent Brian Connel, said: "I think there was an exchange of words and very minor pushing thereafter so we just wanted to make sure there was no criminal element to that."
Goals from Chris Humphrey and Shaun Hutchinson inspired Motherwell to their second victory over Aberdeen since their former manager Brown's departure for Pittodrie, as Motherwell opened up a four‑point cushion in the race for a top‑six SPL place.
A second-half hat-trick from the St Mirren striker Michael Higdon all but consigned Hamilton to relegation from the Scottish Premier League.
David Buchanan scored just before the break to give the bottom side the interval lead, but in a remarkable 10-minute turnaround at New St Mirren Park Higdon scored with a header, a penalty and a volley.
Hamilton, who had the defender Martin Canning sent off when he conceded the penalty with a challenge on Craig Dargo, are nine points behind the 11th-placed Paisley side and have played a game more.
The small band of travelling fans were in raptures just before the break when Buchanan scored from 20 yards after Nigel Hasselbaink's shot had been blocked.
In the 59th minute Dargo replaced the former Hamilton midfielder Jim Goodwin, as the Buddies tried a more positive approach, and two minutes later it paid off when a David van Zanten cross from the right was met by Higdon, who dived to head past Tomas Cerny from six yards.
In the 63rd minute there was more trouble for the bewildered Accies when Canning was sent off by Willie Collum for a foul on Dargo, as the former Kilmarnock striker broke in to the Hamilton area, and Higdon swept in the spot-kick.
Higdon completed his hat‑trick and sealed the 3-1 win in memorable style when he volleyed into the top corner from 14 yards after 71 minutes.
St Johnstone were left to rue passing up a host of goal opportunities as Kenny Shiels started his caretaker spell in charge of Kilmarnock with a 0-0 draw.
Derek McInnes's team dominated possession and goalmouth chances throughout, coming closest when the forward Peter MacDonald struck the bar with a second-half header. He also had a penalty claim waved away by the referee after tangling with the Killie goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola.
A combination of wayward finishing and a string of saves from Jaakkola kept the home side at bay to hand Shiels a point in his first game in charge since Mixu Paatelainen's move to the Finnish national job.
Ninth-placed Hibs host Hearts, who sit six SPL places above their rivals, in the Edinburgh derby on Sunday, missing their young midfielder Danny Galbraith and the goalkeeper Graham Stack.
Jim Jefferies's side are without the long-term absentee Calum Elliot and the suspended duo Eggert Jonsson and Adrian Mrowiec, but the striker Kevin Kyle, who scored the only goal of the game when the two sides met on New Year's Day, may play some part .

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

SPL round-up: St Mirren's Michael Higdon's hat-trick defeats Hamilton

Chris Humphrey inspires Motherwell to win
Kenny Shiels starts Kilmarnock career with draw

Nial Briggs
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 2 April 2011 18.44 BST <li class="history">Article history

Craig Brown's Aberdeen lost against his former club, Motherwell. Photograph: Craig Halkett/PA Archive/Press Association Images Police confirmed they were making inquiries into an incident involving the Motherwell chairman John Boyle and Aberdeen manager Craig Brown following the end of the Lanarkshire side's 2-1 victory at Fir Park.
The former Motherwell manager Brown, 70, spoke to police after the clash at the mouth of the tunnel and the match commander, Superintendent Brian Connel, said: "I think there was an exchange of words and very minor pushing thereafter so we just wanted to make sure there was no criminal element to that."
Goals from Chris Humphrey and Shaun Hutchinson inspired Motherwell to their second victory over Aberdeen since their former manager Brown's departure for Pittodrie, as Motherwell opened up a four‑point cushion in the race for a top‑six SPL place.
A second-half hat-trick from the St Mirren striker Michael Higdon all but consigned Hamilton to relegation from the Scottish Premier League.
David Buchanan scored just before the break to give the bottom side the interval lead, but in a remarkable 10-minute turnaround at New St Mirren Park Higdon scored with a header, a penalty and a volley.
Hamilton, who had the defender Martin Canning sent off when he conceded the penalty with a challenge on Craig Dargo, are nine points behind the 11th-placed Paisley side and have played a game more.
The small band of travelling fans were in raptures just before the break when Buchanan scored from 20 yards after Nigel Hasselbaink's shot had been blocked.
In the 59th minute Dargo replaced the former Hamilton midfielder Jim Goodwin, as the Buddies tried a more positive approach, and two minutes later it paid off when a David van Zanten cross from the right was met by Higdon, who dived to head past Tomas Cerny from six yards.
In the 63rd minute there was more trouble for the bewildered Accies when Canning was sent off by Willie Collum for a foul on Dargo, as the former Kilmarnock striker broke in to the Hamilton area, and Higdon swept in the spot-kick.
Higdon completed his hat‑trick and sealed the 3-1 win in memorable style when he volleyed into the top corner from 14 yards after 71 minutes.
St Johnstone were left to rue passing up a host of goal opportunities as Kenny Shiels started his caretaker spell in charge of Kilmarnock with a 0-0 draw.
Derek McInnes's team dominated possession and goalmouth chances throughout, coming closest when the forward Peter MacDonald struck the bar with a second-half header. He also had a penalty claim waved away by the referee after tangling with the Killie goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola.
A combination of wayward finishing and a string of saves from Jaakkola kept the home side at bay to hand Shiels a point in his first game in charge since Mixu Paatelainen's move to the Finnish national job.
Ninth-placed Hibs host Hearts, who sit six SPL places above their rivals, in the Edinburgh derby on Sunday, missing their young midfielder Danny Galbraith and the goalkeeper Graham Stack.
Jim Jefferies's side are without the long-term absentee Calum Elliot and the suspended duo Eggert Jonsson and Adrian Mrowiec, but the striker Kevin Kyle, who scored the only goal of the game when the two sides met on New Year's Day, may play some part .

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

Celtic overturn part of Neil Lennon's touchline ban from SFA

• Manager's suspension reduced from eight to five games
• SFA chief executive admits rules need 'updating'

Ewan Murray
guardian.co.uk, Friday 1 April 2011 20.16 BST <li class="history">Article history

Neil Lennon can return to the dug-out on 9 April after Celtic successfully challenged a ban imposed by the SFA. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA Celtic have succeeded in their challenge to the Scottish Football Association over a touchline ban imposed on their manager, Neil Lennon.
The Scottish FA had issued Lennon with a four-game sanction at a period when he was already serving a similar punishment. Celtic successfully argued that there was no specification within association guidelines that the bans should run consecutively rather than concurrently. As a result, Lennon will serve a five rather than eight-game dug-out ban.
The governing body said: "The Scottish FA has received independent counsel advice on this point and regrettably has been advised that its interpretation of the rule is legally unenforceable. As such, the club have been notified that Lennon can return to the dug-out on 9 April 2011."
Stewart Regan, the Scottish FA's chief executive, plans to update legislation relating to points such as these. He said: "With regard to the timing of the suspension we must accept that, if our rules cannot be enforced in a court of law, then they cannot be imposed and it is foolish to waste money defending such a point.
"We acknowledge that our rules do need updating and I have proposed to our board that we commission a complete rewrite of the disciplinary procedures from a legal perspective to address this whole matter."
In what is the latest chapter of ongoing drama between Celtic – who had hired a QC to take on their case – and the SFA, the club replied: "We note the lengthy statement issued today by the SFA in connection with the very straightforward issue of Neil Lennon's suspension running consecutively or concurrently.
"We are pleased that the SFA has recognised that Celtic's position is absolutely correct.
"It should not have been necessary for Celtic Football Club to involve our lawyers in this simple matter and we would have much preferred not to have had to do so.
"But it is vital that the SFA properly applies the rules that it imposes, whatever those happen to be. The SFA cannot operate above the law or its own rules.
"A full review of the SFA disciplinary procedures is clearly required and we note that the SFA are addressing this matter. We are supportive of this and hope that legal interventions will not be necessary in the future.
"We will continue to protect the interests of Celtic and fairness and, as a member club, hold the SFA to account if required."

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

Leeds United romp to victory against 10-man Nottingham Forest

Comments (7)

Championship

Leeds United 4

Howson 51,
Becchio 58,
Gradel 73,
Gradel 87

Nottingham Forest 1

McCleary 65

Press Association
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 2 April 2011 21.13 BST <li class="history">Article history

Leeds United's Luciano Becchio, right, and Bradley Johnson, left, celebrates Becchio's goal against Nottingham Forest in their Championship game at Elland Road. Photograph: Ed Sykes/Action Images Nottingham Forest are to appeal against defender Chris Cohen's first-half dismissal, which proved to be a key moment in their 4-1 defeat away to Leeds.
The game turned in the home side's favour in the 35th minute, when the referee, Mark Halsey, showed Cohen a red card for his lunging tackle on George McCartney in front of a furious home dug-out. Forest's assistant manager, David Kelly, was so incensed by the decision that he refused to shake Simon Grayson's hand after the match.
The Leeds captain, Jonny Howson, broke the deadlock in the 51st minute and Luciano Becchio headed home a second six minutes later. But substitute Garath McCleary curled home a brilliant effort to throw 10-man Forest a lifeline in the 65th minute and Leeds looked jittery.
Only after Max Gradel lashed home his first goal from the edge of the area in the 74th minute could the home fans breath more easily and Gradel pounced on a rebound for his second with four minutes remaining to leave Forest without a win in their last eight matches.
The Forest manager, Billy Davies, said: "I've spoken to our chief executive, Mark Arthur, and we're definitely intending to appeal the red card. Definitely. We've seen the DVD and the referee said it was for excessive force, but we'll definitely go to appeal and see how we get on."
The Forest bench clearly felt the Leeds manager's furious reaction to the tackle helped sway the referee's decision. Davies, careful not to say too much about the incident, added: "You decide for yourselves. You don't need me to tell you. We all know what took place.
"I said last week, it [promotion] will not be decided until the last two or three games and you're better being a lucky manager than a good one at this stage of the season. Promotion will all be decided on refereeing decisions, suspensions, injuries and Lady Luck.
"We did not deserve that today. Did we look like a side lacking in confidence? No. Did we look like a side that didn't have a work ethic? No. They worked their socks off and I'm very proud of what my players gave us. You can't legislate for certain decisions that take place."
Grayson, who challenged his players before kick-off to try to win all of their remaining games this season, felt Halsey was correct to send Cohen off. He said: "The referee got it clearly right. I know Chris Cohen and he's not a malicious player, but he left the ground two-footed, caught George McCartney and the ball. It was the right decision. If it had been one of my players that had done that I would have accepted the decision. It was a reckless, not malicious, challenge."
Grayson agreed Forest had caused his side plenty of problems before being reduced to 10 men. "They are a good side," he said. "You only have to look at their bench, the budget they've spent, they should be favourites for the division and they're going to cause problems. We had to be patient and move the ball around, push the two wide players further up the pitch to create space for our full-backs.
On Kelly's snub at the final whistle, Grayson said: "I'll always offer my hand, win, lose or draw and if people refuse it, then that's their problem."

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

Pato hands Milan derby spoils as scudetto nears

Reuters, Saturday April 2 2011 * Pato scores after 44 seconds and 62 minutes in 3-0 win
* Inter's Chivu sent off for foul on Pato at 1-0
(adds details, quotes)
MILAN, April 2 (Reuters) - Serie A leaders AC Milan took a giant step towards their first scudetto since 2004 after Alexandre Pato's brace set up a 3-0 win over champions Inter Milan on Saturday in one the most important derbies for years.
Inter, reduced to 10 men early in the second half following Cristian Chivu's dismissal, would have gone top with a win as they bid for a sixth straight Serie A title but instead now trail their rivals by five points with just seven games left.
Inter coach Leonardo bossed Milan to third spot last term but his attacking tactics in his first game against his ex-side were ruthlessly exposed by Massimiliano Allegri's men despite the suspension of former Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Brazil forward Pato struck the opener after just 44 seconds when Inter's shaky defence was ripped apart on the first of several occasions during the game and he grabbed a fortunate second on 62 minutes after Chivu had already been sent off.
Substitute Antonio Cassano earned and netted a late penalty, only to be sent off for a second booking minutes later, but little could steal the gloss from Milan's triumph after they also beat last season's treble winners 1-0 in November.
The San Siro was enlivened before kick off with the usual array of banners while Milan fans chanted against Leonardo, who left the Rossoneri last May after 13 years as a player, scout and coach only to join their arch-enemies in December.
The feverish atmosphere continued when the game began with Milan, who had been 13 points ahead of Inter before a recent wobble, immediately getting on the scoresheet.
Gennaro Gattuso passed into the box and Robinho beat the offside trap before clipping the ball away from Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar for Pato to stroke into an almost empty net.
With centre back Lucio suspended, Leonardo paired usual left back Chivu with Andrea Ranocchia at centre half but the duo, who overcame fitness tests to play, were often all at sea.
They were not helped by Leonardo's 4-2-3-1 formation which was being swamped by Milan in midfield, especially when Inter fullbacks Maicon and Javier Zanetti pushed too far forward.

REPLAYS INCONCLUSIVE
Inter's system also meant in-form striker Samuel Eto'o was shunted out to the left wing and he barely had a touch before missing a superb chance just before the break at the far post.
Giampaolo Pazzini and Thiago Motta also had good opportunities in the first half for Inter while Wesley Sneijder fired over a free kick after having lasers shone in his eyes by fans, but Milan always looked a threat on the counter attack.
Mark van Bommel rattled the bar with a deflected effort and the Rossoneri had two shouts for a penalty turned down.
Chivu continued to struggle and when Pato got beyond the defence again on 54 minutes the Romania defender ran across the back legs of the Brazilian, who tumbled to the ground.
The referee showed a straight red card to Chivu but replays were inconclusive about whether there had been contact.
Thiago Silva's resultant free kick was well-saved but Julio Cesar could do nothing when Ignazio Abate's mis-hit shot fell for Pato to head home the second goal.
Napoli can move above Inter into second if they win at home to fifth-placed Lazio on Sunday (1030 GMT) when AS Roma also host Juventus (1845) as the push for European places hots up.
Brescia beat Bologna 3-1 at home in Saturday's other Serie A game to climb out of the bottom three.
(Writing by Mark Meadows; Editing by Dave Thompson. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

Milan v Internazionale - as it happened

Serie A

Milan 3

Pato 1,
Pato 62,
Cassano (pen) 90

Internazionale 0

Paolo Bandini
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 2 April 2011 18.48 BST <li class="history">Article history

AC Milan's Brazilian forward Pato, left, celebrates after scoring. Photograph: Luca Bruno/AP Excited? Silvio Berlusconi at a Bunga Bunga party ain't got nothing on me. Tonight's Milan derby is undoubtedly the biggest we've seen in years – first v second with just two points separating the teams and only seven more games left to play after this evening. To put that into context, the last time these two occupied the top two spots in Serie A going into a derby was 1993.
Inter were the ones playing catch-up then, too, seven points behind with – by chance - the exact same number of games remaining. With only two points available for a win back then, nothing less than a victory would have been enough to keep the title race alive. The game finished 1-1, and Milan cruised home as champions.
A draw today could make things very interesting indeed at the top of Serie A – given that third-placed Napoli are only three points behind Milan and even fourth-placed Udinese only six points off top spot going into this weekend – but recent history makes that look unlikely. There has not been a draw in the past 14 editions of this fixture.
On form Inter would have to be the favourites, having picked up 37 points from a possible 45 and closed the gap at the top of Serie A down by 11 points since Leonardo took charge during the winter break. If there wasn't enough spice to this encounter already, this is Leonardo's first derby since joining Inter – turning his back, in the eyes of the fans at least, on more than a decade of service to the Rossoneri.
Team news You probably know by now that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is suspended for this game, and in his absence Massimiliano Allegri has plumped for Robinho and Alexandre Pato up front, with Kevin-Prince Boateng tucked in behind at the top of his midfield diamond. Rather more surprisingly, Gianluca Zambrotta makes his first start this year. Inter are without Lucio plus long-term absentee Walter Samuel at centre-half, but both Andrea Ranocchia and Christian Chivu have shaken off injuries to start in their stead. The selection of Gianluca Pazzini, Wesley Sneijder, Samuel Eto'o and Goran Pandev all together suggests we might be about to see the return of the 4-2-fantasia (a variation on 4-2-4/4-2-3-1) Leonardo made famous at Milan.
Milan 1 Abbiati; 20 Abate, 13 Nesta, 33 Thiago Silva, 19 Zambrotta; 8 Gattuso, 4 Van Bommel, 10 Seedorf; 27 Boateng; 70 Robinho, 7 Pato. Subs 12 Amelia, 15 Papastathopoulos, 16 Flamini, 18 Emanuelson, 76 Yepes, 77 Antonini, 99 Cassano.
Manager Massimiliano Allegri
Inter 1 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 15 Ranocchia, 26 Chivu, 4 Zanetti; 8 Thiago Motta, 19 Cambiasso; 27 Pandev, 10 Sneijder, 9 Eto'o; 10 Pazzini. Subs 12 Castellazzi, 2 Cordoba, 5 Stankovic, 14 Kharja, 22 Milito, 23 Materazzi, 55 Nagatomo.
Manager Leonardo
Referee Nicola Rizzoli
Upsetting Silvio Allegri will doubtless have noted that Berlusconi said he hoped to see Antonio Cassano getting the key goal or assist today, something that will remain rather unlikely as long as he stays on the bench. Nobody will be too surprised that Allegri plumped for the two Brazilians up front - Cassano has not looked at all sharp of late - but if his team do fail to win it wouldn't be any surprise to hear about it getting brought up in the manager's next appraisal.
Trouble brewing? "Odds on a red before the hour?" asks Daniel Pearson on Twitter. "Gattuso and Van bommel... Can't wait" Certainly wouldn't bet against one, Daniel. The first meeting this year was a very bad-tempered, with Abate sent off and several others very lucky not to go as well (not least Ibrahimovic, for a hefty kung fu kick into Marco Materazzi's midriff).
A full house at San Siro As ever the fans' choreography will come under close scrutiny and Milan have certainly set the bar high with a mock-up of the Last Supper casting Leonardo as Judas.
GOAL! Milan 1-0 Inter (Pato 1 min) Would you Adam and Eve it? Alexandre Pato exchanges a one-two with Gattuso on the edge of the box, before threading a through-ball into the box for Robinho. Julio Cesar gets to the ball at almost the exact same moment as the Milan forward, but the ball ricochets away from their challenge and straight to the feet of Pato, who strokes it into the unguarded net.
3 mins Milan, unsurprisingly, are buoyant after that goal and come streaming forwards again only for the flag to go up for offside just when it appears that Pato may have snuck in behind again.
4 mins Milan would normally be a decent enough bet to defend a lead - they have the tightest defence in Serie A (22 goals conceded), but then Inter are the division's joint-top scorers (level with Udinese on 56).
5 mins Leonardo is getting rather shouty down on the sidelines. So much for all that allegria he was banging on about before kick-off.
7 mins Inter win the first corner of the game, but it's headed away with a satisfying thud by Van Bommel. Leonardo's side still look a little shell-shocked to be honest, but then you may recall that they did in a recent game in Munich too. When you've got players like Samuel Eto'o in the team it doesn't take long to turn things around.
9 mins Big penalty shout from the 'home' support at San Siro as Seedorf's cross crashes off the arm of Maicon in the area. How much intent there was on the defender's part is open to debate but it was an outstretched arm in the area. You have, as us hacks so often say, seen them given.
11 mins Wesley Sneijder hoofs the ball in a superbly sulky fashion after Boateng falls to the floor as though mortally wounded, only to turn around and see that the Milan player is already back on his feet. Oh come on, don't pretend it doesn't happen in [insert any other league here] too.
12 mins Inter seem to be doing most of their work down the left at the moment, which seems like an odd choice given that you've got a) Maicon at right-back and b) a less than pacy Zambrotta opposite him. Beyond that corner they've really done absolutely nothing going forwards so far.
14 mins Milan win a free-kick a few yards on the cusp of the D, but Pato's curling effort fails to clear the wall, clipping the last man on the ear and deflecting off a team-mate for a goal-kick. Guardian.co.uk's sport editor Sean Ingle will be delighted with that decision, having apparently placed his money tonight on less than 10.5 corners. Anyone got a more peculiar bet on than that?
15 mins Inter's turn to win a free-kick just outside the Milan box on the right and - surprise, surprise, someone is pointing one of those irritating green lasers in Wesley Sneijder's eyes.
16 mins Sneijder makes a total hash of the free-kick before storming over to the sideline to rant at the fourth-official about the laser. A reasonable complaint, in fairness, but unfortunately it's hard to imagine what the officials could actually do about it.
18 mins Sean's big bet takes a blow as Milan win a corner on the right, but Inter's prospects of getting back into this game remain exactly the same as Seedorf shanks an attempted volley over the bar after the ball is sent over into the middle. By the way, I think laser may have been understating it just now with Sneijder. Replays suggest more like 12.
19 mins A first sight of goal for Inter as Pazzini shrugs off a spectacularly feeble challenge from Zambrotta and stumbles into the box down the right-hand side. The striker's touch, though, takes the ball too close to the goalkeeper Abbiati, who is able to charge his poked effort down from close range.
21 mins Incidentally, this is Javier Zanetti's 35th consecutive Milan derby. Ridiculous.
22 mins "Leonardo is a man and manager to love," writes Ben Dunn, who presumably is not a Milanista. "He has been class throughout his career, excluding the face-breaking elbow and BBC commentary stint. A genuinely great football man. I hope he wins as we could be seeing a new Mourinho of management with a Brazilian love for aesthetic football."
23 mins Another corner for Inter, but Sneijder's delivery is returned to him and at the second attempt he succeeds only in knocking the ball behind.
24 mins As if Pato hadn't done enough to ingratiate himself with Berlusconi by - ahem - allegedly beginning to date the boss's daughter Barbara, he's also been easily the most dangerous looking player on the pitch for either team. Another attempted scoop from the edge of the area here drops just wide of Julio Cesar's goal.
25 mins And now Pato races past Chivu inside the area only for Ranocchia to come across to make an excellent, and crucial challenge. Inter, not for the first time under Leonardo, look massively uncertain at the back.
PENA ... oh wait, no it's not (26 mins) Hearts in mouths moment at San Siro as Robinho hits the turf face first inside the box under a challenge from Ranocchia and the referee Rizzoli whistles immediately. But the yellow card in his hand is not for the defender but Robinho himself, who does indeed appear on the replays to have taken a dive.
27 mins That really was unnecessary from Robinho - he'd just beaten his man inside the box and had a perfectly good opportunity to either have a dig himself or play in a team-mate. Frustrating.
29 mins Pandev goes down clutching his face after a collision with Zambrotta, but by the standards of this fixture it's been relatively good-tempered so far.
31 mins On the subject of Pato's dalliance with Barbara Berlusconi, have any readers out there ever enjoyed a romance with a boss's relative? How'd that work out? Seems like a dangerous path to go down for me, though many of the Italian papers have cited it in recent days as the proof he won't be sold in the summer.
32 mins Yup, probably spoke too soon on the nature of this game. Thiago Motta fails to connect with the ball as he goes into a challenge with Nesta and winds up planting his studs on top of his opponent's boot. No card given, though.
34 mins It's become quite scrappy here in the last few minutes, lots of niggly fouls that are keeping the game from developing any kind of flow. Sneijder thumps the ground angrily after a decision doesn't go his way. Not sure he's got his head in the right place today so far.
36 mins Inter prod and probe around the edge of the Milan area, but the Rossoneri have been exceptionally disciplined without the ball, with the whole midfield dropping back to defend as an extra bank of four in front of the defence. Eventually Inter lose possession and Milan race away on the break, only an ever-so-slightly overhit through-ball denying Pato what would have been an excellent goalscoring opportunity.
37 mins And now Milan hit the bar! Van Bommel looked up and let fly from more than 25 yards out and his shot ricocheted up off Chivu, looped over Julio Cesar but came down right onto the crossbar.
38 mins Fantastic save from Abbiati! About half the Inter team rushed straight to the sideline to protest after Motta's header from the corner was clawed away by the keeper, believing the ball had crossed the line, but replays suggest it was the right decision. Abbiati is still celebrating now.
41 mins Maicon becomes the first Inter player to go into the book after clattering into the back of Robinho near the half-way line.
42 mins Half-hearted calls for a penalty from Inter's fans after Pazzini prods a volley into a Milan player from close range. I have no idea if it hit his arm, but to appeal that either way is just silly.
43 mins How did that not go in? Seriously? Samuel Eto'o, of all people, was the culprit after Goran Pandev's cross from the right, flicked on by Cambiasso in the middle, fell right to him at the back post, but from about four yards out he scuffed the ball wide. Absolutely stunning miss - though as you'll recall, he missed a pretty easy one against Juventus earlier this season too.
45 mins I'm still trying to work out how Eto'o failed to put that one on target, but in the meantime, Pato flashes one over the bar down at the other end, after Boateng's cross is deflected into his path inside the box.
Peepety-peeep That's it for the first half, with Inter dominating possession towards the end of the half, but still looking just as likely to concede another as get back on terms - mostly because Ranocchia and Chivu have been deeply unconvincing at the back. For now, though, they're still in it. Back in a tick.
Dating the boss's offspring "I had a brief fling with my manager's son last year," announces Sara Filippi. "He broke up with me, however, and then two weeks later I got a promotion. In fairness I believe the two incidents were totally unrelated."
Old stagers on the big stage "Is my impression that both Milanese teams always seem to have a lot of really old players correct," asks Gary Naylor. "Is it a Milan thing or an Italian thing or even a continental thing? Or am I wrong?"
I think it's fair to say that in general Italy has had a problem with not enough teams bringing through young players in recent years. A study by the Professional Football Players' Observatory's demographic study earlier this season showed that Serie A was the continent's second-oldest top-flight, behind only the Cypriot first division. Furthermore, Inter, with an average age of 29.6-years-old, were the oldest team in Europe last year.
But it's also true that both Inter and Milan have finally been introducing younger players of late - Ranocchia and Coutinho at Inter, Alexander Merkel, Rodney Strasser and the like at Milan - after a run of not doing so. Indeed, I think you could paint a similar picture at a lot of clubs. But it's also probably true that in a big game like this managers tend to be cautious and go with experience.
46 mins We're off again at San Siro, and here's one to ponder for those who like omens. The last time Milan won both league derbies was 2003-04. That's also the last time they won the league.
47 mins No sooner are we under way than we have stopped again, Van Bommel knocking the ball out so Sneijder can receive treatment after he won the ball cleanly from his compatriot.
49 mins More niggly fouls to start this half, I'm afraid. This has mostly been a very entertaining game - tense, chances at both ends, some nice attacking football at times - but these periods do get frustrating with the whistle going every 10 seconds. Sadly I fear this will only get worse as the gamesmanship increases in the second half.
51 mins First substitution of the game, Milan sending on Mathieu Flamini for Gennaro Gattuso after the latter appeared to strain something during a challenge on Wesley Sneijder.
52 mins Flamini comes sprinting on but not quickly enough to reach his area in time for the taking of an Inter corner on the right, which Pazzini meets in the middle. His header deflects behind off Thiago Silva, but the referee awards a goal-kick instead of another corner. At his home in London, Sean Ingle celebrates.
RED CARD! 54 mins Christian Chivu is off for Inter! The Nerazzurri had been applying a spot of pressure but Boateng wins a challenge in the middle of the park and plays Pato in behind the defence with a wonderful through-ball. The Brazilian was in behind the defence but Chivu just clipped his heels as he jagged across the D, and the referee had no hesitation. Straight red.
55 mins Inter make an immediate substitution - taking off Goran Pandev and sending on Cordoba to replace Chivu in the centre of defence.
56 mins Thiago Silva's free-kick somehow fizzes straight through the wall, forcing Julio Cesar to react sharply to palm it away to his left. The ball flies straight to Boateng, too, but his attempted at a first-time volley goes horribly wrong, and he slices the ball high and wide.
58 mins Big, big ask this for Inter now, but as I say - as long as you have players like Eto'o on the pitch there is always a chance (even if he did miss an absolute sitter at the end of the first half). "Beautifully timed foul there, just a metre outside the box," declares Tom Haig. "Is that something footballers get specific coaching in?" You never know ...
60 mins Eto'o leaves Thiago Silva on his backside as he twists and turns inside the box, but Boateng is lurking just behind his team-mate and comes thundering in to muscle the Inter striker off the ball.
GOAL! Milan 2-0 Inter (Pato 62 mins) Game over? Inter appeal for offside but the linesman's flag is staying down after Pato heads home from close range. The move was initiated by Seedorf, who has been quietly superb as he pulls the strings in behind for Milan today, the Dutchman picking out Abate inside the Inter box before he clipped the ball across to Pato on the far side of the six-yard area. From there all he had to do was nod the ball into an empty net.
63 mins Before they even kick-off, Inter make their second change, sending on Diego Milito for Giampaolo Pazzini.
65 mins Milan's supporters sing Alexandre Pato's name with gusto, and who can blame them. If they do go on to win today, they will have a five point advantage over Inter but crucially also the tie-breaker were they to finish level.
66 mins Rope-a-dope stuff from Milan here now - drawing Inter forwards before hitting them fast on the break and Robinho really should make it three after racing through into a one-on-one with Julio Cesar. Instead his early shot is too close to the goalkeeper, who palms away.
68 mins Another chance goes begging for Milan, as Boateng sees a shot knocked behind. They probably should have scored more by now. Incidentally, Milan would also have the tie-breaker over Napoli, but not necessarily over Udinese. The two teams drew 4-4 at San Siro, and meet again on the last weekend of the season, which could be very interesting indeed if matters aren't settled by then. Both Napoli and Udinese, of course, will have been hoping that Inter would do them a favour tonight, though ...
71 mins Time for Inter's last change - Esteban Cambiasso coming off to be replaced by Dejan Stankovic.
72 mins My word, how was that not a third? Pato plays in Robinho with a simple side-footed pass but having forced the keeper to go to ground, the forward fails to find the net - chipping the ball over Julio Cesar but not over Ivan Cordoba, who was tracking back. For all he does right at Milan, Robinho really does miss a spectacular number of chances.
74 mins There really has been no hint of a reaction from Inter here since that second goal. Milan are doing a great job of stretching the field and making Inter's 10 men chase them. The Nerazzurri look burned out already.
76 mins Flamini has the ball in the net for Milan but the flag had long been up for offside, the midfielder having ever-so-slightly mistimed his run in from the right.
77 mins Another minute, another missed opportunity for Robinho. Seedorf had all the time in the world to pick his pass after Sneijder gave the ball away in midfield and he did so expertly, allowing Robinho to take the ball in stride, but once again the Brazilian failed to show sufficient composure in front of goal, thwacking the ball straight into Julio Cesar.
79 mins "Is it a bit misty in Milan, or do I need to fix the colour on my telly," asks Iain Cameron. I can't speak for your telly Iain, but the fans have been setting off the odd firework in the stands.
80 mins Robinho is put out of his misery at last, as Allegri sends on Antonio Cassano in his stead. In fairness, he's had a pretty good game - but on another day his wastefulness in front of goal might have been a bigger issue.
81 mins Eto'o wriggles free inside the Milan box on the right, but nobody is able ot meet his firmly-struck ball across the six-yard box. It was probably a shot, to be honest.
84 mins Time for Milan's last change - Alexandre Pato the man to make way for Urby Emmanuelson. No hat-trick for him, then. The cameraman, unsurprisingly, takes this opportunity to cut to a shot of Barbara Berlusconi in the stands.
86 mins Milan are stroking the ball around now, just waiting out the minutes until the final whistle. There was much discussion in the build-up to this derby of whether this game would be "decisive" in the title race, and it certainly feels more likely to be so with Milan winning. They have one or two tough games yet to play, but with no Champions League fixtures left to worry about, they should be good enough to see this home. Then again, they should have been good enough to beat Palermo and Bari in their last two games, and they didn't ...
PENALTY! (88 mins) Zanetti pulls Cassano back as the striker takes a long ball down in the box, and Rizzoli once again has no hesitation. Penalty to Milan, and a chance to rub salt into Inter's wound.
GOAL! Milan 3-0 Inter (Cassano 90 mins) Silvio Berlusconi gets his wish - Antonio Cassano on the scoresheet and three points in the derby. Not a brilliant penalty - struck low and only a few feet to the left of the centre of the goal, but Julio Cesar went the other way and the ball nestled in the back of the net. Cassano, in typically a typically unnecessary move, takes his shirt off celebrating and picks up a booking for his troubles.
RED CARD! (90 mins +2) Incredible - Cassano has got himself sent off! A totally unnecessary late tackle, just moments after his totally unnecessary celebration, earns him a second yellow card. A classic Cassanata, and no mistake.
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeep! That's it - Milan win their second derby of the season and take a huge step towards ending Inter's run of five consecutive Serie A titles. Their advantage over the Nerazzurri is now five points and it will be up to Napoli tomorrow to beat fifth-placed Lazio to keep themselves within touching distance of the leaders. Fixtures still to play away to Fiorentina, Roma and Udinese make it clear that nothing is won yet for the Rossoneri, but this is certainly a huge hurdle overcome. As for Inter, they will need to pick themselves up fast for their Champions League meeting with Schalke on Tuesday. Anyway, that's it from me for tonight. Thanks for all your emails.

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

Milan v Internazionale - as it happened

Serie A

Milan 3

Pato 1,
Pato 62,
Cassano (pen) 90

Internazionale 0

Paolo Bandini
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 2 April 2011 18.48 BST <li class="history">Article history

AC Milan's Brazilian forward Pato, left, celebrates after scoring. Photograph: Luca Bruno/AP Excited? Silvio Berlusconi at a Bunga Bunga party ain't got nothing on me. Tonight's Milan derby is undoubtedly the biggest we've seen in years first v second with just two points separating the teams and only seven more games left to play after this evening. To put that into context, the last time these two occupied the top two spots in Serie A going into a derby was 1993.
Inter were the ones playing catch-up then, too, seven points behind with by chance - the exact same number of games remaining. With only two points available for a win back then, nothing less than a victory would have been enough to keep the title race alive. The game finished 1-1, and Milan cruised home as champions.
A draw today could make things very interesting indeed at the top of Serie A given that third-placed Napoli are only three points behind Milan and even fourth-placed Udinese only six points off top spot going into this weekend but recent history makes that look unlikely. There has not been a draw in the past 14 editions of this fixture.
On form Inter would have to be the favourites, having picked up 37 points from a possible 45 and closed the gap at the top of Serie A down by 11 points since Leonardo took charge during the winter break. If there wasn't enough spice to this encounter already, this is Leonardo's first derby since joining Inter turning his back, in the eyes of the fans at least, on more than a decade of service to the Rossoneri.
Team news You probably know by now that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is suspended for this game, and in his absence Massimiliano Allegri has plumped for Robinho and Alexandre Pato up front, with Kevin-Prince Boateng tucked in behind at the top of his midfield diamond. Rather more surprisingly, Gianluca Zambrotta makes his first start this year. Inter are without Lucio plus long-term absentee Walter Samuel at centre-half, but both Andrea Ranocchia and Christian Chivu have shaken off injuries to start in their stead. The selection of Gianluca Pazzini, Wesley Sneijder, Samuel Eto'o and Goran Pandev all together suggests we might be about to see the return of the 4-2-fantasia (a variation on 4-2-4/4-2-3-1) Leonardo made famous at Milan.
Milan 1 Abbiati; 20 Abate, 13 Nesta, 33 Thiago Silva, 19 Zambrotta; 8 Gattuso, 4 Van Bommel, 10 Seedorf; 27 Boateng; 70 Robinho, 7 Pato. Subs 12 Amelia, 15 Papastathopoulos, 16 Flamini, 18 Emanuelson, 76 Yepes, 77 Antonini, 99 Cassano.
Manager Massimiliano Allegri
Inter 1 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 15 Ranocchia, 26 Chivu, 4 Zanetti; 8 Thiago Motta, 19 Cambiasso; 27 Pandev, 10 Sneijder, 9 Eto'o; 10 Pazzini. Subs 12 Castellazzi, 2 Cordoba, 5 Stankovic, 14 Kharja, 22 Milito, 23 Materazzi, 55 Nagatomo.
Manager Leonardo
Referee Nicola Rizzoli
Upsetting Silvio Allegri will doubtless have noted that Berlusconi said he hoped to see Antonio Cassano getting the key goal or assist today, something that will remain rather unlikely as long as he stays on the bench. Nobody will be too surprised that Allegri plumped for the two Brazilians up front - Cassano has not looked at all sharp of late - but if his team do fail to win it wouldn't be any surprise to hear about it getting brought up in the manager's next appraisal.
Trouble brewing? "Odds on a red before the hour?" asks Daniel Pearson on Twitter. "Gattuso and Van bommel... Can't wait" Certainly wouldn't bet against one, Daniel. The first meeting this year was a very bad-tempered, with Abate sent off and several others very lucky not to go as well (not least Ibrahimovic, for a hefty kung fu kick into Marco Materazzi's midriff).
A full house at San Siro As ever the fans' choreography will come under close scrutiny and Milan have certainly set the bar high with a mock-up of the Last Supper casting Leonardo as Judas.
GOAL! Milan 1-0 Inter (Pato 1 min) Would you Adam and Eve it? Alexandre Pato exchanges a one-two with Gattuso on the edge of the box, before threading a through-ball into the box for Robinho. Julio Cesar gets to the ball at almost the exact same moment as the Milan forward, but the ball ricochets away from their challenge and straight to the feet of Pato, who strokes it into the unguarded net.
3 mins Milan, unsurprisingly, are buoyant after that goal and come streaming forwards again only for the flag to go up for offside just when it appears that Pato may have snuck in behind again.
4 mins Milan would normally be a decent enough bet to defend a lead - they have the tightest defence in Serie A (22 goals conceded), but then Inter are the division's joint-top scorers (level with Udinese on 56).
5 mins Leonardo is getting rather shouty down on the sidelines. So much for all that allegria he was banging on about before kick-off.
7 mins Inter win the first corner of the game, but it's headed away with a satisfying thud by Van Bommel. Leonardo's side still look a little shell-shocked to be honest, but then you may recall that they did in a recent game in Munich too. When you've got players like Samuel Eto'o in the team it doesn't take long to turn things around.
9 mins Big penalty shout from the 'home' support at San Siro as Seedorf's cross crashes off the arm of Maicon in the area. How much intent there was on the defender's part is open to debate but it was an outstretched arm in the area. You have, as us hacks so often say, seen them given.
11 mins Wesley Sneijder hoofs the ball in a superbly sulky fashion after Boateng falls to the floor as though mortally wounded, only to turn around and see that the Milan player is already back on his feet. Oh come on, don't pretend it doesn't happen in [insert any other league here] too.
12 mins Inter seem to be doing most of their work down the left at the moment, which seems like an odd choice given that you've got a) Maicon at right-back and b) a less than pacy Zambrotta opposite him. Beyond that corner they've really done absolutely nothing going forwards so far.
14 mins Milan win a free-kick a few yards on the cusp of the D, but Pato's curling effort fails to clear the wall, clipping the last man on the ear and deflecting off a team-mate for a goal-kick. Guardian.co.uk's sport editor Sean Ingle will be delighted with that decision, having apparently placed his money tonight on less than 10.5 corners. Anyone got a more peculiar bet on than that?
15 mins Inter's turn to win a free-kick just outside the Milan box on the right and - surprise, surprise, someone is pointing one of those irritating green lasers in Wesley Sneijder's eyes.
16 mins Sneijder makes a total hash of the free-kick before storming over to the sideline to rant at the fourth-official about the laser. A reasonable complaint, in fairness, but unfortunately it's hard to imagine what the officials could actually do about it.
18 mins Sean's big bet takes a blow as Milan win a corner on the right, but Inter's prospects of getting back into this game remain exactly the same as Seedorf shanks an attempted volley over the bar after the ball is sent over into the middle. By the way, I think laser may have been understating it just now with Sneijder. Replays suggest more like 12.
19 mins A first sight of goal for Inter as Pazzini shrugs off a spectacularly feeble challenge from Zambrotta and stumbles into the box down the right-hand side. The striker's touch, though, takes the ball too close to the goalkeeper Abbiati, who is able to charge his poked effort down from close range.
21 mins Incidentally, this is Javier Zanetti's 35th consecutive Milan derby. Ridiculous.
22 mins "Leonardo is a man and manager to love," writes Ben Dunn, who presumably is not a Milanista. "He has been class throughout his career, excluding the face-breaking elbow and BBC commentary stint. A genuinely great football man. I hope he wins as we could be seeing a new Mourinho of management with a Brazilian love for aesthetic football."
23 mins Another corner for Inter, but Sneijder's delivery is returned to him and at the second attempt he succeeds only in knocking the ball behind.
24 mins As if Pato hadn't done enough to ingratiate himself with Berlusconi by - ahem - allegedly beginning to date the boss's daughter Barbara, he's also been easily the most dangerous looking player on the pitch for either team. Another attempted scoop from the edge of the area here drops just wide of Julio Cesar's goal.
25 mins And now Pato races past Chivu inside the area only for Ranocchia to come across to make an excellent, and crucial challenge. Inter, not for the first time under Leonardo, look massively uncertain at the back.
PENA ... oh wait, no it's not (26 mins) Hearts in mouths moment at San Siro as Robinho hits the turf face first inside the box under a challenge from Ranocchia and the referee Rizzoli whistles immediately. But the yellow card in his hand is not for the defender but Robinho himself, who does indeed appear on the replays to have taken a dive.
27 mins That really was unnecessary from Robinho - he'd just beaten his man inside the box and had a perfectly good opportunity to either have a dig himself or play in a team-mate. Frustrating.
29 mins Pandev goes down clutching his face after a collision with Zambrotta, but by the standards of this fixture it's been relatively good-tempered so far.
31 mins On the subject of Pato's dalliance with Barbara Berlusconi, have any readers out there ever enjoyed a romance with a boss's relative? How'd that work out? Seems like a dangerous path to go down for me, though many of the Italian papers have cited it in recent days as the proof he won't be sold in the summer.
32 mins Yup, probably spoke too soon on the nature of this game. Thiago Motta fails to connect with the ball as he goes into a challenge with Nesta and winds up planting his studs on top of his opponent's boot. No card given, though.
34 mins It's become quite scrappy here in the last few minutes, lots of niggly fouls that are keeping the game from developing any kind of flow. Sneijder thumps the ground angrily after a decision doesn't go his way. Not sure he's got his head in the right place today so far.
36 mins Inter prod and probe around the edge of the Milan area, but the Rossoneri have been exceptionally disciplined without the ball, with the whole midfield dropping back to defend as an extra bank of four in front of the defence. Eventually Inter lose possession and Milan race away on the break, only an ever-so-slightly overhit through-ball denying Pato what would have been an excellent goalscoring opportunity.
37 mins And now Milan hit the bar! Van Bommel looked up and let fly from more than 25 yards out and his shot ricocheted up off Chivu, looped over Julio Cesar but came down right onto the crossbar.
38 mins Fantastic save from Abbiati! About half the Inter team rushed straight to the sideline to protest after Motta's header from the corner was clawed away by the keeper, believing the ball had crossed the line, but replays suggest it was the right decision. Abbiati is still celebrating now.
41 mins Maicon becomes the first Inter player to go into the book after clattering into the back of Robinho near the half-way line.
42 mins Half-hearted calls for a penalty from Inter's fans after Pazzini prods a volley into a Milan player from close range. I have no idea if it hit his arm, but to appeal that either way is just silly.
43 mins How did that not go in? Seriously? Samuel Eto'o, of all people, was the culprit after Goran Pandev's cross from the right, flicked on by Cambiasso in the middle, fell right to him at the back post, but from about four yards out he scuffed the ball wide. Absolutely stunning miss - though as you'll recall, he missed a pretty easy one against Juventus earlier this season too.
45 mins I'm still trying to work out how Eto'o failed to put that one on target, but in the meantime, Pato flashes one over the bar down at the other end, after Boateng's cross is deflected into his path inside the box.
Peepety-peeep That's it for the first half, with Inter dominating possession towards the end of the half, but still looking just as likely to concede another as get back on terms - mostly because Ranocchia and Chivu have been deeply unconvincing at the back. For now, though, they're still in it. Back in a tick.
Dating the boss's offspring "I had a brief fling with my manager's son last year," announces Sara Filippi. "He broke up with me, however, and then two weeks later I got a promotion. In fairness I believe the two incidents were totally unrelated."
Old stagers on the big stage "Is my impression that both Milanese teams always seem to have a lot of really old players correct," asks Gary Naylor. "Is it a Milan thing or an Italian thing or even a continental thing? Or am I wrong?"
I think it's fair to say that in general Italy has had a problem with not enough teams bringing through young players in recent years. A study by the Professional Football Players' Observatory's demographic study earlier this season showed that Serie A was the continent's second-oldest top-flight, behind only the Cypriot first division. Furthermore, Inter, with an average age of 29.6-years-old, were the oldest team in Europe last year.
But it's also true that both Inter and Milan have finally been introducing younger players of late - Ranocchia and Coutinho at Inter, Alexander Merkel, Rodney Strasser and the like at Milan - after a run of not doing so. Indeed, I think you could paint a similar picture at a lot of clubs. But it's also probably true that in a big game like this managers tend to be cautious and go with experience.
46 mins We're off again at San Siro, and here's one to ponder for those who like omens. The last time Milan won both league derbies was 2003-04. That's also the last time they won the league.
47 mins No sooner are we under way than we have stopped again, Van Bommel knocking the ball out so Sneijder can receive treatment after he won the ball cleanly from his compatriot.
49 mins More niggly fouls to start this half, I'm afraid. This has mostly been a very entertaining game - tense, chances at both ends, some nice attacking football at times - but these periods do get frustrating with the whistle going every 10 seconds. Sadly I fear this will only get worse as the gamesmanship increases in the second half.
51 mins First substitution of the game, Milan sending on Mathieu Flamini for Gennaro Gattuso after the latter appeared to strain something during a challenge on Wesley Sneijder.
52 mins Flamini comes sprinting on but not quickly enough to reach his area in time for the taking of an Inter corner on the right, which Pazzini meets in the middle. His header deflects behind off Thiago Silva, but the referee awards a goal-kick instead of another corner. At his home in London, Sean Ingle celebrates.
RED CARD! 54 mins Christian Chivu is off for Inter! The Nerazzurri had been applying a spot of pressure but Boateng wins a challenge in the middle of the park and plays Pato in behind the defence with a wonderful through-ball. The Brazilian was in behind the defence but Chivu just clipped his heels as he jagged across the D, and the referee had no hesitation. Straight red.
55 mins Inter make an immediate substitution - taking off Goran Pandev and sending on Cordoba to replace Chivu in the centre of defence.
56 mins Thiago Silva's free-kick somehow fizzes straight through the wall, forcing Julio Cesar to react sharply to palm it away to his left. The ball flies straight to Boateng, too, but his attempted at a first-time volley goes horribly wrong, and he slices the ball high and wide.
58 mins Big, big ask this for Inter now, but as I say - as long as you have players like Eto'o on the pitch there is always a chance (even if he did miss an absolute sitter at the end of the first half). "Beautifully timed foul there, just a metre outside the box," declares Tom Haig. "Is that something footballers get specific coaching in?" You never know ...
60 mins Eto'o leaves Thiago Silva on his backside as he twists and turns inside the box, but Boateng is lurking just behind his team-mate and comes thundering in to muscle the Inter striker off the ball.
GOAL! Milan 2-0 Inter (Pato 62 mins) Game over? Inter appeal for offside but the linesman's flag is staying down after Pato heads home from close range. The move was initiated by Seedorf, who has been quietly superb as he pulls the strings in behind for Milan today, the Dutchman picking out Abate inside the Inter box before he clipped the ball across to Pato on the far side of the six-yard area. From there all he had to do was nod the ball into an empty net.
63 mins Before they even kick-off, Inter make their second change, sending on Diego Milito for Giampaolo Pazzini.
65 mins Milan's supporters sing Alexandre Pato's name with gusto, and who can blame them. If they do go on to win today, they will have a five point advantage over Inter but crucially also the tie-breaker were they to finish level.
66 mins Rope-a-dope stuff from Milan here now - drawing Inter forwards before hitting them fast on the break and Robinho really should make it three after racing through into a one-on-one with Julio Cesar. Instead his early shot is too close to the goalkeeper, who palms away.
68 mins Another chance goes begging for Milan, as Boateng sees a shot knocked behind. They probably should have scored more by now. Incidentally, Milan would also have the tie-breaker over Napoli, but not necessarily over Udinese. The two teams drew 4-4 at San Siro, and meet again on the last weekend of the season, which could be very interesting indeed if matters aren't settled by then. Both Napoli and Udinese, of course, will have been hoping that Inter would do them a favour tonight, though ...
71 mins Time for Inter's last change - Esteban Cambiasso coming off to be replaced by Dejan Stankovic.
72 mins My word, how was that not a third? Pato plays in Robinho with a simple side-footed pass but having forced the keeper to go to ground, the forward fails to find the net - chipping the ball over Julio Cesar but not over Ivan Cordoba, who was tracking back. For all he does right at Milan, Robinho really does miss a spectacular number of chances.
74 mins There really has been no hint of a reaction from Inter here since that second goal. Milan are doing a great job of stretching the field and making Inter's 10 men chase them. The Nerazzurri look burned out already.
76 mins Flamini has the ball in the net for Milan but the flag had long been up for offside, the midfielder having ever-so-slightly mistimed his run in from the right.
77 mins Another minute, another missed opportunity for Robinho. Seedorf had all the time in the world to pick his pass after Sneijder gave the ball away in midfield and he did so expertly, allowing Robinho to take the ball in stride, but once again the Brazilian failed to show sufficient composure in front of goal, thwacking the ball straight into Julio Cesar.
79 mins "Is it a bit misty in Milan, or do I need to fix the colour on my telly," asks Iain Cameron. I can't speak for your telly Iain, but the fans have been setting off the odd firework in the stands.
80 mins Robinho is put out of his misery at last, as Allegri sends on Antonio Cassano in his stead. In fairness, he's had a pretty good game - but on another day his wastefulness in front of goal might have been a bigger issue.
81 mins Eto'o wriggles free inside the Milan box on the right, but nobody is able ot meet his firmly-struck ball across the six-yard box. It was probably a shot, to be honest.
84 mins Time for Milan's last change - Alexandre Pato the man to make way for Urby Emmanuelson. No hat-trick for him, then. The cameraman, unsurprisingly, takes this opportunity to cut to a shot of Barbara Berlusconi in the stands.
86 mins Milan are stroking the ball around now, just waiting out the minutes until the final whistle. There was much discussion in the build-up to this derby of whether this game would be "decisive" in the title race, and it certainly feels more likely to be so with Milan winning. They have one or two tough games yet to play, but with no Champions League fixtures left to worry about, they should be good enough to see this home. Then again, they should have been good enough to beat Palermo and Bari in their last two games, and they didn't ...
PENALTY! (88 mins) Zanetti pulls Cassano back as the striker takes a long ball down in the box, and Rizzoli once again has no hesitation. Penalty to Milan, and a chance to rub salt into Inter's wound.
GOAL! Milan 3-0 Inter (Cassano 90 mins) Silvio Berlusconi gets his wish - Antonio Cassano on the scoresheet and three points in the derby. Not a brilliant penalty - struck low and only a few feet to the left of the centre of the goal, but Julio Cesar went the other way and the ball nestled in the back of the net. Cassano, in typically a typically unnecessary move, takes his shirt off celebrating and picks up a booking for his troubles.
RED CARD! (90 mins +2) Incredible - Cassano has got himself sent off! A totally unnecessary late tackle, just moments after his totally unnecessary celebration, earns him a second yellow card. A classic Cassanata, and no mistake.
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeep! That's it - Milan win their second derby of the season and take a huge step towards ending Inter's run of five consecutive Serie A titles. Their advantage over the Nerazzurri is now five points and it will be up to Napoli tomorrow to beat fifth-placed Lazio to keep themselves within touching distance of the leaders. Fixtures still to play away to Fiorentina, Roma and Udinese make it clear that nothing is won yet for the Rossoneri, but this is certainly a huge hurdle overcome. As for Inter, they will need to pick themselves up fast for their Champions League meeting with Schalke on Tuesday. Anyway, that's it from me for tonight. Thanks for all your emails.

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 3, 2011

Michezo magazetini leo...

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

JF-Expert Member

Similar Discussions

Our Community

Coming Soon

Regional Communities