Dida's Easter Miracle Sees Milan Past Unlucky Chievo

Nelson Dida produced one of the saves of the season to ensure that Milan earned a barely-deserved 1-0 win at Chievo, Clarence Seedorf scoring the winner.

Apr 11, 2009 4:51:48 PM

More On :  AC Milan, Chievo, Chievo vs AC Milan
Clarence Seedorf - Chievo-Milan - Serie A (Grazia Neri)
Chievo 0-1 Milan

The Rossoneri had left it late last weekend to see off Lecce, and were hoping for an Easter treat this afternoon against another relegation battler. Carlo Ancelotti's injury list was still long, as Gattuso, Borriello, Nesta, Kaladze, Bonera, Abbiati, Emerson, and Maldini were sidelined. Kaka, Clarence Seedorf and Pato played in behind lone frontman Pippo Inzaghi.
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Chievo were now looking good to beat the drop after a wonderful run of form that had seen them lose just once in their last 13 games. This included last week's dramatic 3-3 draw at Juventus. The Flying Donkeys were missing the injured Makinwa, Moro, Kerlon, and Frey, as well as Bentivoglio, who was not called-up. Turin hat-trick hero Sergio Pellissier led the attack alongside Erjon Bogdani.

First Half

There was a minute's silence before kick-off, and all players wore black armbands in memory of the tragic Earthquake victims in Rome.

Chievo started brightly, and Pellissier raced past Senderos before firing wide. The same striker tested Dida, while Giampiero Pinzi headed over. Down the other end, Zambrotta forced Stefano Sorrentino into action at his near post.

Milan's first real chance arrived on 26 minutes, when Inzaghi made a trademark run to the near post at a corner, but headed wide.

Sorrentino had to be alert on Pirlo's 30-yard free kick, and his opposite number Dida also had to be wide awake as Marcolini let fly from distance.

Just past the half-hour mark, Pirlo was inches away from giving Milan the lead, as his free kick curled over the wall and missed the post by the smallest of margins.

A few minutes later, Chievo went even closer. Andrea Mantovani's left-wing cross was met by the forehead of Pellissier, but his effort thumped off the crossbar. Seconds later Luciano went down under pressure from Dida, but the referee turned away the penalty appeals.

Carlo Ancelotti was not happy with what he was seeing, and after a few choice words with the fourth official, he was sent to the stands by the referee.

There was more controversy soon after, as Kaka roasted Yepes, and then went down in the area, claiming to have been pushed, but the referee didn't want to know.

Second Half

Milan started the second half well, and broke the deadlock on 53 minutes. A wonderful team move culminated in Inzaghi nodding Jankulovski's cross back to Seedorf, who lashed a volley past Sorrentino.

Chievo tried to hit back, and Pellissier fired over an open goal at the back post, but he was spared the shame by an offside flag.

Just past the hour mark, Dida came to Milan's rescue, saving from Colucci following a disastrous mistake by Jankulovski.

Chievo had the ball in the back of the net on 65 minutes through Pellissier's deflected free kick, but it was chalked off for offside.

The home side were looking dangerous, and Pellissier left Zambrotta for dead, and flashed a fierce shot just over.

An equaliser seemed certain, and it would have arrived with 10 minutes to go, were it not for Dida, who performed a seemingly-impossible save with his foot to deny Colucci from six yards. It was a miracle stop from the Brazilian.

Milan somehow held on for a barely-deserved win, and they close the gap on second-placed Juventus, who play their game-in-hand tonight against Genoa.

Teams

Chievo: Sorrentino; Sardo, Morero, Yepes, Mantovani (Esposito 85); Luciano (Colucci 49), Rigoni, Marcolini (Langella 72); Pinzi; Pellissier, Bogdani

Milan: Dida; Zambrotta, Senderos, Favalli, Jankulovski; Ambrosini, Pirlo; Seedorf, Kaka (Ronaldinho 75), Pato (Shevchenko 84); Inzaghi (Flamini 59)

Goals

Seedorf 53 (M)

Anthony Sormani, Goal.com
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