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FC Zurich 1-1 Milan: Ronaldinho Spot Kick Rescues Rossoneri
Leonardo's men progress to the knockout stages.
Dec 8, 2009 4:38:11 PM
Milan secured their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League in a less than convincing fashion as they had to settle for a draw away to FC Zurich.
A penalty from Ronaldinho midway through the second half was enough for the Italian's to grab a point against Bernard Challandes side while events elsewhere ensured they progressed to the next round.
Although the Swiss outfit had little more than pride to play for there was a definite appeal to doing the double over the Rossoneri in this season's competition and the hosts played with a degree of confidence and were more than a match for the Italian giants in the opening exchanges.
Adrian Nikci looked the biggest threat for Zurich but despite finding some decent opportunities failed to really test Dida in the Milan goal. At the other end it was Alexandre Pato who seemed most likely to break the deadlock but he too failed to find a way past Johnny Leoni.
Then the breakthrough came, with a goal of stunning quality. Milan scored but the visitors weren't smiling as it was the impressive Zurich midfielder Milan Gajic that found the net. After being fouled just outside the penalty box the 23-year-old Serbian smashed the resulting free-kick around the Rossoneri wall and past a hapless Dida to give his side the lead.
Onyekachi Okonkwo could have doubled their lead five minutes later, latching onto Gajic's pass before testing Dida with a fine drive but the 'keeper blocked it and gathered at the second attempt.
Milan started the second half much brighter than the first and began to assert their dominance in the middle of the park and the introduction of Mathieu Flamini for Massimo Ambrosini brought a greater sense of urgency to their play.
They simply couldn't afford to rely on events at the Stade Velodrome as a win of any sort for Marseille against Real Madrid would see Milan exit the competition unless they won this tie.
Shortly after the hour mark they were gifted the opportunity to equalize when Alain Rochat tumbled Marco Boriello inside the box after a clever turn left the striker with a glorious chance to score. Rochat received his marching orders and Ronaldinho stepped up to coolly slot the penalty to the 'keepers bottom left hand corner, with Leoni diving the other way.
Both Challandes and Leonardo made changes in the final quarter of the game but despite their man advantage the visitors could not add a second which would have guaranteed their place in the knockout phase.
Word of Real's 3-1 lead in France had obviously filtered through as Clarence Seedorf and Andrea Pirlo seemed happy to pass the ball around in midfield and run down the clock.
Milan go safely through in the end, finishing in second place while Zurich are left rooted to the bottom of the group.
Paul Madden, Goal.com
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