AC Milan held by Lazio in Rome
AC Milan and SS Lazio matched each other in a closely tested game on Wednesday that finished 1–1.
“We showed signs of solidity,” Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said after the game. “I liked the way Milan played, as the team worked hard and we didn’t concede counter-attacks."
Before the game, Allegri had said his side should learn to utilize the qualities of Zlatan Ibrahimovic by providing him with better service in attack.
Aiming to give his new striker more influence, the manager left Filippo Inzaghi and Robinho on the bench, with Kevin-Prince Boateng and Ronaldinho starting alongside the Swede in a three-man forward line.
How it happened
Ronaldinho took only seven minutes to send Ibrahimovic through on the goal after the latter made a clever, diagonal run. Ibrahimovic's touch took him into the penalty area, but his left-footed shot was
saved by Fernando Muslera in the Lazio goal.
Andrea Pirlo sent a free kick into the area with 21 minutes played, and the ball landed with Ibrahimovic. The striker weighed his options before turning Giuseppe Biava twice and unleashing a low drive
towards the goal from a narrow angle. Once again, Muslera was equal to it.
Seven minutes later, Lazio were awarded a free kick 30 yards out. Anderson Hernanes stepped up to take it, hitting a dipping shot towards the far corner that Christian Abbiati did well to punch clear for
a corner.
Hernanes then skipped past two Milan defenders before sending a long-range strike wide of the goal as Lazio began to pressure the visitors. In the 33rd minute, the Uruguayan sent Stefano Mauri through,
but his low shot was saved by Abbiati.
Deadlock broken
After 66 minutes, Clarence Seedorf picked out Ibrahimovic with a pinpoint through-ball from midfield. The Swede raced clear of the sleeping Lazio defence and reached the ball just before
Muslera, chipping the ball past the keeper and stretching to hit it into the open goal.
The lively Hernanez continued his inspire his team after the goal. With 81 minutes played, he skipped past two defenders and sent a low cross that Sergio Fluccari struck high into the Milan goal to put
Lazio level.
The sides were then evenly matched until the end of the game. Milan's Gianluca Zambrotta came closest to scoring with a blistering drive from 35 yards that hit the underside of the bar and bounced back
into play.
Lazio are now fifth in the Serie A with seven points from four games, while Milan are eighth with five points.
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