WE WIN!
As usual Inter finish behind the pack
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Milan lift Trofeo TIM
Thursday 31 August, 2006
Milan won the Trofeo TIM on Thursday evening after defeating both Inter and Juventus in the annual three-team friendly tournament. The Rossoneri came from behind in both games to deservedly lift their first trophy of the season.
Milan 2-1 Inter
Goals: Cruz 19 (I), Favalli 32 (M), Borriello 36 (M)
Milan came from behind to win the opening Trofeo TIM tie by beating city rivals Inter 2-1. Two goals in four minutes from Giuseppe Favalli and Marco Borriello stunned the Italian champions who had looked in control of the game until the equaliser.
Inter started brightly and Alvaro Recoba looked in inspired mood with some sublime passing. And it was no coincidence that his pinpoint cross saw Cruz expertly chest the ball past Paolo Maldini – playing his first game in four months after injury – to fire superbly past Zeljko Kalac.
Yet the Nerazzurri paid the price for some slack finishing as Hernan Crespo and Cruz wasted some glorious chances, with the first even missing an open goal. Milan gradually came into the 45-minute match and made it 1-1 on 32 minutes. Clarence Seedorf opened up the Inter defence and Favalli slid the ball past Julio Cesar just months after making the city switch.
Milan won it in minute 36 through Borriello. The youngster, who was wanted by Livorno and Udinese this summer, turned his marker Marino in the box and his cross-shot struck the post before sneaking past the Brazilian shot-stopper. That win saw Milan move on to three points, leaving Inter on zero.
Inter 1-1 Juventus (3-4 on pens)
Goals: Del Piero 6 (J), Figo 26 (I)
Penalties: Cruz (I), Nedved (J), Adriano miss (I), Guzman (J), Figo (I), Brindelli miss (J), Maroufi (I), Zalayeta (J), Marino miss (I), Del Piero (J)
An impressive Alessandro Del Piero led Juventus to a penalty shoot-out victory over Inter in a heated Derby d’Italia. The captain, who pledged his future to the outfit despite demotion, gave his side the lead in the 1-1 draw before smashing home the decisive spot-kick.
Juve hit the front after just six minutes when the Italian rippled the net in some style. Del Piero’s thunderous 30-yard free-kick flew over the Nerazzurri wall and found the top corner of the net, despite Julio Cesar’s best efforts to keep it out.
Although only a friendly affair, the game saw numerous yellow cards as Inter struggled to break down a compact Turin side who looked dangerous on the break. They also threatened with a Marcelo Zalayeta header and an Alessandro Birindelli strike.
Yet Inter gradually got into the game and equalised through Luis Figo. The Portuguese ace collected a sublime Adriano assist to slot past Antonio Mirante. The Juve ‘keeper also had to be at his best to keep out Maicon with a truly outstanding stop, while he also denied an Alvaro Recoba rocket and an Adriano shot.
Juve ended the game with 10 men after Giuliano Giannichedda was sent off for two bookable offences, the second being intentional handball. Yet they still won 4-3 on penalties after the three missed efforts – two from Inter and one from Juve – all struck the bar. Juve netted two points as a result, Inter got one and subsequently finished bottom of the Trofeo TIM table.
Juventus 1-3 Milan
Goals: Zalayeta 5 (J), Seedorf 26, 47 (M), Kaka pen 37 (M)
Milan secured the sixth edition of the Trofeo TIM by defeating Juventus 3-1 in the last tie of the night. Although they again went behind, the home side hit back with Clarence Seedorf and Kaka to net a victory they desperately wanted.
Juventus hit the front early as they did in their first match. Zalayeta broke the offside trap, thanks to a Daniele Bonera positional error, and the Uruguayan ran in on goal to fire past Valerio Fiori in the Milan goal.
Despite Juventus’ youthful look, as Pavel Nedved and Alex Del Piero started the game on the bench, they did show great maturity in the opening period as Milan struggled to create any serious threat. So much so that Milan’s first effort was an off target long range Cristian Brocchi drive.
The Old Lady threatened twice more with distance shots from Nedved and Marchisio, but Milan responded by striking the woodwork. Borriello found space in the area and his wicked left-footed shot beat Emanuele Belardi in the Juve goal, but whacked the post.
They were a little more fortunate soon after when they did make it 1-1. Some super one-touch pass and move stuff from Milan around the box saw the ball fall to Seedorf, whose shot hit the underside of the bar and was adjudged to have crossed the line – even if some Geoff Hurst doubts remain…
Milan started to increase the pressure and take control of the tie. Although Del Piero did worry Fiori with a free kick, a second Rossoneri goal did look to be on the horizon and it came in the 37th minute. Kaka was brought down in the box by Birindelli and the Brazilian fired home the penalty himself. Seedorf then blasted in a third in injury time.
Re: TROFEO TIM - Milan, Juventus, Inter
PLUS against our two great rivals.
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