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Gattuso Makes Return As Milan Are Held By Albania In Friendly

Milan were held to a 3-3 draw against the Albanian national team, but eventually triumphed on penalties, as midfielder Gennaro Gattuso made his much-awaited return.

May 12, 2009 10:00:54 PM

Filippo Inzaghi contests the referee during the clash between Milan and Torino

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Filippo Inzaghi contests the referee during the clash between Milan and Torino

Teams

Milan

Players

Gennaro Ivan Gattuso

Tonight Milan played a friendly in Tirana at the Qemal Stafa stadium against the Albanian national team. It was an eventful, goal-filled match, that was eventually won by the Rossoneri on penalty kicks after a 3-3 draw.

Perhaps the best news from this match for Rossoneri fans was the return of Gennaro Gattuso. The fiery midfielder has missed the last five months of the season, and played the entire first half of this match.

Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato featured up front in support of Andriy Shevchenko. Ronaldinho opened the score in the 22nd minute, and Shevchenko doubled Milan's lead five minutes into the second half.

In the 64th minute, Vila made it 2-1 and seven minutes later Muzaka equalised for Albania. The home side even managed to take the lead in the 76th minute, when Salili put them in front.

However, Filippo Inzaghi, who came in in the second half, made it 3-3 in the 88th minute, making penalties necessary to decide a winner. It took a while, but in the end Milan triumphed 8-7 and won the second Taci Oil Albania Reads tournament.

Here is the sequence of the penalties: Kaka (M) goal; Pisha (A) goal; Seedorf (M) goal; Muzaka (A) goal; Flamini (M) goal; Vila (A) goal; Thiago Silva (M) goal; Vrapi (A) goal; Inzaghi (M) goal; Beqiri (A) out.

MATCH STATS

ALBANIA-MILAN 3-3 (7-8 on penalties)

Teams:

Albania (4-4-2): Ujkani; Beqiri, Yangjeli, Lila, Bulkw; Memelli, Duro, Bakaj, Bylykbashi; Salili, Yrapi. Coach: Bushati.

Milan (4-3-2-1): Kalac (Perucchini); Mattioni, Thiago Silva, Senderos (Darmian), Antonini; Gattuso, Pirlo, Jankulovski; Ronaldinho (Albertazzi), Pato (Kakà); Shevchenko (Inzaghi). Coach: Ancelotti

Goals: 22' Ronaldinho (M), 48' Shevchenko (M), 64' Vila (A), 71' Muzaka (A), 76' Salihi (A), Inzaghi (M)

Danilo Pochini, Goal.com

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