I didn’t expect such a miraculous ending from a dreadful beginning … Roma looked as though they’re the ones who were going to lead, with a strike from Totti in the very first minutes that was fortunately blocked by Dida! A free kick from Roma’s captain failed to trick the keeper who easily grabbed it in his hands! Followed by more control of the ball from our rivals for about the first 10-15 minutes, a period which Ancelotti used to drain all Roma’s enthusiasm and will to earn an early lead. Milan started gathering their powers afterwards and bagan their attempts with Sheva upfront, a long pass from Pirlo reached to Il tsar’s legs who gave a very strong shot that went wide … Milan’s midfield controlled as Rino passed to Rui who gave a beautiful ankle to Kaka, he went through two defenders but his shot was distracted by Samuel and therefore easily saved by Pelizzoli … A mistake from Rino when Emerson snatched the ball from him to find itself with Carew, but Emerson couldn’t translate his shot to a goal. Another chance for Roma this time with Carew from the right side dribbling past Pancaro, Kaka and Il Capitano but a clever dive from him wasn’t clever enough to trick Paparesta who didn’t blow his whistle for neither a foul nor a penalty.
And as the minutes passed with both teams’ attempts, both teams’ fans waiting for a goal, Seedorf got the ball on the left side of the pitch, passed Mancini and gave a beautiful long cross that was lucky enough to find the best striker on the face of earth (At least in my opinion) waiting and ready in spite of the pressure from Chivu … He rested the ball on his shoulder and in a second moved his left leg over to touch the ball a genius touch and finally place it into the net! The joy was incredible with memories of the old days when Il tsar always conquered Roma and Milan were now facing the challenge of keeping the result or doubling it in the next minutes!
The hosts were in shock of Sheva’s shock, but still didn’t stop their attempts to reach Milan’s goal!! A free kick cross to Roma’s captain who made a strong shot yet once again saved by the keeper … The goal, however, didn’t stop Milan’s tries as Seedorf gave another beautiful cross that found Sheva on the right side, but his beautiful shot this time went just by the right bar unluckily!!
Corner kick for Roma, Cassano plays the ball to Totti and proceeds, Totti’s eyes search for Mancini who’s ready and waiting on the other side … And as Mancini responds to Totti’s cross with a header to Cassano, who doesn’t waste any second and places it into Milan’s net …
Honestly, I don’t think that Roma deserved this goal because the referee had only given 3 minutes as extra time and when Roma played the corner kick it was already 3 minutes and ten seconds!! He should’ve blown the whistle because with extra time 3 minutes are 3 minutes, no more or less
Anyway, the first half was over with a draw, for us it was like starting from zero all over again! But Milan started the second half with a good spirit as well in spite of a sudden equalizer which wasn’t what we were hoping for … I think Cafu and Pancaro played vital roles in yesterday’s victory! Cafu on the right side creating many many chances for the team and a lot of you may not notice or claim that he’s aged or so, but he’s really making the difference on our right wing as many attempts start from there! Not to mention all the silly whistling that was completely ignored by him simply because he’s a champion and he wouldn’t be falling for theses things!
Pancaro on the other hand stopped the engine of a machine called “Mancini”!! I was terribly afraid of this guy and he did have a touch in their goal, but through the match he was truly paralyzed by Pancaro’s experience! Thank you wingers, a super red and black job!
Now we go back to the midfield with the Rossoneri knights, Kaka, Pirlo and Rui who grasped the ball from the Roman midfield as Rui made an incredible run for about 50 meters to throw Panucci with a dribble and pass the ball once again to the man who shut all the big Roman mouths including the big mouth of their Captain!! Sheva didn’t let his fans down although his positioning was somewhat difficult for scoring, but the ball of course is helpless as everyone else is against the Ukrainians charm and has no choice but to rest inside the net
Yes we were in the Olympico, but in that moment you can hear nothing but the chant of the Rossoneri fans singing “Non e Brasiliano peroooo Shevaaaaaa, Shevaaaaaaaa”!!! You can see nothing but the red and black flags that said we are powerful enough even to defeat the leaders in their own stadium!
Only a few minutes after the goal Roma had a dangerous chance from a corner but Cassano’s header went just above the bar (Thank God
)!
Now the killing chance was when Dida, for some reason, came forward to clear the ball but he was apparently “too” daring as Cassano’s shot was directed to a “keeperless” net!! However, Billy’s strong determination gave him the strength to somehow miraculously clear the ball when it was like one inch away of going in!! Seriously my heart was about to stop at that moment, thank you a million times Billy, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
A few minutes later Kaka gave a wonderful long pass again to Sheva who was alone for the third time with the keeper but very unfortunately couldn’t score his first hattrick!! Arrghhh how I wanted the ball to go in, to celebrate another hattrick in the Olympico like his first season!! The shot actually from the close angle looked quite strange and I couldn’t believe that Sheva would even kick the ball like that, but the thing was that the ball touched Pelizzoli’s hands and the corner wasn’t given to us! Also it was the reason why Sheva was talking to the linesmen right after the chance!!
Our substitutions were with Seedorf out for Redondo and Rui Costa for Brocchi … Carletto wanted to cover up a little but that didn’t mean we didn’t continue on attacking!! In fact Seedorf had a killing chance as he was alone with the keeper but he preferred passing the ball to Sheva and it was blocked by the defender!! There was also a doubtful penalty looking chance for Kaka by the way and the replay was shown as well but anyway I’m too thankful to mumble about it
Hmmm, what more can I say except to admire the way we played, the way HE played! Truly, I believe that no one, absolutely no once (except Van Basten) can do what Sheva does to us! No one can humiliate Roma like that even tough they’ve got the strongest defense so far! But that all doesn’t stop him or doesn’t even matter I’d say!
This is magic, beauty, simplicity and above all modesty, this is what I call ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO
FORZA MILAN!!!
FORZA SHEVAAAAAAA!!!